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Nightfall
"Nightfall" is a 1941 science fiction short story by the American writer Isaac Asimov about the coming of darkness to the people of a planet ordinarily illuminated by sunlight at all times. It was adapted into a novel with Robert Silverberg in 1990. The short story has been included in large number of anthologies and has appeared in six collections of Asimov's stories. In 1968, the Science Fiction Writers of America voted "Nightfall" the best science fiction short story written prior to the 1965 establishment of the Nebula Awards and included it in "The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One, 1929–1964".
40 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 1, 1941
11 people are currently reading
912 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,337 books27.6k followersWorks of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles,
The Foundation Trilogy
(1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
September 1, 2025
چقدر ناامیدکننده.. خیلیا میگفتن یکی از بهترین داستانای کوتاه آسیموفه، با این حال دنیای خلق شده تو این داستان حتی یه ذره هم برام باورپذیر نبود و نتونستم درکش کنم و ترس این بیگانههای شبه انسان از تاریکیِ مطلق رو واقعاً بفهمم
ولی ایدهی اینکه موجودات یه سیاره فقط هر 2050 سال یه بار تاریکی مطلق رو تجربه میکنن جالب بود
ولی ایدهی اینکه موجودات یه سیاره فقط هر 2050 سال یه بار تاریکی مطلق رو تجربه میکنن جالب بود
March 12, 2025
5 Perpetual Daylight Stars
I'm so very pleased to have read this remarkable SciFi short by an awe inspiring author from a classic era!
An easy read, I found the characters to be very relatable, especially the newspaper reporter Theramon. I also found the science and plot line to be completely plausible; but then again, you’ve got to have some ability for suspension of disbelief to enjoy a story involving the planet Lagash, a planet with six suns that never has a sunset, never sees stars, and never lights a fire to keep the dark of night at bay.
I encourage you to read (or listen to as I did) Asimov's original 1941 short story, Nightfall, for free here:
https://xpressenglish.com/our-stories... Enjoy🧚♀️🙋🏼!
3/12/2025 Addendum - in response to the thoughtful comment by Pseudonymous in message #8 below, here is the link to "The Cremation of Sam McGee" by Robert W. Service:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem...
For an enjoyable tongue tickling read it aloud! Thanks Pseudonymous🧚♀️🙋🏼!
I'm so very pleased to have read this remarkable SciFi short by an awe inspiring author from a classic era!
An easy read, I found the characters to be very relatable, especially the newspaper reporter Theramon. I also found the science and plot line to be completely plausible; but then again, you’ve got to have some ability for suspension of disbelief to enjoy a story involving the planet Lagash, a planet with six suns that never has a sunset, never sees stars, and never lights a fire to keep the dark of night at bay.
I encourage you to read (or listen to as I did) Asimov's original 1941 short story, Nightfall, for free here:
https://xpressenglish.com/our-stories... Enjoy🧚♀️🙋🏼!
3/12/2025 Addendum - in response to the thoughtful comment by Pseudonymous in message #8 below, here is the link to "The Cremation of Sam McGee" by Robert W. Service:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem...
For an enjoyable tongue tickling read it aloud! Thanks Pseudonymous🧚♀️🙋🏼!
June 1, 2024
Isaac Asimov’s classic 1941 short story took as its inspiration Emerson’s famous quote,
”If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God?”
Asimov, however, took a totally different perspective on the idea — that instead of wonder and adoration, the experience would create mind crushing madness:
Thirty thousand mighty suns shone down in a soul-searing splendor that was more frighteningly cold in its awful indifference than the bitter wind that shivered across the cold, horribly bleak world.
The story is heavy on ideas and thin on characters (all of whom are barely sketched types), and the set-up requires some significant suspension of disbelief. But once you move past that, Asimov offers an interesting take on the function of science, on religion, on theory and belief. In a brief, unique story, he presents one of the most fascinating apocalyptic stories in SciFi history.
You can find this story on YouTube (https://youtu.be/Li1V_Z8VXns?si=dC-b-...)
”If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God?”
Asimov, however, took a totally different perspective on the idea — that instead of wonder and adoration, the experience would create mind crushing madness:
Thirty thousand mighty suns shone down in a soul-searing splendor that was more frighteningly cold in its awful indifference than the bitter wind that shivered across the cold, horribly bleak world.
The story is heavy on ideas and thin on characters (all of whom are barely sketched types), and the set-up requires some significant suspension of disbelief. But once you move past that, Asimov offers an interesting take on the function of science, on religion, on theory and belief. In a brief, unique story, he presents one of the most fascinating apocalyptic stories in SciFi history.
You can find this story on YouTube (https://youtu.be/Li1V_Z8VXns?si=dC-b-...)
December 16, 2020
Online text: (may be temp copy). Still works, 5/23/20
http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/A...
The Asimov classic. As others note, the original novelette is far superior to the novelization. If you haven't read it, you should!
Times read: many, over the years. Not lately.
http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/A...
The Asimov classic. As others note, the original novelette is far superior to the novelization. If you haven't read it, you should!
Times read: many, over the years. Not lately.
August 12, 2017
Lagash is a fictional Earth like planet, with a double Trisolaris situation - system of six suns, that keeps the planet perpetually lit. Lagash-ians have never experienced any darkness during their recorded history of civilization and the system of six suns is pretty much their accepted universe in its entirety.
Asimov's novelette explores the social behaviour and existential crisis during such an event. I found the parallels he kept with Earth fascinating, the cult and legend, the religious extremists and the general panic during a change that people can't comprehend. I am inclined to believe that Asimov subtly paid a little tribute to Galileo and Bruno, in his narrative as well. The structural similarities between the planets deserves some mention, but I can't find a way to do that without spoiling anything.
One can be an unkill and ask all sort of scientific inquiries like How multiple gravitational forces would affect Lagash, Would there be seasons, How do they solve their n-body problem, Won't eclipses pose heat and quake threats, How does blind people cope with darkness, Or normal people during power failure in an internal office?
Or just enjoy the story.
Asimov's novelette explores the social behaviour and existential crisis during such an event. I found the parallels he kept with Earth fascinating, the cult and legend, the religious extremists and the general panic during a change that people can't comprehend. I am inclined to believe that Asimov subtly paid a little tribute to Galileo and Bruno, in his narrative as well. The structural similarities between the planets deserves some mention, but I can't find a way to do that without spoiling anything.
One can be an unkill and ask all sort of scientific inquiries like How multiple gravitational forces would affect Lagash, Would there be seasons, How do they solve their n-body problem, Won't eclipses pose heat and quake threats, How does blind people cope with darkness, Or normal people during power failure in an internal office?
Or just enjoy the story.
February 3, 2017
Nightfall is one of my early reads in SF genre, and after all these years I can still feel the eerie feeling that I felt after read the last word of the story.
My rating could be bias for some people. As in other Asimov stories, we seek the gems in the ideas. So, if some people said the characterizations or plots of his works are not great, I can't disagree. But Nightfall has good world building and surprisingly better than average execution for Asimov's works. The execution successfully made me understood by heart the story.
Majority of Asimov stories have interesting ideas and raised your interest, Nightfall could raised your interest and emotions.
===============================================
PS: the last paragraph is heavily influenced by Terence. I like his definition of Favorite books.
My rating could be bias for some people. As in other Asimov stories, we seek the gems in the ideas. So, if some people said the characterizations or plots of his works are not great, I can't disagree. But Nightfall has good world building and surprisingly better than average execution for Asimov's works. The execution successfully made me understood by heart the story.
Majority of Asimov stories have interesting ideas and raised your interest, Nightfall could raised your interest and emotions.
===============================================
PS: the last paragraph is heavily influenced by Terence. I like his definition of Favorite books.
June 18, 2015
This story is terrible in every way except for writing style. Implausible concept, characters colorless, too numerous, confusing beginning, too long. The idea behind it is neat, but meatless, and it just doesn't work.
I expected much more of supposedly one of the greatest sci-fi stories ever by the famous Asimov. (included in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame Vol. 1, voted in by sci-fi writers)
spoilery discussion of the story concept:
so on a permanently lit planet with 6 stars, there's a total eclipse every 2050 years, when people go insane because they're afraid of the dark and they suddenly realize that there are all those stars in the sky, so they burn all houses to have some light and all culture resets in this endless cycle.
Really?
They have electricity and torches, so they should have more than enough means to prevent going crazy from darkness.
They know exactly what is going to happen, so they should be able to prepare for this darkness.
Some of the people should have the hint of reason not to go insane from an eclipse, preserving knowledge.
Passing on knowledge should be an easy task anyways, unavoidable even. The idea is probably that all libraries would be burned, but there should be enough left to reconstruct the most important concepts.
Even if this concept worked, and i see the beauty and terror of all mankind experiencing night and a sky of stars for the first time, that wouldn't make too much of a story, and the events and characters built around the idea have no meat either.
There are some astronomers idling around without any motivation playing chess, because hey, it's just the end of the world, and some people discussing whether to publish a newspaper story about this. Okay, the idea of a cult integrating knowledge about the cycle into a holy text is neat, but that's about it. There are too many characters in the story that one can't place and that don't capture your interest.
I expected much more of supposedly one of the greatest sci-fi stories ever by the famous Asimov. (included in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame Vol. 1, voted in by sci-fi writers)
spoilery discussion of the story concept:
so on a permanently lit planet with 6 stars, there's a total eclipse every 2050 years, when people go insane because they're afraid of the dark and they suddenly realize that there are all those stars in the sky, so they burn all houses to have some light and all culture resets in this endless cycle.
Really?
They have electricity and torches, so they should have more than enough means to prevent going crazy from darkness.
They know exactly what is going to happen, so they should be able to prepare for this darkness.
Some of the people should have the hint of reason not to go insane from an eclipse, preserving knowledge.
Passing on knowledge should be an easy task anyways, unavoidable even. The idea is probably that all libraries would be burned, but there should be enough left to reconstruct the most important concepts.
Even if this concept worked, and i see the beauty and terror of all mankind experiencing night and a sky of stars for the first time, that wouldn't make too much of a story, and the events and characters built around the idea have no meat either.
There are some astronomers idling around without any motivation playing chess, because hey, it's just the end of the world, and some people discussing whether to publish a newspaper story about this. Okay, the idea of a cult integrating knowledge about the cycle into a holy text is neat, but that's about it. There are too many characters in the story that one can't place and that don't capture your interest.
October 20, 2024
4.5 Stars 🌟
This was my second short story by Isaac Asimov and I loved it so much! He writes great science fiction and I hope to read more of his work. :)
Highly recommended if you like Science fiction. <3
This was my second short story by Isaac Asimov and I loved it so much! He writes great science fiction and I hope to read more of his work. :)
Highly recommended if you like Science fiction. <3
August 13, 2024
De lo mejor que he leído de ciencia ficción. Me gustó más que La última pregunta, si ésta logra más con menos, Anochecer destaca por su construcción y trasfondo. El concepto de la oscuridad me parece un gran acierto en el texto. Lagash es un planeta donde la noche no existe debido a la presencia de seis soles en el sistema solar. Un culto comparte, a través de El libro de revelaciones, una profecía a los académicos de la universidad, la cual consiste en un eclipse que ocurre cada dos mil años y lo oscurece todo; la aparición de unos seres llamados Las estrellas y la destrucción de la civilización por el fuego.
Si tienen oportunidad léanlo en inglés.
The long night had come again.
Si tienen oportunidad léanlo en inglés.
The long night had come again.
March 28, 2018
The long night had come again.
I am deeply impressed by this sci-fi short by Isaac Asimov from 1941.
Set in a world that is influenced by not one, but six suns, the people of Lagash only know eternal day. The sunlight never fades anywhere on the planet, since one of the six suns is always on the sky.
This had led to mankind evolving with an inherent fear of the dark. It is one of the most primal instincts that babies are born with on planet Lagash.
Theremon 762 is a journalist who investigates some outrageous rumors that are circulated by the scientists of Saro University. The institute's director, Aton 77, has declared that very soon, all six of the suns would vanish to bring darkness to Lagash - which is actually a prophecy that many cult leaders following the 'Book of Revelation' believe in.
The cultists claim that mankind will be wiped off the face of Lagash to repent for their sins. The Stars would bring darkness and fire and destroy society as people know it.
Theremon wonders why a renowned scientist would believe in such 'nonsense', but Aton and his staff inform Theremon that there is evidence of several civilizations that preceded the current society. An event that apparently occurs every 2000 years seems to have ended each of these civilization 'cycles' - and Aton believes to have found a scientific explanation for this fact.
And he knows that they have reached the end of another 2000 year cycle. Theremon learns that every 2000 years, there is a rare star constellation that only leaves one sun, Beta, a dim red dwarf, visible on the sky. And precisely when that happens, another planet comes between Lagash and Beta, leading to a solar eclipse that immerses all of Lagash into complete darkness.
Theremon still does not believe that a good half an hour of darkness would lead to the end of civilization, but the more the last of the suns vanishes, the more he feels the terror of darkness that no human on Lagash seems to be immune to.
Simply outstanding and an inspiration for many science fiction writers!
There even seems to be a novel that was based on this story and was apparently written with the approval of Isaac Asimov.
5 stars! And let's be grateful we are used to day AND night!
I am deeply impressed by this sci-fi short by Isaac Asimov from 1941.
Set in a world that is influenced by not one, but six suns, the people of Lagash only know eternal day. The sunlight never fades anywhere on the planet, since one of the six suns is always on the sky.
This had led to mankind evolving with an inherent fear of the dark. It is one of the most primal instincts that babies are born with on planet Lagash.
Theremon 762 is a journalist who investigates some outrageous rumors that are circulated by the scientists of Saro University. The institute's director, Aton 77, has declared that very soon, all six of the suns would vanish to bring darkness to Lagash - which is actually a prophecy that many cult leaders following the 'Book of Revelation' believe in.
The cultists claim that mankind will be wiped off the face of Lagash to repent for their sins. The Stars would bring darkness and fire and destroy society as people know it.
Theremon wonders why a renowned scientist would believe in such 'nonsense', but Aton and his staff inform Theremon that there is evidence of several civilizations that preceded the current society. An event that apparently occurs every 2000 years seems to have ended each of these civilization 'cycles' - and Aton believes to have found a scientific explanation for this fact.
And he knows that they have reached the end of another 2000 year cycle. Theremon learns that every 2000 years, there is a rare star constellation that only leaves one sun, Beta, a dim red dwarf, visible on the sky. And precisely when that happens, another planet comes between Lagash and Beta, leading to a solar eclipse that immerses all of Lagash into complete darkness.
Theremon still does not believe that a good half an hour of darkness would lead to the end of civilization, but the more the last of the suns vanishes, the more he feels the terror of darkness that no human on Lagash seems to be immune to.
Simply outstanding and an inspiration for many science fiction writers!
There even seems to be a novel that was based on this story and was apparently written with the approval of Isaac Asimov.
5 stars! And let's be grateful we are used to day AND night!
June 21, 2021
-Read in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One-
Probably the most disappointing short story I've ever read. Not only because I didn't like it, but because it's commonly regarded as the greatest science fiction short story ever written. And I feel left out. I'm baffled. I just didn't find it interesting at all. These people don't know darkness? They've never closed their eyes? They don't sleep? No basements or closets in this town? Oh well. Different strokes for different folks.
Probably the most disappointing short story I've ever read. Not only because I didn't like it, but because it's commonly regarded as the greatest science fiction short story ever written. And I feel left out. I'm baffled. I just didn't find it interesting at all. These people don't know darkness? They've never closed their eyes? They don't sleep? No basements or closets in this town? Oh well. Different strokes for different folks.
July 16, 2019
The thought of gazing upward to the stars driving any creature to complete madness is a difficult concept to fathom, nonetheless that's the driving force behind the story of Nightfall.
Picture a planet with six suns and no other way to light people's world. Every light they utilize, inside or out, comes from their suns. A few select scientist discovered there will be a total eclipse of all six suns and total darkness will ensue.
They're cognizant concerning the stars, though they're a bit shaky on what they may be. There are religious texts--thousands of years old-- explaining a well-known theory. The texts tell a tale of catastrophes that happened when the world turned to darkness at a previous time. People burned their cities to light their world and set themselves back to their own dark ages.
The primary component of the story presents dialog among a reporter and the scientist trying to record the event for future reference.
The dialog makes up 99% of the book, and the event of complete darkness occurs only on the last few pages. Asimov writes the amount of stars number 30,000 compared to the few thousand that inhabitants of Earth view during our nightly observations.
It's difficult to conceptualize the feelings except beauty from these pinpoints of lights, although to never observe a star and suddenly to be bombarded with thousands could jolt anyone's composure.
Even though the book feels especially long winded--the writing continues with Asimov's excellence and the story's interesting subject matter is definitely worth the reader's time.
This review is from my blog: http://somanybooksssolittletime.blogs...
Picture a planet with six suns and no other way to light people's world. Every light they utilize, inside or out, comes from their suns. A few select scientist discovered there will be a total eclipse of all six suns and total darkness will ensue.
They're cognizant concerning the stars, though they're a bit shaky on what they may be. There are religious texts--thousands of years old-- explaining a well-known theory. The texts tell a tale of catastrophes that happened when the world turned to darkness at a previous time. People burned their cities to light their world and set themselves back to their own dark ages.
The primary component of the story presents dialog among a reporter and the scientist trying to record the event for future reference.
The dialog makes up 99% of the book, and the event of complete darkness occurs only on the last few pages. Asimov writes the amount of stars number 30,000 compared to the few thousand that inhabitants of Earth view during our nightly observations.
It's difficult to conceptualize the feelings except beauty from these pinpoints of lights, although to never observe a star and suddenly to be bombarded with thousands could jolt anyone's composure.
Even though the book feels especially long winded--the writing continues with Asimov's excellence and the story's interesting subject matter is definitely worth the reader's time.
This review is from my blog: http://somanybooksssolittletime.blogs...
February 15, 2024
Isaac Asimov - Nightfall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 4, 2018
"But if it turns out that four hours pass - and another four - and nothing happens?" asked Theremin softly.
"Don't let that worry you. Enough will happen.'
It would be hard to stand, I admit, because I'd have to make you all out to be a bunch of gibbering idiots, but if I can get people laughing at you, they might forget to be angry.
There just isn't any place in the universe you could put a million sun's - unless they touch one another.
Supposing you have an universe in which there was a planet with only one sun [...] "Of course," continued Beenay, "there's the catch that life would be impossible on such a planet. It wouldn't get enough heat and light, and if it rotated there would be total Darkness half of each day. You couldn't expect life - which is fundamentally dependent upon light - to develop under those conditions."
The long night had come again.
February 1, 2018
Enjoyable. A cool concept of a night that only comes every 2000 years on a far away world.
Me thinks Pitch Black was inspired by this in some way.
I subtracted a star because I cannot believe that a world that far in the future would operate without artificial lights. Oh well. Minor problem in an otherwise classic story.
Me thinks Pitch Black was inspired by this in some way.
I subtracted a star because I cannot believe that a world that far in the future would operate without artificial lights. Oh well. Minor problem in an otherwise classic story.
February 27, 2025
Το κλασικό διήγημα που αργότερα έδωσε ένα μέτριο μυθιστόρημα, περνάει πολύ καλύτερα το (κοινωνικό και ψυχολογικό) μήνυμα που θέλει να μεταδώσει ο συγγραφέας απ' ό,τι στην επαυξημένη μυθιστορηματική εκδοχή.
August 2, 2018
This was the kind of story that was bizarre and yet wholly believable. A science fiction classic.
December 22, 2024
New Scientist have published a list of science fiction short stories recommended by their contributors. I’ve read a few of them already but thought I would try a few of those I hadn’t, starting with this one by Isaac Asimov which is about a civilisation that has never experienced darkness experiencing it for the first time. It’s absolutely brilliant, packs a huge amount into a short space and is well worth reading. You can find free pdfs of the text online.
September 18, 2020
"Mankind has always feared what it doesn't understand." - Magneto, X-Men (2000). This statement stands true in the story. Though I really enjoyed the story and its parallels with the real world, I also observed the serious lack of diverse opinions. But of course, this book cleverly points out the vulnerability of human existence and how in the end we are all "just a bunch of gibbering idiots."
The book points out at the faults and patriarchal tones of the ones considered rational and logical— the scientists, who have little to no regards for the humankind and see women as mere "breeding agency" and even undermine the cultists' stories narrated by the female nurse. Even as a loud atheist, Issac Asimov has given the cultists a voice we weren't expecting. Although blinded by faith and extremism, they aren't very different from the scientists and even in some sense, the scientists are even more dangerous. Even the psychologist who understands the dangers of fear and claustrophobia is unable to control himself when exposed to the same. The scientific method is shown to be data-oriented and limited but never 'solution-orientated'. Both the scientist and cultists don't care about finding the solution. They shamelessly disregard human life as invaluable either in the name of rationality or faith. And we all can relate to this even more in today's scenario where researchers are influenced by the companies to favour their potentially dangerous products.
As one of the greatest pioneers of the science-fiction we are blessed with today, 'Nightfall' is without a doubt a book written for the ones who have found their solace in the mysteries of the universe and are in want of looking beyond.
FUN FACT: The idea for "Nightfall" was actually suggested to Asimov by his editor who quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature : "If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore, and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God?" So, the opening lines of the story were actually the true inspiration for the story.
The book points out at the faults and patriarchal tones of the ones considered rational and logical— the scientists, who have little to no regards for the humankind and see women as mere "breeding agency" and even undermine the cultists' stories narrated by the female nurse. Even as a loud atheist, Issac Asimov has given the cultists a voice we weren't expecting. Although blinded by faith and extremism, they aren't very different from the scientists and even in some sense, the scientists are even more dangerous. Even the psychologist who understands the dangers of fear and claustrophobia is unable to control himself when exposed to the same. The scientific method is shown to be data-oriented and limited but never 'solution-orientated'. Both the scientist and cultists don't care about finding the solution. They shamelessly disregard human life as invaluable either in the name of rationality or faith. And we all can relate to this even more in today's scenario where researchers are influenced by the companies to favour their potentially dangerous products.
As one of the greatest pioneers of the science-fiction we are blessed with today, 'Nightfall' is without a doubt a book written for the ones who have found their solace in the mysteries of the universe and are in want of looking beyond.
FUN FACT: The idea for "Nightfall" was actually suggested to Asimov by his editor who quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature : "If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore, and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God?" So, the opening lines of the story were actually the true inspiration for the story.
January 6, 2021
“Lo, ye sinners! Though ye scorn the ways of righteousness, yet will the time
of reckoning come. Even now the Cave approaches to swallow Lagash; yea, and all it
contains.”
Hailed by many as the greatest science fiction short story of all time, Nightfall was one of Asimov's earliest works and tells the story of Lagash, a world with six suns, on the eve of Armageddon. This is a masterclass in short-fiction writing as Asimov not only manages to write a compelling, eerie plot with interesting ideas, he also manages to build a believable world in just 28 pages. If you're a fan of the genre, you absolutely need to give this a read.
of reckoning come. Even now the Cave approaches to swallow Lagash; yea, and all it
contains.”
Hailed by many as the greatest science fiction short story of all time, Nightfall was one of Asimov's earliest works and tells the story of Lagash, a world with six suns, on the eve of Armageddon. This is a masterclass in short-fiction writing as Asimov not only manages to write a compelling, eerie plot with interesting ideas, he also manages to build a believable world in just 28 pages. If you're a fan of the genre, you absolutely need to give this a read.
April 8, 2019
A nice palate-cleanser - short, creative, refreshing. Considered one of the best classic scifi short stories by many.
This has been expanded into a full novel by Asimov himself.
This has been expanded into a full novel by Asimov himself.
April 25, 2023
"We have managed to convince a few people of the validity or our —er— doom, to be spectacular about it, and those few have taken proper measures."
"I see! They're supposed to hide where the darkness and the —er— stars can't get at them, and then hold out when the rest of the world goes poof."
"I see! They're supposed to hide where the darkness and the —er— stars can't get at them, and then hold out when the rest of the world goes poof."
April 30, 2016
Not one of Heinlein's stronger works, this story posits multi-dimensional time-travel by conscious control and lacks the typically strongly sympathetic characters.
February 22, 2015
First published in Astounding Science Fiction, September 1941 as Elsewhere by Caleb Saunders.
First collected into Assignment in Eternity, 1953.
Read
April 4, 2025If the stars should appear one night in
a thousand years, how would men believe
and adore, and preserve for many generations
the remembrance of the city of God?'
If you were in Darkness, what would you
want more than anything else; what would it be that every instinct would
call for? Light, damn you, light!'
'Well?'
'And how would you get light?'
"You made of the Darkness and of the Stars a natural phenomenon and removed all its real significance. That was
blasphemy."
Sci-fi o ciemności z kultem
Ciekawa historia jak cos co dla nas jest czymś oczywistym - teraz wręcz pisze to gdy za oknem jest ciemność, dla tych ludzi zdarza się co 2 tys lat wiec mysla ze to koniec świata.
Religia powstała która opisuje ten fenomen, maja ksiazke w ktora tylko kult ludzi wierzy, rownoczesnie planuja zostawic notatki z aktualnych wydarzen dla przyszlych pokolen. Teoria: możliwe ze opis braku słońca na niebie tylo gwiazdy był notatkami naukowców, jednak jak każda znana mitologia polega na opowiadaniach, (aktualnie działające religie jak chrzescijanizm czy mitologia grecka) to tu tez zamiast postawic suche fakty postanowiono to sformatowac w historie dla lepszego odbioru. Potem dodano tez mistycyzm i z czystaych faktow, po tysiacu lat stali sie tylko kultem.
Ostatni opis gwiazd i efekt tego na narratora - swietny
Plus ten pomysł ze to same gwiazdy miałyby sprawiać ze ludzie tracą zmysły jest ciekawy jednak tutaj jest to tylko proba ktora przez nie wiedze probuje wyjasnic spalanie przez ludzi miast.
November 16, 2025
Isaac Asimov – Nightfall Review
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
Nightfall is one of those stories that feels bigger than its page count. Asimov drops you into the world fast, but not carelessly—you meet the characters, understand the stakes, and feel the tension almost immediately. There’s no wasted motion. His prose is clean and controlled, beautiful in a way that never tries to steal the spotlight. It supports the idea, which is the real engine of the story.
What makes Nightfall remarkable is how it turns a simple premise into something deeply human. As the characters confront the unimaginable, you feel their fear, denial, and desperation. The story moves toward its ending with a kind of quiet inevitability, and when it arrives, it lands hard. It leaves you wondering what a society can handle before it unravels. How much the human mind can withstand before it breaks. And what comes after that break—what remains when the familiar world collapses.
It’s a profound, unsettling, and tightly written piece of science fiction. Asimov builds a sense of dread without theatrics, and the result sticks with you long after you’ve finished reading.
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
Nightfall is one of those stories that feels bigger than its page count. Asimov drops you into the world fast, but not carelessly—you meet the characters, understand the stakes, and feel the tension almost immediately. There’s no wasted motion. His prose is clean and controlled, beautiful in a way that never tries to steal the spotlight. It supports the idea, which is the real engine of the story.
What makes Nightfall remarkable is how it turns a simple premise into something deeply human. As the characters confront the unimaginable, you feel their fear, denial, and desperation. The story moves toward its ending with a kind of quiet inevitability, and when it arrives, it lands hard. It leaves you wondering what a society can handle before it unravels. How much the human mind can withstand before it breaks. And what comes after that break—what remains when the familiar world collapses.
It’s a profound, unsettling, and tightly written piece of science fiction. Asimov builds a sense of dread without theatrics, and the result sticks with you long after you’ve finished reading.
October 21, 2024
Weak 4/5. "Typical" Asimov, exploring interesting ideas but with many illogical presumptions.
February 6, 2025
this is how it feels to be on your period past 9 pm
April 16, 2025
I liked this one a lot! Very much how I imagine ancient societies viewed the eclipse before they knew what it was or what it meant
May 7, 2025
Such a great story, the concept is so amazing! The style is not my favorite but who cares, it's so good! 4/5
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