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Movement: A Short Story
This brief story is a 2012 Hugo and Nebula nominee.When her parents investigate a treatment that could change her life forever, Hannah's world is thrown into turmoil. Unable to speak -- at least not in ways most people can understand -- Hannah struggles to face the question of who she really is, and who she wishes to become.Originally published in the March 2011 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, "Movement" was marked Highly Recommended by Lois Tilton of Locus Reviews. Mundane-SF called it the "best story I have read so far this year", and SFRevu called it "a truly fine story". It is quite short, easily readable during a half-hour lunch break, and interweaves Hannah's sincere narrative with concepts drawn from neurology, entropy, social evolution and chaos theory.About 17 pages or 4000 words.
26 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Fulda
47 books29 followersNancy Fulda is a past Hugo and Nebula Nominee, a Phobos Award winner and a Vera Hinckley Mayhew Award recipient. She is also a recipient of the Jim Baen Memorial Award. She holds a Masters Degree in Computer Science with an emphasis in Machine Learning. She also loves dancing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 21, 2011
Excellent. A serious short story that helps the reader see certain things in a new light.
Anyone who has had any interactions with people who see the world differently should enjoy this story.
Anyone who has had any interactions with people who see the world differently should enjoy this story.
October 29, 2021
Um conto fabuloso e cativante sobre um futuro que talvez não esteja tão distante!
Leva a pensar o que será/foi a nossa evolução de uma forma Intrigante, hilariante e curiosa!
Leva a pensar o que será/foi a nossa evolução de uma forma Intrigante, hilariante e curiosa!
May 26, 2012
This is the story of Hannah, a girl with temporal autism, a futur-y version of the sort of autism spectrum disorders people have now. She sees the world in a different way, and seems to have a different sense of time than those around her.
Her parents are faced with a decision. If they try an experimental treatment on their daughter, she will likely be able to lead a normal life, but her special abilities will be gone. If they do nothing, there is a chance she will someday be considered brilliant--- but a much greater chance that she will never be able to function as a normal person or live outside an institution.
Hannah understands what her parents are talking about, and in time decides what it is she wants, but the question is, will she find the words to let her parents know?
As a person with an autism spectrum disorder (Asperger Syndrome) I found this to be a very compelling symbolic picture of what life is like for people like me. I'm grateful to the author Nancy Fulda for writing it, and for author Mike Duran for interviewing Nancy Fulda on his blog so I was able to find out about it.
Her parents are faced with a decision. If they try an experimental treatment on their daughter, she will likely be able to lead a normal life, but her special abilities will be gone. If they do nothing, there is a chance she will someday be considered brilliant--- but a much greater chance that she will never be able to function as a normal person or live outside an institution.
Hannah understands what her parents are talking about, and in time decides what it is she wants, but the question is, will she find the words to let her parents know?
As a person with an autism spectrum disorder (Asperger Syndrome) I found this to be a very compelling symbolic picture of what life is like for people like me. I'm grateful to the author Nancy Fulda for writing it, and for author Mike Duran for interviewing Nancy Fulda on his blog so I was able to find out about it.
January 21, 2020
Bonita historia de introspección personal de una persona con un trastorno parecido al autismo en un futuro cercano en el que prima más la normalidad que la originalidad o el ser único. Por ello sus padres se plantean un tratamiento experimental que puede curar su problema, pero ella ve la vida de una manera muy particular .
Arroja una luz al modo de vida de personas con este tipo de dificultades de una forma muy respetuosa, a la vez que nos da un precioso alegato por la originalidad y la singularidad narrado con un estilo melancólico y cercano. Me ha faltado quizás algo más de historia y los elementos tecnológicos no aportan en exceso al conjunto (aunque he de reconocer que el matamosquitos tiene su gracia).
Arroja una luz al modo de vida de personas con este tipo de dificultades de una forma muy respetuosa, a la vez que nos da un precioso alegato por la originalidad y la singularidad narrado con un estilo melancólico y cercano. Me ha faltado quizás algo más de historia y los elementos tecnológicos no aportan en exceso al conjunto (aunque he de reconocer que el matamosquitos tiene su gracia).
November 28, 2019
I read this short story for free very quickly on the author's website. It is an interesting dive into the future, and into the brain of a neurodivergent thinker: a dancer with autism.
As the mother of an atypical child, this was a beautiful read for me. I usually hate short stories because they make me feel stupid—this one did not. The language is beautiful. The story is a little sad, but I can handle that.
If you know a person who doesn't speak, it doesn't mean that they have nothing to say.
As the mother of an atypical child, this was a beautiful read for me. I usually hate short stories because they make me feel stupid—this one did not. The language is beautiful. The story is a little sad, but I can handle that.
If you know a person who doesn't speak, it doesn't mean that they have nothing to say.
June 25, 2023
Fresh in my mind this is a thought-provoking short story. I think this feeling and style is to mimic the feeling of the book and maybe I'll think of it more fondly as I turn it over in my mind.
I'll definitely return to it. Very worth the few minutes it takes to read.
I'll definitely return to it. Very worth the few minutes it takes to read.
November 22, 2017
Beautiful.
January 17, 2017
This review was originally published on The Serial Bookseller
Less than 30 pages long, and beautiful. This story centers around a young girl named Hannah, who was born with a rare condition that changes the way she interprets time. Many of her personality traits coincide with something on the autism spectrum. Indeed Nancy Fulda is the mother of a child who was born with autism.
The story is told first person from Hannah’s point of view as she wanders out of her home, no longer wishing to hear her parents discuss her future with a doctor. She examines flowers on the street. She walks to a nearby cathedral and dances in one of small rooms therein. Dancing is one of her talents. Ballet more specifically. Through dance she communicates. She feels at peace.
I think there is one line that really got me caught up in the story. The metaphor is obvious, but poignant.
“I want the flytrap to survive, but I can tell from the sickly color of its leaves that this is unlikely. I wonder, if the plant had been offered the certainty of mediocrity rather than the chance of greatness, would it have accepted?”
Movement is a stirring short story that offers a glimpse into a world many of us are quick to dismiss as damaged. Fulda shows us that really it is just different. And in its difference, we find wonder, beauty, and love. A wonderful message for the new year, and life in general.
Less than 30 pages long, and beautiful. This story centers around a young girl named Hannah, who was born with a rare condition that changes the way she interprets time. Many of her personality traits coincide with something on the autism spectrum. Indeed Nancy Fulda is the mother of a child who was born with autism.
The story is told first person from Hannah’s point of view as she wanders out of her home, no longer wishing to hear her parents discuss her future with a doctor. She examines flowers on the street. She walks to a nearby cathedral and dances in one of small rooms therein. Dancing is one of her talents. Ballet more specifically. Through dance she communicates. She feels at peace.
I think there is one line that really got me caught up in the story. The metaphor is obvious, but poignant.
“I want the flytrap to survive, but I can tell from the sickly color of its leaves that this is unlikely. I wonder, if the plant had been offered the certainty of mediocrity rather than the chance of greatness, would it have accepted?”
Movement is a stirring short story that offers a glimpse into a world many of us are quick to dismiss as damaged. Fulda shows us that really it is just different. And in its difference, we find wonder, beauty, and love. A wonderful message for the new year, and life in general.
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May 29, 2012Even though I read this story in about 15 minutes while I was putting off studying, Movement made quite an impression on me. I happen to know less than the average person about autism, (meaning... I know NOTHING) but it wasn't hard to figure out. She sees time and the world as something that's constantly moving, changing, and speaking seems... futile. Why waste the time and effort trying to keep up with a conversation that's merely ephimeral and will have no lasting impact on anything in the end? I definitely see where she's coming from, though I'm not autistic. Movement was beautifully written from Hannah's POV. I would recommend it to everyone.
On another point, though, look at the cover. Weren't her pointe shoes supposed to be worn to the bare leather and wood? The ones in the picture look like they haven't even been broken in yet! Just saying.
Four out of Five for reasons of personal preference to books with more than 20 pages.
On another point, though, look at the cover. Weren't her pointe shoes supposed to be worn to the bare leather and wood? The ones in the picture look like they haven't even been broken in yet! Just saying.
Four out of Five for reasons of personal preference to books with more than 20 pages.
March 16, 2015
"They think that, because I choose not to respond, I do not notice they are there."
Movement is a short story told from the point of view of a teenager with a future form of autism as she watches her parents discuss possible changes for her future. Heavy themes of individuality, disability, and social acceptance are woven in seamlessly and never become overbearing. While one side of her parents' dilemma is clearly favored in the case presented, it's done in a way to prompt further consideration rather than coming across as the obvious and universal better choice and the other side has valid points illustrated throughout the discourse. The little touches of science fiction in this story are used just right to add layers and allow the author to tailor the narrative to have more impact and smoother flow.
Movement is a beautiful, thoughtful tale that packs an incredible amount of depth into its short eighteen pages. Highly recommended.
Movement is a short story told from the point of view of a teenager with a future form of autism as she watches her parents discuss possible changes for her future. Heavy themes of individuality, disability, and social acceptance are woven in seamlessly and never become overbearing. While one side of her parents' dilemma is clearly favored in the case presented, it's done in a way to prompt further consideration rather than coming across as the obvious and universal better choice and the other side has valid points illustrated throughout the discourse. The little touches of science fiction in this story are used just right to add layers and allow the author to tailor the narrative to have more impact and smoother flow.
Movement is a beautiful, thoughtful tale that packs an incredible amount of depth into its short eighteen pages. Highly recommended.
July 19, 2012
Read as part of the 2012 Hugo voter packet.
Hannah is a young girl with temporal autism; it takes days or weeks for her to formulate and deliver the perfect answer to a question, by which time everyone has moved on. A side effect of Hannah’s condition is her incredible ballet dancing ability. Hannah’s parents are faced with a decision – to try an experimental gene therapy which may cure Hannah at the cost of her dancing ability, or to watch as she grows up in a world where she’s different from everyone else, and hope that her dancing makes her extraordinary. I found myself really enjoying this story, and could easily put myself in Hannah’s shoes (so to speak), misunderstood and frustrated at others inability to understand her, and stuck subject to their decisions.
Hannah is a young girl with temporal autism; it takes days or weeks for her to formulate and deliver the perfect answer to a question, by which time everyone has moved on. A side effect of Hannah’s condition is her incredible ballet dancing ability. Hannah’s parents are faced with a decision – to try an experimental gene therapy which may cure Hannah at the cost of her dancing ability, or to watch as she grows up in a world where she’s different from everyone else, and hope that her dancing makes her extraordinary. I found myself really enjoying this story, and could easily put myself in Hannah’s shoes (so to speak), misunderstood and frustrated at others inability to understand her, and stuck subject to their decisions.
March 15, 2016
Beautifully written, beautifully characterized. This is my first time reading anything by Nancy Fulda and I was completely drawn in by her prose style. This story is written in the present tense, which I don't usually like, but it compliments the theme of the story perfectly and is so well executed that I didn't even notice the tense until I was almost done. I've not read much science fiction that deals with mental illness, probably because it's a topic many writers seem to shy away from, and I really appreciated how respectful Fulda was in the handling of the subject. I look forward to further exploring her work.
June 22, 2016
I'm exploring short stories, and this was one of the first ones I've read recently that caught my attention. It's a near-future Sci-fi story that, on the surface, concerns whether or not an autistic young woman should undergo an experimental new treatment to better socialize with her peers, but the story is also about temporality, biological evolution, and existential crisis. A lot of interesting ideas are packed into this short story--no wonder it was nominated for both the Hugo and the Nebula awards!
April 14, 2012
Currently reading through the hugo-nominated short stories for 2012. Like many of this year's nominations, this story deals with family and parent-child relationships. I loved the little futuristic elements and the vastly different perspective but unfortunately that also meant I wasn't able to connect to the viewpoint quite as well as I'd have liked. Still a great story though with a lot of depth.
January 5, 2013
This is a beautifully written story about an autistic girl, the proposed treatment her parents are offered to cure her, and their mutual decision about it. One of the messages is that autistic people are not ill in a traditional sense, and that they do not necessarily need to be “cured” to have meaningful lives. It’s a story with food for thought from someone who obviously has had experience with an autistic person.
August 15, 2012
Nancy Fulda writes like poet and writes about Autism and Science Fiction in a different point of view. You can read the never-ending growth of her talent in this short story. A great short read for lovers of general sci fi with a unique twist.
August 20, 2013
A sad and rather wishful story from the point of view of an autistic girl faced with the possibility of an experimental treatment that may cure her – but make her less ‘special.’ Well-written, but I’m deducting a star for my personal dislike of romanticizing brain dysfunction.
March 3, 2012
I liked this story a great deal. Simple, imaginative and thought provoking!
April 26, 2012
Short story, read online.
The story is told from an interesting perspective, raising issues of communication and identity. Do "treatments" to make us fit in fundamentally alter who we are?
The story is told from an interesting perspective, raising issues of communication and identity. Do "treatments" to make us fit in fundamentally alter who we are?
May 21, 2012
Very lovely, truthful and thought provoking.
May 25, 2012
The writing's nice, but there's nothing new here.
May 28, 2012
Neither as profound or as touching as it wants to be, sadly. Good intentions and decent writing, but a bit mawkish and cliched.
June 2, 2012
Available for free on the author's website
July 20, 2012
Reviewed as part of the 2012 Hugo packet.
Deceptively simply written, this one is beautiful. The short length was right for it, and it felt complete.
Deceptively simply written, this one is beautiful. The short length was right for it, and it felt complete.
July 16, 2014
This short story provoked some turbulence in my mind，beautifully.
October 12, 2015
I love, love this story. The very first time I read it, it immediately pierced something within me. And the prose is absolutely breathtaking.
May 7, 2016
I very rarely give 5 stars to a work. This story is from the point of view of a girl with temporal autism whose parents are deciding whether to try a "cure" to make her normal.
August 2, 2012
A neat little idea. Good as a short story, but I would certainly read more about the protagonist.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews