Dark Universe

Richard Dawkins Recommends this science-fiction classic in which a race of survivors lives 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 realizes he must put everything he knows behind him, and question the nature of Darkness itself.

BONUS AUDIO: In an exclusive introduction, evolutionary biologist and best-selling author Richard Dawkins explains why, "of all the novels I have ever read, this is, perhaps, the one that I find myself describing to others more often than any other".

©2000 Gollancz (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

good sci fi

this was a good sci fi story. I like the performance and will look for more books read by him.

Interesting and plausible

Although written in the 60s this book has a plausible branch of truth to it. The book was not the usual dribble of easily guessable plot twists and held my attention for the most part. I rate it 4 for the content and a 3 for ease of reading (I was bored on occasion).

Literal & spiritual examination of darkness

Not only is this a very well imagined world where nobody can see - it is a world where humans have lost any understanding of sight; even the verb "to see" is lost to language.

While the premise might be a bit on the edge of believability (how many generations, really, would it take for humans to forget they ever could see?), the author is very consistent - there are no "slip ups" in referencing any aspect of sight.

The book has a philosophical look at light versus darkness (in both a literal sense and in a spiritual one) and this is also quite well-done: it doesn't feel at all patronizing or moralizing.

The story is perhaps a bit "dry" and involves a lot of rushing around, and the interpersonal relationships seem a bit contrived, but is very interesting in the different perspective it provides, more than for its storyline.

The narration is very good. (I skipped the ~7 minute introduction by Dawkins, however, because it was rather boring and not very well spoken.)

Unique Sci fi world

How the author constructed a world without light is done very well and mostly everything is believable as something that could happen.

Enjoyable Classic Science Fiction

Good story and narration for a classic science fiction tale with some interesting concepts.

NOTE: Audible has not matched the book's chapters with the audible chapters which is a bit weird.