In addition to this reader-response method of writing, MacLeod transforms The Vastness of the Dark into a surprisingly vibrant story that progresses in stages of hue and colour, as opposed to what is suggested by its title. However, MacLeod does happen to use several references to darkness, such as the scenario concerning James and his father being trapped within one of the mining catacombs. James reminisces on this dire situation with a vocabulary finely tuned to the theme of darkness, stating that he and his father were “chilled together in the dampness of the dark” (36). MacLeod also describes materials and images associated with working in a coal mine, specifically, as he includes references to the metal drills, the blackened faces of the miners, and the hues of the houses and sky embodying a sort of grey and black aura (33). As James travels further away from this small, dingy town, however, MacLeod begins to incorporate brighter colours into his narrative. One of the…