The Bauer Confidential

It was my turn to select what we would read for the monthly book club to which I belong. Based on some info I found on the internet, including reviews and synopses, I choose The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. The story is set in the not too distant future, and centers around Lou who is autistic. Not too long after Lou was born, scientists figured out how to cure autism either in utero or shortly after birth. Though Lou did not benefit from this technology, the therapies and treatments he received allow him to function very well in society. He has a good job at a company detecting patterns in data; a vocation that suits him and his special abilities perfectly. His company has made adjustments for their special employees that allow them to cope with the world around them and perform their duties with efficiency. Lou enjoys his one hobby, fencing, and has developed feelings for one of the other fencers in his club. Things start to take a nasty turn for Lou and the others in his section when their new boss decides their special accommodations cost too much. This new boss is frighteningly ambitious and thinks he could make a name for himself in the company by turning the group of autistics into the first test subjects in a newly acquired protocol for curing autism in adults. Essentially they become guinea pigs or loose their jobs.

Lou and the others in his office have worked hard to adapt to the world. Lou knows what he should say and what he should do in social interactions, even if he doesn’t understand why. They are understandably nervous that curing their autism will change them into completely different people, despite the reassurances of the scientists that they will be themselves, only without the autism. But the condition is so fundamental to who they are, the jobs they do, the way they perceive the world, how could eliminating their autism not change them? There are others though, who are quietly working to protect the autistics from this harassment, and ensure they are able to make choices for themselves.

In Lou’s personal life he also has a dark problem that he did not cause and finds very hard to accept. To Lou, a person who acts like a friend should always behave like a friend, and you should not think badly of friends no matter what. Lou learns the hard way that friendships can turn sour and that “normal” people have difficulties accepting the world as well. As all these events befall him, Lou realizes that he is changing and growing. And he has some very difficult decisions to make.

This book explores themes that apply to more than just autism. Like autistics, anyone who is different is pressured to fit into a mold, which may or may not be in their best interests. Lou often feels that “normal” people think is not a whole person, some how incomplete, even though he does what he is taught he should and “normal” people often do not. Most of the narrative comes from Lou, which can make this book a little difficult to read because it is so true to his autistic voice. Even his inner monologue is stilted with few transitions, purely logical saying no more and no less than needs to be said. The two other narrators are his fencing coach and a superior at work. These sections show how much Lou has endeared himself to the people in his world, how unique he is, and how people want to protect him because they feel he can’t protect himself. In the end, Lou surprises everyone, even himself, with his strength and resiliency and shows that light can overcome the speed of dark. The ethics of human experimentation is also explored and perhaps the outcomes are a tad over ambitious. I would definitely recommend this book, and that was the consensus of the book club as well, we all enjoyed it. I found it both compelling and enlightening. I have a cousin who is autistic that I haven’t seen in many many years, this book made me wonder how he thinks, and if the world will ever adapt to him if he can adapt to the world. An interesting fact about the author, she has a son who is autistic. This work is apparently much more serious than her other novels, but I imagine she has a unique perspective that allowed for this satisfying read.