Even though Elizabeth Moon is my favorite fantasy author — I read The Deed of Paksenarrion every year, and frequently teach it — I didn't know she'd written a book about adult autism with a near-future setting. (Probably because I don't read her science fiction series … although perhaps I should.) The Speed of Dark might peter out a bit in the very last chapter, but it's a stunner until then. Every page contained insights, in Moon's typically detailed, discursive, and ruminative style, into the difference in perception and interaction between autists and "normal" people. I'm connected to the autism community somewhat, and this book was like a workshop in revising expectations and understanding what might be going on in that autist's mind.
Not just for parents and friends of autistic individuals, not just for science fiction fans — The Speed of Dark makes me remember why I love Elizabeth Moon for her ability to immerse me in the thought processes of a sympathetic, transparent protagonist.