Nightfall and Other Stories
On a world with six suns, inevitable universal darkness and the appearance of stars are predicted to cause world-wide madness, shattering society during a grand cosmic cycle.
Isaac Asimov's story, "Nightfall," holds a particularly significant place in the author's professional history, marking what he describes as a "watershed" moment in his career. Written when he was just twenty-one, it was a story that dramatically shifted how he was perceived within the science fiction world. Before "Nightfall," Asimov had been writing professionally for a couple of years, submitting stories and occasionally making sales, but without achieving significant traction. He had published about a dozen stories but failed to sell as many others, feeling he had "created no tidal wave". The genesis of "Nightfall" came from a discussion with John W. Campbell, Jr., the editor of Astounding Science Fiction, who showed him an Emerson quotation. This conversation inspired Asimov, and he wrote the story over the following weeks.
Despite the story's impact, Asimov notes that he didn't write "Nightfall" any differently from his earlier or later works, stating that as far as writing technique goes, he was and remains a "complete and utter primitive" with no formal training. He describes simply writing "any old way it comes into my mind... just as fast as it comes into my mind". This raw, intuitive approach yielded a story that John W. Campbell Jr. found so compelling that he paid Asimov a bonus, increasing the payment from the standard one cent per word to one and a half cents per word, resulting in a check for $150.00 for the 12,000-word story, rather than the expected $120.00. This was the highest payment Asimov had received for a story up to that point.
When "Nightfall" was published in Astounding Science Fiction in September 1941, it was given the prominent lead position and featured on the cover, signifying its importance. This marked a turning point, as the science fiction world suddenly "became aware thot | existed". Over the years, the story solidified its reputation, becoming evident that Asimov had written a "classic". It has been included in numerous anthologies across different countries and languages. However, Asimov candidly admits to feeling "some irritation" over time at being repeatedly told that "Nightfall" was his best story, despite his belief that sheer practice should have made him more technically proficient over the years. This feeling eventually contributed to his decision to include the story in his own collection, acknowledging that many of his current readers may not have encountered it in earlier anthologies. He also dedicated the story to John W. Campbell, Jr. "for making 'Nightfall' possible" and for thirty years of friendship, and to the memory of Anthony Boucher and Groff Conklin.
The story itself is set on a world with a unique celestial environment, orbited by six suns. This constant multi-sunlight means that the concept of true darkness is alien to the inhabitants. However, a scientific prediction suggests a catastrophic astronomical event is imminent: the alignment of orbiting bodies will lead to a period of universal darkness, during which something terrifying that has been hidden for millennia will become visible. This event, which occurs periodically as part of a grand cosmic cycle, is prophesied to cause world-wide madness.
The narrative follows the tension and conflict that arise as the predicted time approaches. Scientists at Saro University, including Director Aton 77 and psychologist Sheerin 501, are grappling with the impending event and the difficulty of convincing their society of the danger. Their predictions are based on scientific understanding, including recent developments in concepts like gravitation, a field so complex that only a handful understand its mathematics. They are working against a backdrop of societal skepticism and ridicule, represented by journalist Theremon 762, who initially approaches the prediction with journalistic skepticism and even mockery in his columns.
Adding another layer to the conflict is the presence of a Cult, whose ancient beliefs, documented in a "Book of Revelations," seem to align with the scientists' prediction of impending doom. The Cultists, like Latimer, represent a faith-based understanding and acceptance of the cycle, viewing the coming of the stars not just as a physical phenomenon, but as an event with deeper, terrifying meaning. There is tension between the scientific and religious perspectives, with the scientists having previously "bombarded" the Cult with ridicule and the Cult viewing the scientists' instruments as "devilish".
As the final hours before the predicted darkness tick away, the story intensifies the atmosphere of anticipation and fear. The scientists have made preparations, establishing a "Hideout" to preserve knowledge and key personnel, particularly their records, for the "next cycle". The journalist, Theremon, despite his earlier skepticism, finds himself increasingly drawn into the seriousness of the situation, driven by his professional honor to cover this potentially world-ending story.
The story masterfully builds tension by contrasting the different reactions to the impending crisis – the frantic scientific efforts, the journalist's detached professional duty becoming increasingly strained, and the steadfast, if chilling, faith of the Cultists. It explores themes of knowledge, fear, the limitations of human understanding when confronted with the truly alien, and the cyclical nature of history. Without revealing the specific events of the story's climax, "Nightfall" is leading towards the inevitable confrontation with the predicted darkness, the appearance of the stars, and the potential collapse of society into madness. The story's power lies in its exploration of the human psyche and society's fragile structure when faced with a reality that shatters millennia of ingrained experience and understanding, focusing on the buildup to this unprecedented event and the characters' reactions in its shadow.
