Summary
Set on the planet Lagash within a multi-star solar system, Isaac Asimov's "Nightfall" delves into the impending darkness that strikes fear into a society perpetually bathed in sunlight. Asimov, influenced by the geopolitical turmoil of World War II and the scientific advancements of the era, crafted this narrative to mirror the societal anxieties of the time. The 1940s marked a period of intense global conflict, with the shadow of war casting uncertainty on the future. As such, the fear of the unknown and the fragility of civilization depicted in "Nightfall" reflect the broader concerns of a world grappling with unprecedented changes.
The story begins with Theremon, a journalist, who faces the ire of Aton, the director of the Saro University Observatory. Aton is furious about Theremon's opposition to the efforts of astronomers to organize the civilization against a collapse that they predict is only hours away. Theremon proposes to cover the event for his newspaper. He suggests that if the prediction is true, his column won't matter. If the prediction is false, it would be wise to leave any potential ridicule to friendly hands.
"Well" — Theremon grinned — "I was proposing to take charge of the publicity. I can handle things so that only the ridiculous side will show. 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."
A good-natured psychologist named Sheerin enters. He has come from the Hideout where about 300 people have taken shelter while they await the end of the world. Theremon asks Sheerin and Aton about the "world-wide Darkness" set to fall on their world.
Their planet, Lagash, is part of a multi-star solar system and, as such, never experiences night since there is always at least one sun in the sky. That is, except for every two thousand and forty-nine years when a rare astronomical alignment blots out all the suns. Archaeological evidence shows that every time this has occurred, fire consumes civilization, destroying it so completely that the survivors must rebuild from scratch. However, this history is dismissed by almost everyone except a doomsday cult of religious fanatics. According to the Cult's Book of Revelations, when darkness falls:
...things called Stars appeared, which robbed men of their souls and left them unreasoning brutes so panicked by the darkness that they destroyed the civilization they had built up.
The whole notion of darkness is so foreign and frightening to the people of Lagash that they refuse to speak of or consider it. Theremon has never even considered the idea of entering a dark place. To demonstrate the psychological reliance of their species on light, Sheerin asks Theremon to close the curtains. Theremon finds the darkness unnerving but still tolerable. The psychologist predicts that the total darkness of the eclipse will have a stronger effect, resulting in everyone setting fires in an attempt to create the light they crave. This will end in a total conflagration of society.
They've got to have light. They've got to burn something, and wood isn't handy — so they'll burn whatever is nearest. They'll have their light — and every center of habitation goes up in flames!
Two more scientists arrive, having conducted a private experiment to simulate darkness and starlight. They purchased a low one-story house, covered it in black velvet, and punched holes in the roof to create a starlike effect. The experiment, however, failed to produce any noticeable impact, leaving the astronomers...
(This entire section contains 929 words.)
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puzzled. Aton criticizes them for undertaking a private experiment without permission. Having expected they would go mad, the scientists are relieved that nothing happened. This revelation shakes the foundation of the astronomers' predictions.
At this point, a Cultist called Latimer breaks into the observatory and attempts to destroy the equipment set up to record the darkness and the predicted stars. He and his cult are enraged that the scientists are interpreting what he believes to be a supernatural event as a natural occurrence. However, the threat of being locked in a closet and missing the eclipse is enough to get him to behave.
Suddenly, the long-anticipated eclipse begins; all focus turns to the sky. As the scientists rush into action, Latimer starts reciting from The Book of Revelations. Theremon and Sheerin discuss how the prophecies of the Cultists' book could have originated until they are interrupted by Aton who delivers news that the city is succumbing to the madness of its frightened inhabitants.
It gets worse for the scientists. The population, roused by the Cultists, begins organizing to storm the observatory. As they await the totality of the eclipse and the mob's arrival, Sheerin, Theremon, and one of the scientists consider what the stars look like. Perhaps they are the hallucinations of people made crazy by the darkness. Another theory is that the stars are other suns shining dimly from far away. This theory, they conclude, would drastically change their understanding of their place in the universe. They also theorize about the possibility of life existing on a planet in a single-star solar system but conclude that such a planet would be too cold and dark to support living creatures.
While the mob approaches the observatory, Sheerin and Theremon attempt to barricade the building, but their efforts wane as they struggle to fight off feelings of claustrophobia sparked by the growing darkness. The scientists, fighting against madness, frantically photograph the starry sky while the world outside burns and civilization on Lagash crumbles into chaos.
