Fiction books on autism

Post Reply New Topic

If the Doc Martin books are anything like the TV series (which some say they are), I'd recommend them. I only ever saw the TV version - although the author flatly refuses to say whether or not the Doc is on the spectrum, IMHO he is for sure, and I don't say that very often. He keeps doing things that my first impulse would be to do if I hadn't learned to be more diplomatic with people, and his girlfriend has the kind of dyed-in-the-wool neurotypical perspective that I've come to recognise and avoid in potential partners and friends. I found the AS-NT conflicts and misunderstandings between them very reminiscent of some of my own earlier experiences. Though maybe it's just a case of him happening to closely resemble an Aspie who has my particular personality and outlook. Other Aspies might not recognise themselves in him at all for all I know.

The main character is male, but Elizabeth Moon's The Speed of Dark is about autistic people employed by a pharmaceutical research company that hired them as data analysts... until their employer starts encouraging them to 'volunteer' for a newly developed experimental treatment. (As far as I know, Moon herself isn't on the spectrum but has at least one relative who is. The story includes much discussion about a potential 'cure,' with individuals both on and off the spectrum having a variety of opinions - but the characters are individuals, and if the author draws a conclusion it's in favor of individual choice in how we each live our lives.)

Contact With Maldonia is what I guess would probably be termed as a juvenile fiction fantasy novel. It was co-written by Christopher Hood and his then ten year old son Jasper. The central character of the book is a boy called Michael, at no point in the story is he ever referred to as being on the autistic spectrum, in fact when the book was written (in 1982) that terminology was probably unknown. However the descriptions of Michael's thoughts and behaviour positively scream autism at any reader in the know. The book is a simply fantasy story, if that's all you want, but for me at least it has hidden depths of profound insight and pathos. It's a book that I've read over and over again and the impact it has on me never lessens.

The Quiet Earth, by Craig Harrison (2013)

Sci-fi, the main character might be autistic, and it's kind of about his autistic son, but basically everyone disappears one day at 6:12 am, except for him. I would call it post-apocalyptic.

I remember reading a book that my mom brought home...it was about a medium/low functioning kid and to other people his behavior in the book seemed wierd.....but I couldn't help but see myself in that kid...cannot remember the name but he has some sort of fascination with the color red.

Existence, by David Brin

Sci-fi, fiction. Extensive dialogue about the nature of autism, especially how it relates to the future.

Kaleidoscope by Kevin Berry. This is the sequel to Stim, which also features an autistic character, but a male one.

1976 book "The Hospital Ship" by Martin Bax who according to Neurotribes was authored by a doctor
http://www.ndbooks.com/book/the-hospital-ship/