Books › This time of darkness
This time of darkness
First published 1980 · 176 pages
A tense, upward climb out of the dark, fueled by the desperate hope for a world unseen.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like holding your breath in a dark, enclosed space, waiting for the exact right moment to run. It is a propulsive, atmospheric thriller that leans heavily into a claustrophobic, shadowy mood, making the reader feel the grime and weight of a subterranean existence. The narrative is driven by an urgent, determined tone, focusing on the sheer emotional weight of defying forbidden rules to seek something better. As a piece of classic juvenile science fiction, it balances the bleakness of an oppressive environment with the fierce, undeniable spark of hope. It will deeply satisfy readers who love the tension of a desperate escape and the relentless, upward momentum of a journey toward the unknown.
- Mood
- claustrophobic
- tense
- shadowy
- desperate
- Tone
- urgent
- determined
- gritty
- earnest
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- defying oppressive systems · the drive for freedom · seeking the unknown · hope in dark places
- The writing
- Direct and atmospheric, grounding the reader in the grime of the setting while maintaining the relentless momentum of a thriller.
- The arc
- Moves from the suffocating weight of a dark, confined existence to the breathless, high-stakes tension of a forbidden ascent.
- Who it's for
- Young adult and sci-fi readers who crave tense, atmospheric survival stories about breaking the rules to find a better world.
Content notes
- claustrophobia
- oppressive environments
About the book
Although both know it is forbidden, Amy and Axel hope that by following the countless ramps leading upward they can escape from their filthy subterranean world.
Description from Open Library.
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