Differences between the original and the NME

[Madeline]

I'd like to discuss them, but I read the original version ages ago and I only have the New Millennium Edition right now, so I'm not completely sure what's changed! My impression is that Diane Duane went to a LOT of effort to make this book more respectful, but then I'm left wondering about things like the scene near the end where Darryl stands up in the middle of his classroom and says he's "done here" and asks to go home. What is that supposed to mean in a version of the story where he hasn't been cured somehow?

[Sara]

This is the first I've heard of the different editions. I'm not sure which one I have, (it's at my parents' house rather than move so I can't check) but that scene is present... Now I'm curious too.

[Lenora]

I know this is a 4 year old comment thread but I wanted to respond to this:

"like the scene near the end where Darryl stands up in the middle of his classroom and says he's "done here" and asks to go home"

It has a pretty obvious meaning to me. Darryl has been talking about suffering from autistic burnout - a real effect which happens to some autistic people where they have been working so hard that their sensory and processing functions actually get much worse. An autistic person who could talk and do schoolwork (Or regular work in the case of autistic adults) regresses - loses language or can't handle sensory input they could manage a week before, or needs even more routine and repetition. It's sometimes described as becoming "More autistic" because the obvious symptoms of autism get worse. Usually it's temporary but it can be long and recovery is slow.

It's been clear that during his Ordeal, Darryl has been suffering extra-nasty sensory effects, and regressed to the point of not talking at all. Him standing up and speaking doesn't mean he's cured. It means he's spoken his first words in months, and is coming out of the burnout phase. Being able to talk again because he isn't spending all his time on the Lone Power doesn't mean he's not autistic, just that he's not burned out.

(If your book is a physical copy, it's not the NME)