Dark Universe (1961) by Daniel Galouye is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel set in a world where survivors of a nuclear holocaust live in total darkness in underground caves. Over generations, they develop a religious belief system centered around Light and Darkness, where Light symbolizes God, and Darkness represents sin. The protagonist, Jared Fenton, a young man questioning his people's beliefs, embarks on a journey to discover Light. Along the way, he faces superstition, danger from monstrous creatures, and conflict with other clans. Ultimately, Jared ventures beyond the caves, encountering humans who help him transition back to the planet's surface, where he confronts the concept of Light in a new way. The novel explores the tension between faith and knowledge, drawing parallels with Plato’s "Allegory of the Cave."
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