The Speed of the Dark

by Alex Shearer

Christopher Mallan loves Ernst Eckmann's sculptures. He visits his gallery often on his way home from school to marvel at the creations. They are so tiny and perfect they appear almost real. One day, the impossible happens - Christopher sees a sculpture move and dance. It even seems to breathe.

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens, Science Fiction, Contemporary, Fantasy

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Alex Shearer started his writing career as a scriptwriter and has had great success in that field. His credits include The Two of Us, the 1990s sitcom starring Nicholas Lyndhurst. More recently he has started writing for children. His Wilmot stories have been adapted for TV by Yorkshire television, and his children's novel, The Greatest Store in the World, was screened as a feature length TV film on Christmas Eve 1999 by the BBC. Alex's recent novel 'The Speed of the Dark' was shortlisted for the 2002 Guardian Fiction Prize

Alex Shearer lives with his family in Somerset. He has written more than a dozen books for both adults and children, as well as many successful television series, films, and stage and radio plays. He has had over thirty different jobs, and has never given up trying to play the guitar.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. After I'd finished, I wondered why it wasn't more popular than it was. Admittedly, the book cover isn't as captivating as it could be, but the simple act of reading the blurb never hurt anybody.

It's sinister, it's indirectly dark and thus best read at night for maximum emotional effect. It's chilling the way the author grabs at supposedly ordinary and innocent things and twists them into something that has you aghast. This is a highly original story, and one I couldn't stop thinking about weeks after I'd finished.

The story begins with a scientist talking about his recluse of a colleague, Christopher, who he says has disappeared - just vanished, seemingly off the face of the earth. And then the scientist, who is actually writing/talking to the man investigating Christopher's disappearance (at least I think so, I can't remember this part too well) says that Christopher wrote an account of his life in adolescence and gave it to him (the scientist) in a means to explain where he has gone and why he has gone and what has led up to it. What follows is also the tale of Ernst Eckstrom, a dwarf and an artist who can create masterpieces out of specks of sand. He specialises in creating art in miniscule form. So miniscule that his art pieces have to be viewed from beneath a microscope.

I don't want to ruin too much for those of you who are going to read this book, so the only other things I'll say are (and these aren't major spoilers, but just in case I've put them in spoiler tags):

Ernst Eckstrom is in love with Poppea.
Poppea is Christopher's father's girlfriend.
One day Poppea and Christopher's father disappear.

Enjoy the read, it's well worth it.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decently thrilling Frankenstein-esque story. It peaks somewhat early, and has a lot of descending action, but still gives you the "Oh, now I get it" moments any decent thriller will.

[Peter.b · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a man, who had lived through a life that was more unhappy than happiness. He has lost both his parents in a different way. His father was robbed from him by a man who also loved him but also jealous, and his mother went away when he was very young. Another person, a woman, was kind to the man in his childhood years, but the same man who robbed the boy of his father took her as well, because he loved her. He shrunk them to tiny people that they are the size of grains, and hid them in a snow dome so no one but himself could ever see them again. Later on the boy found out when he was in high school, and at that time the woman and man had birth to a child, a girl who is the sister of the boy. So from then on, he took care of them, by using the method that the man who robbed from him to send them things, by the speed of the dark.

Conflicts: Man vs Person: One time when this happen was when Chris Mallan, the main character, had a fight with his currant guardian and parent, Mr. Eckmann, because Eckmann had found a piece of homework that isn't finished and had said things that was very hurtful to Chris so he stormed off to his room. But later they forgave each other.

Man vs Nature: There wasn't really one in this book, but if you call "science" nature, then this would count: Eckmann was trying to find a way to reverse the shrinking process and turn them back to the original form, but couldn't find one and died from a heart attack. Chris tried to find one also years later, but didn't succeed, so he passed it on to his friend.

Man vs Society: Eckmann was ignoring the comments that people made because he was short and a bit stubby. But later on he didn't get called by it anymore so maybe people got used to him.

Man vs Self: Chris would sometimes remember what had happened in the past when he was a teenage boy in high school so he might daydream or wouldn't concentrate on his work, but he still got through in the end when he found out the truth behind his dads disappearance.

[Chantal Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a delightful experience I found this book at my local surgery and purchased for 50p. A very excellent purchase it was. You may never look at things the same again.

[Verena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really resonated with me. I read it a few years ago and I still remember it well which is unusual for me.
It is very fascinating. I should definitely reread it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this when I was about 12 and the weirdness of it stuck with me, and the general unsettling vibe, even though I couldn't remember much about the plot. Re-reading it now, it was so much creepier and darker than I remember, or possibly understood as a child, and so, so compellingly written.

[Karol Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

zakochałam się w tej książce :)

[Dan F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shit was mid, only remember like 3 good chapters.

[ufo28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for teen's,but in my opinion it's really worth reading by anyone.I was hooked right from the beginning,and I read this in 24 hours.Fantastic story full of twists,you just can't stop reading,I loved the dwarf with his darkest secrets and double personality full of contradictions!!!And the author makes you identify with the couple and their son.The concept is really unique and at the same time very simplistic and wonderful,full of charm.LOvED IT!!!

[Lioba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this yesterday and really liked it. It's really a teen book I guess. I read it because I loved his 'The Stolen' that I read last year. This one got a bit lengthy for a while towards the end but it was still fascinating. It left me wondering - and with a strange feeling of déjà vu...

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The plot came together beautifully and the concept was very original, backed up by strong characters and decent writing. It keeps you reading right the way through.

[Danyil C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters are quite easy to relate to and the plot is original (as usual with Alex); quite a good book actually.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow starter, but once I was in I was hooked!

[Zengfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a satisfying, short and to the point novel, it puts a modern and very sinister twist on the generic sci-fi topics.

[Ai · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love the idea of microscopic sculptures

[Thy Ngo]

havent finished.

[Thu Thuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah! Ein schönes Buch >.<
Ein paar traenchen sind gefallen und auch wunderschön geschrieben.

[Sarina]

Interesting starting lines.