Although lacking in characterization, his novel rests on the ingenuity of his world - and more aptly, on the skill which Galouye formulates the society which has developed underground. He was correctly rewarded with a Hugo nomination. Galouye had previously published rather run of the mill pulp action sci-fi until this novel - his very first. With the aid of Della, he uncovers the mysteries of his world.ĭaniel F. They are ostracized from the other humans who believe them to be tainted. The Zivvers are also humans who have heightened sense of vision in that they are able to see the infra-red spectrum (and thus, poor hearing and olfactory senses). His journey for answers is delayed by his society’s desire for him to marry - until a series of events occur which lead him into contact with the Zivvers. Jared Fenton has nagging questions about the concepts of Light and Darkness which have become enshrouded with religions connotations (and misconceptions). The society they have formed deep underground away from the light clusters around hot springs that are mysteriously going dry. Instead, the people developed various skills (aided, perhaps implausibly by mutations from radiation) including the heightened ability to hear - the sound waves produced by clicking stones enable Jared and his people navigate the cave passages.

Then after a period of time, humanity descended deeper underground altogether losing the ability to create light. Galouye’s world is quite disturbing - mankind first retreated after a nuclear fallout to what is called the Original World, an underground upper level which possessed artificial light sources. I picked up a copy before heading off to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky (the longest cave system in the world), read twenty pages, and decided to wait until after the cave tour. Nominated Hugo Award (1962) - narrowly lost to Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land

Dark universe by daniel f galouye