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Dark Universe
The survivors live underground, as far from the Original World as possible and protected from the ultimate evil, Radiation. Then terrible monsters, who bring with them a screaming silence, are seen and people start to disappear. One young man realises he must question the nature of Darkness itself.
154 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1961
About the author
Daniel F. Galouye
108 books74 followersDaniel Francis Galouye (11 February 1920 – 7 September 1976) was an American science fiction writer. During the 1950s and 1960s, he contributed novelettes and short stories to various digest-size science fiction magazines, sometimes writing under the pseudonym Louis G. Daniels.
After Galouye (pronounced Gah-lou-ey) graduated from Louisiana State University (B.A.), he worked as a reporter for several newspapers. During World War II, he served in the US Navy as an instructor and test pilot, receiving injuries that led to later health problems. On December 26, 1945, he married Carmel Barbara Jordan. From the 1940s until his retirement in 1967, he was on the staff of The States Item. He lived in New Orleans but also had a summer home across Lake Pontchartrain at St. Tammany Parish in Covington, Louisiana.
In 1952, he sold his first novelette, Rebirth, to Imagination and then branched out to other digests, including Galaxy Science Fiction and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Between 1961 and 1973, Galoyue wrote five novels, notably Simulacron Three, basis of the movie The Thirteenth Floor and the 1973 German TV miniseries, Welt am Draht (directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder). His first novel, Dark Universe (1961) was nominated for a Hugo.
In 2007, Galouye was named as the recipient of the Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award, which is co-sponsored by the heirs of Paul M.A. Linebarger (who wrote as Cordwainer Smith) and Readercon. The jury for this award recognizes a deceased genre writer whose work should be "rediscovered" by the readers of today, and that newly rediscovered writer is a deceased guest of honor at the following year's Readercon. Galouye was named 6 July 2007 by Barry N. Malzberg and Gordon Van Gelder, speaking on behalf of themselves and the other two judges, Martin H. Greenberg and Mike Resnick.
After Galouye (pronounced Gah-lou-ey) graduated from Louisiana State University (B.A.), he worked as a reporter for several newspapers. During World War II, he served in the US Navy as an instructor and test pilot, receiving injuries that led to later health problems. On December 26, 1945, he married Carmel Barbara Jordan. From the 1940s until his retirement in 1967, he was on the staff of The States Item. He lived in New Orleans but also had a summer home across Lake Pontchartrain at St. Tammany Parish in Covington, Louisiana.
In 1952, he sold his first novelette, Rebirth, to Imagination and then branched out to other digests, including Galaxy Science Fiction and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Between 1961 and 1973, Galoyue wrote five novels, notably Simulacron Three, basis of the movie The Thirteenth Floor and the 1973 German TV miniseries, Welt am Draht (directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder). His first novel, Dark Universe (1961) was nominated for a Hugo.
In 2007, Galouye was named as the recipient of the Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award, which is co-sponsored by the heirs of Paul M.A. Linebarger (who wrote as Cordwainer Smith) and Readercon. The jury for this award recognizes a deceased genre writer whose work should be "rediscovered" by the readers of today, and that newly rediscovered writer is a deceased guest of honor at the following year's Readercon. Galouye was named 6 July 2007 by Barry N. Malzberg and Gordon Van Gelder, speaking on behalf of themselves and the other two judges, Martin H. Greenberg and Mike Resnick.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
July 23, 2011
The above rating graphic provides a pretty good assessment of my opinion of the story...which stands to reason in a "DUH, thank you Col. Obvious" sorta way since I created it. Well, at the risk of raining down obvious all over you, let me add that this is certainly a book on which I would recommend you take a pass. However, for those of you SF completist, gluttons for punishment or members of the "I think Steve may just be full of shit on this one" club, here is a brief summary of the plot in case you decide to check it out for yourself...but please remember that Mr. FullofShitness has warned you.
Written in 1961, this is
In this iteration, mankind has evolved to live underground in complete darkness to the point where sight is no longer even part of the human vocabulary. For example, if you understood what someone was saying, you might say, “I hear your point” or “I hear it that way too.” Yep, you HEARD me correctly.
Anyway, people move around this underground "masterpiece" (NOTE: to be read with healthy amount of sarcasm) of world-building both through the use of something like sonar and by memorizing their surroundings. The Original World (as our world is referred to) is believed to have been a paradise until it was destroyed by the demon known as Radiation and his two lieutenants, Cobalt and Strontium. Clever, Huh!
Well with this background sloshing around in your head and slowly pickling your brain, you are treated to a coming of age tale in which a member of the underground society becomes obsessed with learning about the outside world and the mystery of “the Light” and “the Darkness” as these are concepts of which his people have no comprehension and view as religious symbols. FYI....a few more somethings that the people in this story have no conception of: interesting dialogue, well-developed or at least interesting personalities, exciting events occurring in the narrative of their lives, insight into the human condition or any originality.
Anyway, not the best book I have ever read...sorry, seems like Col. Obvious just made another appearance. It is saved from earning 1 star for three reasons. First, it was short, only about 200 pages. Second, it wasn't so horrible that I felt personally offended for having picked it up. Three, I had a really good lunch before writing this review and am feeling charitable.
Plus, on the bright side, the book did provide ONE VERY SURPRISING MOMENT. When I first picked it up, the back cover said that the book had been nominated for the Hugo Award in 1961 and I was like......
I guess that's something.
January 20, 2013
It's tricky to do a whole lot of world-building in just 154 pages, even if that world, as in Daniel F. Galouye's Dark Universe, is small and confined by nature. The trick is to be telegraphic, to let every line convey something about the plot, characters and setting all at once -- or to just let the world building take care of itself, let the reader's imagination do that work. I realized, as I read through this, that I prefer the latter.
I mention this because right from the first page, Galouye made the choice I favor less, and went a little overboard, to the point of raising goose eggs on my noggin with his invented slang and cursing and expressions of folk belief. This is a post-apocalyptic (nuclear war), underground world, and, as the title might just suggest, one in which there is maybe not so much light, but that does not mean that every other word coming from a character's mouth needs to be "Radiation this" and "Light that." To say nothing of substituting "period" for "day" in the context in which "gestation" means, more or less, "year." How could I not snicker like an adolescent?
It all reminded me more than a little bit of the South Park episode in which the Otters and Ostriches and other warring atheist types would use "science" as a substitute for "god" in common locutions. Oh my science!
And speaking of that, that same episode of South Park featured one Richard Dawkins, who named this book as his pick for "brilliant sci-fi that got away". And one can see why it would be dear tobhis heart, for the novel's hero, Jared, spends most of the story calling his people's cherished shibboleths into question and facing the consequences. Well, of course that's why he would like it.
To focus on either of these qualities -- annoying overuse of invented locution or hero-as-heretic -- is to miss what's amazing about this novel, though. I return to the world building, for Galouye has created a philosopher's delight of a universe, in which no one can recall what light or darkness actually are, and everyone has come to rely on other senses -- mostly hearing and smell -- to get around, to grow food (a must-be-engineered fungus they call manna that provides not only food but fiber and building material as well), to fight off predators (giant mutated "soubats"), and to perceive each other. As is legendary about the blind, these other senses are exquisitely highly developed in the dwellers of Galouye's underground world -- except among an offshoot tribe, the "Zivvers" who, it turns out, can see into the infrared spectrum, and are thus the only people in this story who actually use their eyes. They are rare exceptions to the rule here, though; everyone else echolocates, using "clickstones" and a giant central "echo-caster" to perceive their small world.
Galouye put a lot of thought and care into developing these cultures, and achieved something frankly marvelous thereby. That the plot of the story is a hackneyed coming-of-age/what-really happened narrative doesn't matter. Galouye succeeds in immersing the reader in a sightless cave of a universe, and in the process leads her to think about something she has always taken for granted, is taking for granted even as she reads his words: light ("silent sound" Jared calls it at first, struggling for words to describe the phenomenon to himself), and what it might be like to encounter it for the first time after generations without it.
Who would have thought a retelling of Plato's Allegory of the Den could be so absorbing?
I mention this because right from the first page, Galouye made the choice I favor less, and went a little overboard, to the point of raising goose eggs on my noggin with his invented slang and cursing and expressions of folk belief. This is a post-apocalyptic (nuclear war), underground world, and, as the title might just suggest, one in which there is maybe not so much light, but that does not mean that every other word coming from a character's mouth needs to be "Radiation this" and "Light that." To say nothing of substituting "period" for "day" in the context in which "gestation" means, more or less, "year." How could I not snicker like an adolescent?
It all reminded me more than a little bit of the South Park episode in which the Otters and Ostriches and other warring atheist types would use "science" as a substitute for "god" in common locutions. Oh my science!
And speaking of that, that same episode of South Park featured one Richard Dawkins, who named this book as his pick for "brilliant sci-fi that got away". And one can see why it would be dear tobhis heart, for the novel's hero, Jared, spends most of the story calling his people's cherished shibboleths into question and facing the consequences. Well, of course that's why he would like it.
To focus on either of these qualities -- annoying overuse of invented locution or hero-as-heretic -- is to miss what's amazing about this novel, though. I return to the world building, for Galouye has created a philosopher's delight of a universe, in which no one can recall what light or darkness actually are, and everyone has come to rely on other senses -- mostly hearing and smell -- to get around, to grow food (a must-be-engineered fungus they call manna that provides not only food but fiber and building material as well), to fight off predators (giant mutated "soubats"), and to perceive each other. As is legendary about the blind, these other senses are exquisitely highly developed in the dwellers of Galouye's underground world -- except among an offshoot tribe, the "Zivvers" who, it turns out, can see into the infrared spectrum, and are thus the only people in this story who actually use their eyes. They are rare exceptions to the rule here, though; everyone else echolocates, using "clickstones" and a giant central "echo-caster" to perceive their small world.
Galouye put a lot of thought and care into developing these cultures, and achieved something frankly marvelous thereby. That the plot of the story is a hackneyed coming-of-age/what-really happened narrative doesn't matter. Galouye succeeds in immersing the reader in a sightless cave of a universe, and in the process leads her to think about something she has always taken for granted, is taking for granted even as she reads his words: light ("silent sound" Jared calls it at first, struggling for words to describe the phenomenon to himself), and what it might be like to encounter it for the first time after generations without it.
Who would have thought a retelling of Plato's Allegory of the Den could be so absorbing?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2013
This book was on a "5 best" recommended list by Richard Dawkins (author of the God Delusion) and when I read his brief description of a story of a world of people forced to live underground as a result of a nuclear holocaust it caught my interest. One aspect intrigued me specifically and that was the idea of someone living in total darkness and never having been exposed to light. As a teenager, I spent a lot of time spelunking and one of the treats was to reach the terminus of our exploration for the day and extinguishing our lights for a few moments to experience a darkness that must be experienced to be believed. And, admittedly, the author does a good job of recreating that sensation. However, the plot seems very forced, attempting to use words for hearing as their primary sensory input, rather than sight - e.g. I hear, rather than I see to denote understanding. Also the tag of the word "Light" for God and "Radiation" for hell gets to be a bit old after awhile and it is excessively forced into conversations so the effect is too clever by half. Still an interesting concept and a thought provoking read.
May 4, 2023
Dark Universe is a post-nuclear apocalyptic novella that has an interesting concept and lovely world building, but is a bit lacking in terms of plot and character development. The reader is introduced to a civilization that has been living in a cave system for generations - so long that its residence no longer have a concept of sight and have developed a new religion. It's pitch black and the residents find their way about by echolocation - using clickstones and central echo-casters - while avoid giant mutant bats. The main character, Jared, does a bit too much critical thinking and questioning, which leads to a fairly interesting exploration of the Upper and Lower levels of the cave system, run-ins with Zivvers (who have evolved to see in the infrared spectrum) in his attempt to find out exactly what "Light" and "Dark" is. Interesting concept, flawed execution.
June 22, 2015
This is an absolute gem of a story, at a mere 180 pages it conveys more concepts and insights than a whole serious of stories by a lesser author! Organised Religion is especially highlighted as well as ignorance and lack of knowledge! Wonderful.
April 13, 2012
From very nearly the get-go, the reader is in the position of knowing practically everything. Very few surprises are in store, and frustration is entirely possible because the story never quite reaches the point where it talks about something that the reader hasn't already figured out.
I suspect that part of this is intentional. it reads like a retelling of Plato's Allegory of the Cave, and from that perspective the all-knowing reader is dragged along as the ignorant cavedwellers are dragged forth into the light.
Galouye spends tremendous time fleshing out details of life in the characters' strange world, where vision is forgotten, light is taken as a metaphor for divinity, and the history of the Survivors has been twisted into mythology. Some of it (such as the laws forbidding the misplacement of stuff people would trip on, or the etiquette allowing Ten Touches of Familiarization upon meeting a new person) is quite inventive, while the religous overtones of the demons Strontium and Cobalt and various other matters wind up falling into well-grooved channels.
I was expecting it to be more energetic, as some sort of adventure tale, which is not what it was. The main character spends too much time in introspection and back-and-forth socialization and not enough in exploration and discovery. He winds up hiding and fearful of his discoveries--again, the Allegory of the Cave--or in retreat, which made it difficult to maintain enthusiasm.
I suspect that part of this is intentional. it reads like a retelling of Plato's Allegory of the Cave, and from that perspective the all-knowing reader is dragged along as the ignorant cavedwellers are dragged forth into the light.
Galouye spends tremendous time fleshing out details of life in the characters' strange world, where vision is forgotten, light is taken as a metaphor for divinity, and the history of the Survivors has been twisted into mythology. Some of it (such as the laws forbidding the misplacement of stuff people would trip on, or the etiquette allowing Ten Touches of Familiarization upon meeting a new person) is quite inventive, while the religous overtones of the demons Strontium and Cobalt and various other matters wind up falling into well-grooved channels.
I was expecting it to be more energetic, as some sort of adventure tale, which is not what it was. The main character spends too much time in introspection and back-and-forth socialization and not enough in exploration and discovery. He winds up hiding and fearful of his discoveries--again, the Allegory of the Cave--or in retreat, which made it difficult to maintain enthusiasm.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2011
I read this book as a young adult in the 70s and the premise behind it stuck with me over the years. It came up in conversation many times, but I had forgotten the title and author. While on holiday in New York I sheltered from the rain one afternoon in NY Central Library, where I came across a thick tome about the development of SF and a little research paid off with the details about this book. This being the 21st century, online ordering meant that after a couple of clicks on Amazon and a wait of a few days, I had a second hand copy of the book in my possession. After 30 years, my second reading of the book was not a disappointment. OK, so perhaps it does not follow current trends in character development and it isn't a great literary masterpiece, but I found it a thought provoking short read and the ideas within which attracted me all those years ago are still worth exploring.
March 27, 2018
Written at the height of the cold war, this short novel explores the possibility of post-apocalyptic humans having survived a nuclear holocaust by living in an underground world in which light is totally absent and primitive sonar is the only means of discerning surroundings. Also populated by giant mutant bats, other humans who perceive their surroundings by other, mysterious means and the feared and misunderstood "monsters", this story does a fine job of creating a completely unfamiliar world and convincing the reader that it could actually exist. Galouye was one of my favorite short story authors in the 1950s and 1060s prior to his untimely passing. This does nothing to diminish my appreciation of his abilities.
November 22, 2022
Romanzo post-apocalittico del 1961, classico esempio di timore per un'apocalisse atomica. Al periodo gli USA e l'URSS si divertivano a far esplodere più ordigni nucleari possibili, per vedere chi ce l'aveva più gros.... opsss volevo dire, chi sarebbe stata la "vera Superpotenza"!!
Ci troviamo con Jared in un mondo oscuro, a scandagliare il sottosuolo in miriadi di modi, ma Jared ha uno scopo ben preciso o perlomeno sente nel profondo che oltre a...
Racconto scritto in modo molto scorrevole, il viaggio di Jared è scandito da eventi che lo porteranno a rivelazioni che nemmeno si sarebbe immaginato nei più reconditi dei suoi sogni.
Una buona scoperta!
Ci troviamo con Jared in un mondo oscuro, a scandagliare il sottosuolo in miriadi di modi, ma Jared ha uno scopo ben preciso o perlomeno sente nel profondo che oltre a...
Racconto scritto in modo molto scorrevole, il viaggio di Jared è scandito da eventi che lo porteranno a rivelazioni che nemmeno si sarebbe immaginato nei più reconditi dei suoi sogni.
Una buona scoperta!
August 3, 2016
Storyline: 3/5
Characters: 2/5
Writing Style: 2/5
World: 5/5
I really liked this from the opening pages to the very end. It was one of those rare occasions where a book settled at the perfect length; anything longer, and it would have had to have been written very differently and anything shorter wouldn't have given an adequate impression. This one belongs in the "idea book" category, and it is the world that brings such a delightful read.
The story and characters seem to have been thrown in so that the world could be explored. None of it was awful, but Galoyue wasn't particularly insightful with characters, and he was entirely without subtlety in writing. Some less charitable might point out that once the original idea for the book had been formulated, everything else just sort of effortlessly fell into place. Sure, fine; I'm not claiming Galouye was uncannily creative but that he opened the door to a nuanced and different world. The weaknesses were negligible, and it was great fun to explore the dark universe. I think this one is best read without knowing anything about it.
I'm starting a new list today: Lesser Known Favorites, and this goes on it.
Reminds me of:
Characters: 2/5
Writing Style: 2/5
World: 5/5
I really liked this from the opening pages to the very end. It was one of those rare occasions where a book settled at the perfect length; anything longer, and it would have had to have been written very differently and anything shorter wouldn't have given an adequate impression. This one belongs in the "idea book" category, and it is the world that brings such a delightful read.
The story and characters seem to have been thrown in so that the world could be explored. None of it was awful, but Galoyue wasn't particularly insightful with characters, and he was entirely without subtlety in writing. Some less charitable might point out that once the original idea for the book had been formulated, everything else just sort of effortlessly fell into place. Sure, fine; I'm not claiming Galouye was uncannily creative but that he opened the door to a nuanced and different world. The weaknesses were negligible, and it was great fun to explore the dark universe. I think this one is best read without knowing anything about it.
I'm starting a new list today: Lesser Known Favorites, and this goes on it.
Reminds me of:
March 8, 2021
Стабилна ретро-фантастика, много увлекателно написана. За съжаление обаче е доста стандартна откъм идеи и сюжет, така че няма шанс да остави трайни следи в паметта ми.
Имаме типичния за 50-те и 60-те ядрен апокалипсис и хора, създали странно общество в пълен мрак под земята. Повечето от тях разчитат само на слуха си, за да се ориентират в този свят, но има и някои, които са мутирали да виждат топлинното лъчение. Естествено, имаме буден герой с откривателски дух, момиче и загадъчни "чудовища" отвън, които на всеки му е ясно какви са. Все пак книжката се чете леко и ако си падате по по-старомодни историйки, можете да й хвърлите едно око.
Имаме типичния за 50-те и 60-те ядрен апокалипсис и хора, създали странно общество в пълен мрак под земята. Повечето от тях разчитат само на слуха си, за да се ориентират в този свят, но има и някои, които са мутирали да виждат топлинното лъчение. Естествено, имаме буден герой с откривателски дух, момиче и загадъчни "чудовища" отвън, които на всеки му е ясно какви са. Все пак книжката се чете леко и ако си падате по по-старомодни историйки, можете да й хвърлите едно око.
June 16, 2013
This is a great story about far-future survivors of the nuclear war living in the far depths below the Earth's surface. The way the characters have developed their own religious dogma and customs based on limited knowledge of their history is fascinating. I also liked the way the story got around the problem of conversing by saying things like "I hear" instead of "I see" since these survivors live in total darkness. The invention of click-stones to determine one's presence, their physical attributes, as well as distance, etc.. was also well executed.
This may well be what it'd be like if mankind lived below the Earth, and away from light, instead of on its surface.
This may well be what it'd be like if mankind lived below the Earth, and away from light, instead of on its surface.
April 27, 2021
Interesting and unique take on a post apocalyptic survivor story. It gets a bit tedious and repetitive as the story is set in a very small, uniform (if unique) world and the plot revolves around the protagonist being repeatedly captured, escaping then being captured again and escaping again.
There isn't a lot of depth to the characters. I found it a bit annoying how the main character starts the story rebelling against the accepted "truth" of their world, convinced there is more than meets the eye and yet, when the truth is revealed, he develops a stubborn arbitrary scepticism which seems to take way too long to resolve.
There isn't a lot of depth to the characters. I found it a bit annoying how the main character starts the story rebelling against the accepted "truth" of their world, convinced there is more than meets the eye and yet, when the truth is revealed, he develops a stubborn arbitrary scepticism which seems to take way too long to resolve.
September 13, 2015
The world building is fantastic, the ability to hear the face if some one makes me want to be blind! The story on the other hand is a bit slow, but not to slow(like to the point of falling asleep). Plot was great, I have never heard a book like it.
June 23, 2021
My thoughts on this one are just as jumbled as the experience of reading it was.
Dark Universe intrigued me very much once I was through with the starting chapters. A world devoid of light where humans have lost touch with their past and developed a mythos rooted in the duality of light and dark, blew my mind away. But the whole experience, if likened to a mathematical function, was peppered with local maxima and minima (few and far between) with only one instance of global maxima. On the whole it was pretty average.
This being a short read, the readers have to meet the narrative halfway. There were times when I understood what the protagonist was experiencing only belatedly. What with the auditory and heat sensitive existence of the Survivors compounded by the religious connotations of an underground society, there's a lot to digest. From my experience, suspension of disbelief helps. At some point I gave up nitpicking on glossed over details (given the brevity of the book) and just stuck with it to see how Galouye would flesh out his idea. But quite a lot falls on the wayside as the plot progresses. He leaves much to be desired where his characters are concerned. For me they were merely conduits for exploration of the novel world and human condition in response to it. The conflict between the Levels and Zivvers comes to nothing consequential. The Forever Man is never explained and is forgotten. The dialogue and awkward tension between Della and Jared just seemed very mercurial and pigeonholed. Galouye does try to explore themes of indoctrination and superstition, which were the only highlight for me after the mind blowing start. There is a poignant section where the protagonist comes face to face with the realization of what knowledge does to entrenched misplaced beliefs.
Getting someone out of a cult, when every time evidence of obvious reality is presented and they take it as a proof of a conspiracy to destroy them, isn't easy. Dark Universe does a great job in portraying this disconnect. A religion staked on ONE all important mythology comes crashing down on his "ears" but the protagonist still finds it quite hard to let go and goes through all sorts of mental gymnastics to deny the reality. He doubles down and becomes a pain in the ass (flat-earthers come to mind). But just when the plot had me keyed up again with his resistance to disillusionment, it puttered to an end. Oh, how FRUSTRATED I was! With all its ups and downs, I did love sections of it. I wonder if Galouye had a reason to cut it short. The potential to do more was clearly there. (Sigh).
As far as sci-fi goes, this was a unique read. I would recommend it solely for its idea and themes. I wish there was more to base this recommendation on. If you are looking for a short read, give this a go. But if my review makes you decide otherwise, you aren't losing out on much.
Dark Universe intrigued me very much once I was through with the starting chapters. A world devoid of light where humans have lost touch with their past and developed a mythos rooted in the duality of light and dark, blew my mind away. But the whole experience, if likened to a mathematical function, was peppered with local maxima and minima (few and far between) with only one instance of global maxima. On the whole it was pretty average.
This being a short read, the readers have to meet the narrative halfway. There were times when I understood what the protagonist was experiencing only belatedly. What with the auditory and heat sensitive existence of the Survivors compounded by the religious connotations of an underground society, there's a lot to digest. From my experience, suspension of disbelief helps. At some point I gave up nitpicking on glossed over details (given the brevity of the book) and just stuck with it to see how Galouye would flesh out his idea. But quite a lot falls on the wayside as the plot progresses. He leaves much to be desired where his characters are concerned. For me they were merely conduits for exploration of the novel world and human condition in response to it. The conflict between the Levels and Zivvers comes to nothing consequential. The Forever Man is never explained and is forgotten. The dialogue and awkward tension between Della and Jared just seemed very mercurial and pigeonholed. Galouye does try to explore themes of indoctrination and superstition, which were the only highlight for me after the mind blowing start. There is a poignant section where the protagonist comes face to face with the realization of what knowledge does to entrenched misplaced beliefs.
Pausing at the entrance, he let the tension drain out of him like a waning fever. Here was a setting so familiar that he could move confidently about without even using clickstones.
But there was no valid relief, no gentle feeling of homecoming, no elation. The stifling, unnerving curtain of Darkness was pierced only by a barren silence that gave the place an air of incongruity, a tinge of almost hostile strangeness.
Getting someone out of a cult, when every time evidence of obvious reality is presented and they take it as a proof of a conspiracy to destroy them, isn't easy. Dark Universe does a great job in portraying this disconnect. A religion staked on ONE all important mythology comes crashing down on his "ears" but the protagonist still finds it quite hard to let go and goes through all sorts of mental gymnastics to deny the reality. He doubles down and becomes a pain in the ass (flat-earthers come to mind). But just when the plot had me keyed up again with his resistance to disillusionment, it puttered to an end. Oh, how FRUSTRATED I was! With all its ups and downs, I did love sections of it. I wonder if Galouye had a reason to cut it short. The potential to do more was clearly there. (Sigh).
As far as sci-fi goes, this was a unique read. I would recommend it solely for its idea and themes. I wish there was more to base this recommendation on. If you are looking for a short read, give this a go. But if my review makes you decide otherwise, you aren't losing out on much.
November 20, 2013
‘The survivors live deep underground, as far from the Original World as possible. It’s true that some of the hot springs that sustain life are running dry, and they are plagued by the huge and vicious soubats and subject to sudden raids from other tribes. But they are safe from the Twin Devils, Strontium and Cobalt, and protected from the ultimate evil, Radiation. Then something strange and frightening begins: terrible monsters, who bring with them a screaming silence, are seen and people are disappearing. Jared Fenton is a young man who knows that to find out what’s going on he must question the orthodoxies of his faith and defy the law. He must discover the nature of Darkness itself…’
Blurb from the 2000 Gollancz SF Collectors Edition
Jared Fenton is, we soon discover, one of a community which lives in total darkness. Through mutation and adaptation these humans have become adept at ‘seeing’ or rather hearing their surroundings through a system of echo-location. Until now the community has thrived, reverting to a tribal hierarchical system, incorporating a religion based around the concepts of Light and Darkness, and involving the Demon Gods Strontium, Cobalt and Hydrogen.
Recently however, the underground springs which support their manna trees are failing and strange creatures from beyond the borders of their territory appear and begin to kidnap the tribespeople.
It’s a Classic Myth Structure. Our Hero is forced by circumstance to leave his own land, suffer trials and overcome adversities before returning. However, this is no formulaic genre clone. It’s a highly readable and intelligent exercise in the creation of a society.
Another tribe, the Vizzers, lack the talent for judging their surroundings by reflected sound, but can see in infrared.
Ultimately we discover that Jared and the other Survivors (as the tribe calls itself) are indeed the descendants of a group of survivors locked into a self-sufficient nuclear bunker system.
In terms of context it fits the pattern of the times reflecting public paranoia about the Cold War and the consequences of atomic conflict but also strangely – as with other works of the time – permits the idea of the positive effects of human mutation; in this case the development of abilities such as telepathy and infrared vision.
Galouye has crafted an interesting novel in which he portrays not only Jared’s passage into Manhood but into the Light and there is a poignant moment when Jared longs for the familiarity of his home in the Darkness, but realises that he can never go back now that he has experienced Light.
This is a classic example of what is often termed a Pocket Universe, a society living within certain boundaries and labouring under a misconception as to what (if anything) lies beyond the perimeter. Here it could be taken as a metaphor for the boundary between child- and adulthood, moving from the restrictive but safe boundaries of one’s parents into the open world, and unable to return to the darkness of the womb.
It's a minor classic and highly recommended.
Blurb from the 2000 Gollancz SF Collectors Edition
Jared Fenton is, we soon discover, one of a community which lives in total darkness. Through mutation and adaptation these humans have become adept at ‘seeing’ or rather hearing their surroundings through a system of echo-location. Until now the community has thrived, reverting to a tribal hierarchical system, incorporating a religion based around the concepts of Light and Darkness, and involving the Demon Gods Strontium, Cobalt and Hydrogen.
Recently however, the underground springs which support their manna trees are failing and strange creatures from beyond the borders of their territory appear and begin to kidnap the tribespeople.
It’s a Classic Myth Structure. Our Hero is forced by circumstance to leave his own land, suffer trials and overcome adversities before returning. However, this is no formulaic genre clone. It’s a highly readable and intelligent exercise in the creation of a society.
Another tribe, the Vizzers, lack the talent for judging their surroundings by reflected sound, but can see in infrared.
Ultimately we discover that Jared and the other Survivors (as the tribe calls itself) are indeed the descendants of a group of survivors locked into a self-sufficient nuclear bunker system.
In terms of context it fits the pattern of the times reflecting public paranoia about the Cold War and the consequences of atomic conflict but also strangely – as with other works of the time – permits the idea of the positive effects of human mutation; in this case the development of abilities such as telepathy and infrared vision.
Galouye has crafted an interesting novel in which he portrays not only Jared’s passage into Manhood but into the Light and there is a poignant moment when Jared longs for the familiarity of his home in the Darkness, but realises that he can never go back now that he has experienced Light.
This is a classic example of what is often termed a Pocket Universe, a society living within certain boundaries and labouring under a misconception as to what (if anything) lies beyond the perimeter. Here it could be taken as a metaphor for the boundary between child- and adulthood, moving from the restrictive but safe boundaries of one’s parents into the open world, and unable to return to the darkness of the womb.
It's a minor classic and highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2016
I've always been fascinated by concepts such as, for example, imagining a new colour. Even if you could see it in your mind, could you describe it? This author takes on a similar, almost impossible challenge of writing about people who live in total darkness, and who have done so for long that they've lost the cultural memory of light. In fact, they've mythologised Light into a supreme being. In this underground world, men have developed bat-like radar which enables them to "see". Eyes being redundant, many have grown their hair to hang over their faces, a statement and a commitment to the darkness. But one young man, who keeps his eyes open even in the darkness is determined to know and understand more about these accepted dogmas.
How do you find words to describe light for the first time of seeing it?
I'm about 70% through this and although I don't enjoy world-building plots as a general rule, this one is particularly well done and interesting.
I'm desperate for the MCs to finally understand what seeing is and to experience it.
I'll update, as usual, when I'm done.
Finished. Great read. This can be taken literally - post-apocalyptic survivors in an underground bunker where power is lost, losing the memory of light - or you can take it as allegory about man's unwillingness to leave blindness (superstition, religion) behind and embrace the light (science and reason). Either way it's a great little read and I highly recommend for apocalyptic fans.
How do you find words to describe light for the first time of seeing it?
I'm about 70% through this and although I don't enjoy world-building plots as a general rule, this one is particularly well done and interesting.
I'm desperate for the MCs to finally understand what seeing is and to experience it.
I'll update, as usual, when I'm done.
Finished. Great read. This can be taken literally - post-apocalyptic survivors in an underground bunker where power is lost, losing the memory of light - or you can take it as allegory about man's unwillingness to leave blindness (superstition, religion) behind and embrace the light (science and reason). Either way it's a great little read and I highly recommend for apocalyptic fans.
July 3, 2016
This is an amazing book; one of my favorites. Such a wonderful story.
Some bits:
Some bits:
...and some remote recess of his mind dredged up memories of childhood teachings:
What is Light?
Light is a Spirit.
Where is Light?
If it weren't for the evil in man, Light would be everywhere.
Can we feel or hear Light?
No, but in the hereafter we shall all see Him.
Rubbish! Anyway, no one could explain the word see. What did you do to the Almighty when you seed Him?
[...]
He was feeling an object dangling from the upthrust end - something round and brittle that hurled back distinct, ringing tones.
"It's a Bulb!" Owen exclaimed. "Just like the Guardian's relic of Light Almighty!"
Jared's memory resurrected more of the beliefs:
So compassionate was the Almighty (it was the Guardian of the Way's voice that came back now) that when He banished man from Paradise, He sent parts of Himself to be with us for a while. And He dwelled in many little vessels like this Holy Bulb.
October 18, 2015
I read Dark Universe at the recommendation of Richard Dawkins. He extolled the book as an example of “good science fiction”, by which he means fiction that has a strong scientific basis (as opposed to that ‘fantasy’ crap presumably). All of which points to the fact that, whatever Dawkins’ other talents as a biologist and science communicator, his judgement regarding science fiction is open for debate.
That’s not to say that Dark Universe is a bad book, the premise (which I can’t say anything about without revealing key plot points) is quite clever and so is the manner in which it is presented. It’s also got a nice message for those who prefer rationality over its opposite. Unfortunately I found the writing and story-telling to be unexceptional. It certainly wouldn’t be found in my top two list as it was for Dawkins.
For those that are interested, the other sci-fi book Dawkin’s recommended was The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyl. I haven’t read this one yet.
That’s not to say that Dark Universe is a bad book, the premise (which I can’t say anything about without revealing key plot points) is quite clever and so is the manner in which it is presented. It’s also got a nice message for those who prefer rationality over its opposite. Unfortunately I found the writing and story-telling to be unexceptional. It certainly wouldn’t be found in my top two list as it was for Dawkins.
For those that are interested, the other sci-fi book Dawkin’s recommended was The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyl. I haven’t read this one yet.
January 26, 2012
While this book is not a classic of science fiction it sure poses us with some interesting questions of we would perceive reality if we were unable to see. This was specially interesting to me because having heard of the case of a man who "recovered" () from blindness through medical procedures his understanding of the world struck some vague parallelism with the experiences described by the main character of the book.
As a novel probably this is not a fantastic literature work but if you liked Jose's Saramago "Blindness" you are probably going to have a good time reading this book.
As a novel probably this is not a fantastic literature work but if you liked Jose's Saramago "Blindness" you are probably going to have a good time reading this book.
July 24, 2016
Dark Universe has an intriguing premise poorly (or at least boringly) executed. It's about people who live in sealed, lightless caves after a nuclear apocalypse.
I wanted a story about how these people, over generations, have coped with life in the dark. There is some of that, but then there is psychics and way way way too much time spent on the protagonist trying to find Light (which has become a religious concept in this world). For a short book, it was too long. I had to push myself through it.
I wanted a story about how these people, over generations, have coped with life in the dark. There is some of that, but then there is psychics and way way way too much time spent on the protagonist trying to find Light (which has become a religious concept in this world). For a short book, it was too long. I had to push myself through it.
February 23, 2015
In a world of relentless darkness, humanity becomes a society that finds their way via echolocation. But something strange is moving out beyond the sound of the city, and following it will lead to new senses. A novel remarkable for the tangible way in which this dark world is made palpable to the reader. Also worthwhile for the story itself, which is a quest out of the darkness in other ways.
October 17, 2014
An post apocalyptic allegory of an allegory that uses Plato's cave to address the search and painful consequences of enlightenment. Not recommended for readers sensitive to heavy handed religious criticism.
November 26, 2014
I read "Dark Universe" 30 years ago for a course in the Philosophy of Literature.
This is unique book, one in which the language used by the characters plays a role
in the telling of the story.
This is unique book, one in which the language used by the characters plays a role
in the telling of the story.
October 19, 2012
Brilliant thought provoking book
November 27, 2021
A post-nuclear holocaust story.
November 21, 2022
Interesting and novel concept but I could not fully get invested into it, not sure if it was the characters or that I just couldn't find the world believable enough.
June 4, 2017
Es ist lange her, dass ich Science Fiction gelesen habe. Ich bin mit Andreas Eschbach aufgewachsen, und seine Romane haben meinen Blick auf die wissenschaftliche Seite des Universums geprägt. Mit „Dark Universe“ bin ich in dieses Genre zurückgekehrt und obwohl das Buch über 50 Jahre alt ist, kann es auch heute noch faszinieren.
Von der ersten Seite an werden wir in die Welt der absoluten Dunkelheit geworfen, in der Jared lebt. Wir erfahren, dass die Menschen, welche sich Überlebende nennen (nunja, zumindest, nachdem sie einen Partner für die „Vereinigung“ gefunden haben, nennen sie sich so), gelernt haben, ihre Umgebung durch Laute und Echo wahrzunehmen. Jared scheint darin begabter als die meisten anderen, er kann seine Umgebung erstaunlich detailreich wahrnehmen, solange es nur eine Laut-Quelle gibt. Er ist der Sohn des Anführers, doch ausgerechnet er tut sich schwer damit, den religiösen Leitfäden seiner Gesellschaft zu folgen. Das Licht wird als Gottheit angebetet, ohne dass jemand weiß, was das Licht ist, ebenso wie die Finsternis für das Böse steht, obwohl niemand weiß, was Finsternis ist. Einige wissenschaftliche Begriffe haben die Jahrhunderte überdauert – Strontium, Kobalt, Wasserstoff -, doch ihre eigentliche Bedeutung ging verloren, so dass sie jetzt nur noch als Dämonen bezeichnet und gefürchtet sind. Man spricht von einem Paradies, aus welchem die Menschen verbannt wurden, in welchem sie die Fähigkeit hatten, ganz ohne Laute über weite Entfernungen hinweg zu sehen.
Sehen. Ein Begriff, der den Überlebenden noch bekannt ist, aber der ebenfalls seine Bedeutung verloren hat. Niemand weiß, was sehen ist. Niemand weiß, wozu Augen da sind, weswegen die meisten sie ständig geschlossen halten. Dieses Konzept zieht sich konsequent durch den Text, auch das erzählende Wort spricht nie von sehen, sondern immer nur von hören. Am Anfang ist es absonderlich, bei Floskeln wie „Wir sehen später weiter“ oder „Siehst du das dahinten?“ das Wort auszutauschen und hören hinzuschreiben, doch es gestaltet die Welt und macht sie authentisch. Die gesamte Umgebung wird durch hören erschlossen.
Noch spannender wird dieses Konzept in jenem Moment, da wir auf Zivver stoßen, welche erst als andersartige Monster präsentiert werden, doch schnell lernen wir, dass auch sie lediglich Menschen sind, die jedoch keinen überragenden Gehörsinn entwickelt haben, sondern Infrarotsicht. Sie sind den Überlebenden überlegen, da sie immer „zivven“, sie brauchen keine Laut-Quelle, um die Umgebung wahrnehmen zu können. Nur hohe Temperaturen sind ihr Feind, da dann die Wärmesicht versagt. Jared versucht verzweifelt herauszufinden, was zivven ist, doch da er das Konzept von Sehen nicht versteht, kann er nur erahnen, wie Zivver ihre Welt wahrnehmen.
Und noch verwirrter wird er, als die echten, bösartigen, überlegenen Monster auftauchen, welche eine Waffe bei sich tragen, die alle Sinne benebelt und teilweise Menschen in Ohnmacht fallen lässt. Dem Leser ist natürlich vom ersten Augenblick an klar, dass auch dies vermutlich nur Menschen sind, aber dass diese tatsächlich noch über Lichtquellen verfügen. Das „lautlose Geräusch“, welches Jared wiederholt wahrnimmt, bereitet ihm und den anderen Überlebenden Schmerzen, und sie begreifen es nicht. Wie können sie etwas hören, das keinen Laut macht? Denn jede Sinneswahrnehmung, die ihnen ihre Umwelt enthüllt, ist für die Überlebenden hören. Und hören ist mit den Ohren und Geräuschen verbunden. Dass es die Augen sind, welche mit Hilfe von Licht die Umgebung wahrnehmen, versteht Jared erst viel, viel später.
So viel zum Konzept, kommen wir zur eigentlichen Geschichte: Jared will das Licht finden, er zweifelt an der Religion. Als die Monster auftauchen, beschuldigt sein Volk ihn, dass er das über sie gebracht hat, weil er gezweifelt hat. Es gibt eine längere Episode, in der Jared in Kontemplation versunken über das Licht und seinen Glauben nachdenkt. Ihn plagen Gewissensbisse. Das Problem daran ist: Der Leser kann nicht mitleiden. Die gesamte Religion wurde zu keinem Zeitpunkt so präsentiert, dass man ihr Bedeutung zumessen kann. Zumindest keine handlungsleitende Bedeutung. In Romanen, welche sich mit bspw. christlicher Religion beschäftigen, da kann man die Handlungsmotivation von bspw. Mönchen durchaus verstehen, auch wenn man selbst nicht gläubig ist. Hier jedoch wurde die Religion so konfus präsentiert und durch die Brille von Jared von Anfang an mit Zweifeln betrachtet, dass ich als Leser ihr einfach keinerlei Bedeutung für Jared beimessen konnte. Warum einige seiner Handlungen eine Zeit lang in diesem Glauben ihre Motivation fanden, bleibt leider unerklärlich, so spannend die Religion ansonsten auch ist.
Beeindruckt war ich auch vom Ende (erneuter Spoiler-Hinweis!): Jared war stets derjenige, der dachte, das Licht könnte eventuell etwas anderes als eine Gottheit sein, eventuell sogar etwas Physisches sein, doch als er durch Zufall die Außenwelt erreicht, ist er so von Panik erfüllt, dass er zurückkehrt und seine Mitmenschen, welche sich gerade gesammelt auf den Weg aus der Unterwelt hinaus machen, davor warnen will, die Außenwelt zu betreten. Plötzlich ist er derjenige, der am heftigsten dafür kämpft, dass der alte Glaube aufrecht erhalten wird und sich nichts ändert. So überraschend das im ersten Moment auch war, so einleuchtend war es doch, denn das Grauen, das Jared packt, als er die unendliche Weite der Außenwelt das erste Mal sieht und die Hitze der Sonne das erste mal spürt, ist eindringlich geschildert.
Leider gibt es zum Ende hin einige Mängel im Schreibstil, der bis dahin schön zu lesen war. Ich weiß nicht, ob es an der Übersetzung lag, doch bei einem längeren Gespräch die wörtliche Rede ausschließlich mit dem Namen der sprechenden Person und manchmal noch einem Adjektiv zu versehen, das gehört nicht in einen Roman. So schreibt man Theaterstücke. Das hat mich deutlich stolpern lassen. Abgesehen davon haben aber Autor und Übersetzer gute Arbeit geleistet.
FAZIT:
Der Science-Fiction-Roman „Dark Universe – Der Aufbruch“ ist ein spannendes Gedanken-Experiment, das vor dem Hintergrund des Horrors eines globalen Atomkrieges überlegt, wie Menschen ohne ihre Augen in der Welt zurecht kommen würden. Im Jahr 1962 hatte dieses Buch gewiss noch eine größere Schock-Kraft als heute, doch es bleibt spannend und interessant. Einzig der misslungene Aufbau des Religionssystems trübt die Freude ein wenig. „Dark Universe“ erinnert streckenweise an „The Time Machine“ von H. G. Wells und macht genau das, was Science Fiction (unter anderem) tun sollte: Zukunftsszenarien entwerfen und so fantasiereich wie möglich ausformulieren, wohin wissenschaftliche Errungenschaften uns führen und wie Menschen sich entwickeln könnten. Dieses Buch ist wie ein guter Kaffee: anregend und es hält wach!
Von der ersten Seite an werden wir in die Welt der absoluten Dunkelheit geworfen, in der Jared lebt. Wir erfahren, dass die Menschen, welche sich Überlebende nennen (nunja, zumindest, nachdem sie einen Partner für die „Vereinigung“ gefunden haben, nennen sie sich so), gelernt haben, ihre Umgebung durch Laute und Echo wahrzunehmen. Jared scheint darin begabter als die meisten anderen, er kann seine Umgebung erstaunlich detailreich wahrnehmen, solange es nur eine Laut-Quelle gibt. Er ist der Sohn des Anführers, doch ausgerechnet er tut sich schwer damit, den religiösen Leitfäden seiner Gesellschaft zu folgen. Das Licht wird als Gottheit angebetet, ohne dass jemand weiß, was das Licht ist, ebenso wie die Finsternis für das Böse steht, obwohl niemand weiß, was Finsternis ist. Einige wissenschaftliche Begriffe haben die Jahrhunderte überdauert – Strontium, Kobalt, Wasserstoff -, doch ihre eigentliche Bedeutung ging verloren, so dass sie jetzt nur noch als Dämonen bezeichnet und gefürchtet sind. Man spricht von einem Paradies, aus welchem die Menschen verbannt wurden, in welchem sie die Fähigkeit hatten, ganz ohne Laute über weite Entfernungen hinweg zu sehen.
Sehen. Ein Begriff, der den Überlebenden noch bekannt ist, aber der ebenfalls seine Bedeutung verloren hat. Niemand weiß, was sehen ist. Niemand weiß, wozu Augen da sind, weswegen die meisten sie ständig geschlossen halten. Dieses Konzept zieht sich konsequent durch den Text, auch das erzählende Wort spricht nie von sehen, sondern immer nur von hören. Am Anfang ist es absonderlich, bei Floskeln wie „Wir sehen später weiter“ oder „Siehst du das dahinten?“ das Wort auszutauschen und hören hinzuschreiben, doch es gestaltet die Welt und macht sie authentisch. Die gesamte Umgebung wird durch hören erschlossen.
Noch spannender wird dieses Konzept in jenem Moment, da wir auf Zivver stoßen, welche erst als andersartige Monster präsentiert werden, doch schnell lernen wir, dass auch sie lediglich Menschen sind, die jedoch keinen überragenden Gehörsinn entwickelt haben, sondern Infrarotsicht. Sie sind den Überlebenden überlegen, da sie immer „zivven“, sie brauchen keine Laut-Quelle, um die Umgebung wahrnehmen zu können. Nur hohe Temperaturen sind ihr Feind, da dann die Wärmesicht versagt. Jared versucht verzweifelt herauszufinden, was zivven ist, doch da er das Konzept von Sehen nicht versteht, kann er nur erahnen, wie Zivver ihre Welt wahrnehmen.
Und noch verwirrter wird er, als die echten, bösartigen, überlegenen Monster auftauchen, welche eine Waffe bei sich tragen, die alle Sinne benebelt und teilweise Menschen in Ohnmacht fallen lässt. Dem Leser ist natürlich vom ersten Augenblick an klar, dass auch dies vermutlich nur Menschen sind, aber dass diese tatsächlich noch über Lichtquellen verfügen. Das „lautlose Geräusch“, welches Jared wiederholt wahrnimmt, bereitet ihm und den anderen Überlebenden Schmerzen, und sie begreifen es nicht. Wie können sie etwas hören, das keinen Laut macht? Denn jede Sinneswahrnehmung, die ihnen ihre Umwelt enthüllt, ist für die Überlebenden hören. Und hören ist mit den Ohren und Geräuschen verbunden. Dass es die Augen sind, welche mit Hilfe von Licht die Umgebung wahrnehmen, versteht Jared erst viel, viel später.
So viel zum Konzept, kommen wir zur eigentlichen Geschichte: Jared will das Licht finden, er zweifelt an der Religion. Als die Monster auftauchen, beschuldigt sein Volk ihn, dass er das über sie gebracht hat, weil er gezweifelt hat. Es gibt eine längere Episode, in der Jared in Kontemplation versunken über das Licht und seinen Glauben nachdenkt. Ihn plagen Gewissensbisse. Das Problem daran ist: Der Leser kann nicht mitleiden. Die gesamte Religion wurde zu keinem Zeitpunkt so präsentiert, dass man ihr Bedeutung zumessen kann. Zumindest keine handlungsleitende Bedeutung. In Romanen, welche sich mit bspw. christlicher Religion beschäftigen, da kann man die Handlungsmotivation von bspw. Mönchen durchaus verstehen, auch wenn man selbst nicht gläubig ist. Hier jedoch wurde die Religion so konfus präsentiert und durch die Brille von Jared von Anfang an mit Zweifeln betrachtet, dass ich als Leser ihr einfach keinerlei Bedeutung für Jared beimessen konnte. Warum einige seiner Handlungen eine Zeit lang in diesem Glauben ihre Motivation fanden, bleibt leider unerklärlich, so spannend die Religion ansonsten auch ist.
Beeindruckt war ich auch vom Ende (erneuter Spoiler-Hinweis!): Jared war stets derjenige, der dachte, das Licht könnte eventuell etwas anderes als eine Gottheit sein, eventuell sogar etwas Physisches sein, doch als er durch Zufall die Außenwelt erreicht, ist er so von Panik erfüllt, dass er zurückkehrt und seine Mitmenschen, welche sich gerade gesammelt auf den Weg aus der Unterwelt hinaus machen, davor warnen will, die Außenwelt zu betreten. Plötzlich ist er derjenige, der am heftigsten dafür kämpft, dass der alte Glaube aufrecht erhalten wird und sich nichts ändert. So überraschend das im ersten Moment auch war, so einleuchtend war es doch, denn das Grauen, das Jared packt, als er die unendliche Weite der Außenwelt das erste Mal sieht und die Hitze der Sonne das erste mal spürt, ist eindringlich geschildert.
Leider gibt es zum Ende hin einige Mängel im Schreibstil, der bis dahin schön zu lesen war. Ich weiß nicht, ob es an der Übersetzung lag, doch bei einem längeren Gespräch die wörtliche Rede ausschließlich mit dem Namen der sprechenden Person und manchmal noch einem Adjektiv zu versehen, das gehört nicht in einen Roman. So schreibt man Theaterstücke. Das hat mich deutlich stolpern lassen. Abgesehen davon haben aber Autor und Übersetzer gute Arbeit geleistet.
FAZIT:
Der Science-Fiction-Roman „Dark Universe – Der Aufbruch“ ist ein spannendes Gedanken-Experiment, das vor dem Hintergrund des Horrors eines globalen Atomkrieges überlegt, wie Menschen ohne ihre Augen in der Welt zurecht kommen würden. Im Jahr 1962 hatte dieses Buch gewiss noch eine größere Schock-Kraft als heute, doch es bleibt spannend und interessant. Einzig der misslungene Aufbau des Religionssystems trübt die Freude ein wenig. „Dark Universe“ erinnert streckenweise an „The Time Machine“ von H. G. Wells und macht genau das, was Science Fiction (unter anderem) tun sollte: Zukunftsszenarien entwerfen und so fantasiereich wie möglich ausformulieren, wohin wissenschaftliche Errungenschaften uns führen und wie Menschen sich entwickeln könnten. Dieses Buch ist wie ein guter Kaffee: anregend und es hält wach!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2024
Il romanzo è ambientato in un futuro distopico nel quale i Sopravvissuti vivono all'interno di caverne senza luce e percepiscono il mondo solamente tramite 4 sensi (ovvero tutti tranne la vista). La Luce è considerata una divinità inafferrabile, mentre il Buio è visto come il male che si è abbattuto sull'umanità per punirla dei peccati commessi. Jared decide di indagare perchè dentro di sè sente che la Luce è una cosa diversa da quella che tutti credono.
Ottimo romanzo che racconta come un gruppo di persone, abituate a vivere in un determinato modo, fatica a capire quando un elemento esterno si intromette nella normalità e stravolge la normale vita. Il sistema di credenze che per anni si sono radicate nella mente dei protagonisti ben presto si sgretola per dare vita a nuove credenze.
Mi è piaciuto molto come l'autore ha reso il modo in cui i Sopravvissuti percepiscono il mondo tramite i 4 sensi rimasti e come percepiscono poi la Luce la prima volta che la "vedono".
Ottimo anche il fatto che alla fine del libro viene spiegato tutto e nessun aspetto della trama rimane aperto.
Ottimo romanzo che racconta come un gruppo di persone, abituate a vivere in un determinato modo, fatica a capire quando un elemento esterno si intromette nella normalità e stravolge la normale vita. Il sistema di credenze che per anni si sono radicate nella mente dei protagonisti ben presto si sgretola per dare vita a nuove credenze.
Mi è piaciuto molto come l'autore ha reso il modo in cui i Sopravvissuti percepiscono il mondo tramite i 4 sensi rimasti e come percepiscono poi la Luce la prima volta che la "vedono".
Ottimo anche il fatto che alla fine del libro viene spiegato tutto e nessun aspetto della trama rimane aperto.
December 1, 2019
Non mi è piaciuti e non mi ha appassionato ma è solo una cosa soggettiva, se voglio essere obiettivo dico che sicuramente è molto originale, fantasioso e ben scritto e anche se non ha saputo prendermi la storia non è comunque deludente nemmeno nel finale. Sarà che l’ho letto di fretta e magari non ero abbastanza immerso nel mood adeguato. Per l’originalità e la peculiarità della storia più che per tutto il resto.
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