NIGHTFALL
I have no idea how much of this book was written by each author, or even if Asimov's contribution was simply the short story and Silverberg expanded it alone. I sincerely doubt that since I have read Silverberg and find this novel different in tone from most of his works. This leads me to believe that the Good Doctor did indeed play a role in the writing of this book, though again, I simply don't know the truth of the matter. Regardless of who wrote what, I treasure this book.
Kalgash is a world with six suns. Normally anywhere from 2 to 5 are in the sky at all times, though every few years it is graced with a 5 sun day, while of course half the world is subjected to the rare 1 sun day. While a 1 sun day is unusual, at no time in recorded history has there been a time when no sun was shining in the sky. But things are about to change for the people of Kalgash.
~TWILIGHT~
Sheerin 501 of Saro University is called upon to consult with the head of a psychiatric hospital. It seems that a new attraction at the Jonglor Centennial Exposition is having some unfortunate affects on a number of people who have experienced it. It's a ride. 15 minutes passing through the Tunnel of Mystery. 15 minutes of Darkness. While most people seem to be unaffected, there are some who experience mild to severe mental disorders. A few have even died.
Saro University's Siferra 89 is directing an archaeological dig at Beklimot, the oldest known city on Kalgash, the cradle of civilization. An approaching sandstorm threatens to ruin all her work, but something miraculous happens. Emerging from shelter after the storm, she sees that the storm has opened a rift in a nearby hill. The sight of a midden heap used by the peoples of Beklimot, the hill reveals that below the midden heap is the remains of a city. And below that, another. And another. At least 7 and as many as 9 cities once existed at the site. Seperating the ruins of each city is a layer of charcoal, evidence that each and every one was destroyed by fire.
Beenay 25, a young astronomer from Saro U. has a problem. He has stumbled upon evidence that the Theory of Universal Gravitation is somehow flawed. Kalgash's orbit is not precisely where the Theory predicted it to be. He has two brilliant students check his conclusions and to his horror, they agree. So he takes his findings to his mentor, the great Athor 77, who also happens to be the author of the Theory of Universal Gravitation. It is eventually agreed that the Theory is not wrong, but that something unseeable in the heavens is affecting the orbit of Kalgash. What this something may be, nobody knows, for it is universally accepted that the universe is solely made up of Kalgash and its six suns.
Through all of this, the Apostles of the Flame are predincting the end of the world is nigh. The gods will soon bring darkness to Kalgash and fire will fall from the sky to punish the sinful of the world. As happens every Year of Godliness (2049 years to us) according to them.
Preliminary studies of the Beklimot find lead Siferra to the conclusion that each ancient city burned to the ground at about 2,000 year intervals.....
And the team at the Observatory have come to a stunning conclusion. The only theory that supports the evidence points to the existence of an unknown planetary body orbiting Kalgash. Unseeable because of the glare of its six suns, it's course is plotted using the confilicting data between Kalgash's actual orbit and that predicted by the Theory of Universal Gravitation.
The course of this new planet is plotted through the years on a computer and the stunning conclusion shocks them all. Kalgash 2 as it is called, will within the year pass between Kalgash and one of its suns. On a one sun day! A total eclipse of the only sun in the sky. And this unique allignment happens every 2,049 years.
All of the planet will witness the Darkness, for a time ranging from 9 to 14 hours as the world rotates during the eclipse.
The Apostles of the Flame have predicted the end of the world on the very same day that the astronomers predict the total eclipse ot the sun. So apparently, the Apostles are right about the coming Darkness. But what of these mysterious stars they talk about? And what of the heavenly flames?
~NIGHTFALL~
The day has finally arrived. For nearly a year the University has warned the world of the coming events. Dr. Sheerin predicts that nightfall will drive the vast majority of people to madness. In their desperate attempt to escape the Darkness, they wil light fires. Anything that will burn will be set aflame in an attempt to turn back the Darkness. So the University lobbies the government to construct sanctuaries where the populace can hide from the eclipse.
But nobody is listening. The scientists are lumped together with the Apostles as doom-sayers and are largely ignored. Beenay's friend, Theremon 762 of the Saro City Chronicle is partly to blame for this as he cannot accept the reality of the eclipse and unmercifully ridicules the University in his column.
But the world is about to discover the truth for themselves.
Nightfall has arrived.
And the people of Kalgash will realize that there is something far worse than Darkness.
.....stars
~DAYBREAK~
The story doesn't end at nightfall, for there is a morning after. And a morning after that.
Science-fiction fans should enjoy this book. While far from perfect, it is definitely entertaining and ultimately satisfying. The authors do a wonderful job of making the fears of the characters understandable and natural, quite a feat since they are so alien (the fears, not the people). And while the end isn't exactly what I had hoped (endings are VERY important to me in deciding whether I enjoy a book), it does provide some sense of closure in such a way that the reader isn't left hanging. Overall, I highly recommend this one for everybody who is a fan of the genre. And for anyone who enjoys a finely crafted book.
Related Links:
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Other books by the authors:
The Gods Themselves