A fascinating exploration of the mind of a person with autism who faces complex and profound questions about the essence of humanity and alienation in a utopian world. 2004 Nebula Award Winner 2003 Arthur C. Clarke Award Finalist 2004 Locus Award Nominee d. Nomination for the Geffen Prize 2005 (Israel). Nomination for the Grand Imagination Prize 2007 (France). Nomination for the Kurd Lasswitz Prize 2008 (Germany). Near future. Medicine has advanced so much that doctors can eliminate any genetic defects and hereditary diseases immediately at birth. But, unfortunately, there is a whole generation of people who appeared before the advent of this therapy. Society teaches them to get along with the whole healthy world through various programs, but cannot make them normal. Until a certain point. Lou Arrendale is a representative of this lost generation. He leads a quiet and independent life, apart from annual visits to a psychologist, has a stable job at a pharmaceutical company, has learned to look people in the eye, knows how to take into account polite conventions in conversations, and does everything possible to be as normal as possible and not attract attention to himself. . But now his quiet life is under threat. A new experimental treatment is emerging that can cure adults with autism spectrum disorders. After him, Lou will become the same as everyone around him. But Lou wonders: if he gets rid of autism, will he remain himself? Will you still love classical music? See the same colors and patterns, shades and tones in the world that are not available to others? And, most importantly, will he still love Marjorie, a girl who will probably never love him back while he is sick? Lou must decide whether he should agree to an operation that could completely change his worldview... And his very essence. “A beautiful and touching story... The writer is the mother of a teenager with autism, and her love for him is revealed in Lou's story. It has a deep and lasting impact on the reader, showing them a different way of looking at the world.” – The Denver Post “Every once in a while, a book comes along that is both a major literary achievement and a completely captivating read—a book with provocative ideas and an equally gripping plot. This novel is exactly that.” - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Brilliant and talented... This book truly changes the reader's worldview." – The Washington Post Book World “A fascinating journey through the dark edges of the subconscious that helps you understand yourself.” – The Seattle Times “A remarkable journey that plunges us into the mind of an autistic man faced with a terrible choice: become normal or remain an alien on his own planet.” – Mary Doria Russell