Nightwings

Robert Silverberg

Nightwings is a science fiction book first published in 1968. I’m surprised I never heard of it until recently. It is exceptional. Not only well written, but it is and incredibly imaginative story. It takes place on Earth many thousands of years in the future. The world that the characters inhabit is in its 3rd Cycle. The first cycle is our world. The major cities are founded and new lands discovered. The inhabitants ventured out to the planets in their galaxy. The transition from First Cycle to Second was arbitrary.

It started at the point when they came in contact with beings from distant worlds. The Second Cycle achieved miracles and spread out to the stars. For hundreds of years Earth’s scientific achievements allowed humans to live for centuries, hunger and war was forgotten. The spirit of man soared to the highest it could ever achieve in every discipline and in subjects never dreamed before. However, the people of the Second Cycle were eventually humbled. The attitude of Earth towards the advanced species they came in contact with eventually shifted from awe to accesptnace and then, as is common of humans, contempt. The people on Earth generated an aggrssive desire to surpass in excellence. They went from seeing the inhabitants of the galaxy as superior, than equals and finally as inferiors.

The downfall of the Second Cycle after ten millenia came about due to Earth Scientists manipiulating magnetic fields to control Earth’s climate. The result was devistation. The continents of North and South America were submerged. A land bridge formed between Africa and Europe. Furious storms lasted centuries and killed hundreds of millions. In order to save what was left of Earth’s population several powerful galactic races took over. They stablized Earth. The population was humbled and entered the Third Cycle, which is where the story begins.

The people of the Third Cycle are orgnized into a rigid stratification of guilds. The threat of of being attacked by other worlds was real. A guild of Watchers was devised to scan the skies for incoming invaders. Members of guilds were mutated to better suit the purpose of guilds. Watchers watched, the Dominators ruled, the Fliers soared, Rememberers carried the memories of Earth since the beginning.

What I really loved about this book was the desciption of an Earth both similar and yet so different. The creatures inhabited it were very human in their lust, greed, jealousy, wonder and love. However, physically they were mutated both naturally and through genetic engineering. We follow an old man who is a Watcher. He is traveling with a Flier and a Changling. During their travels as he conducts his period of watching, aliens do indeed attack Earth. Everything on Earth changes yet strangely stays the same. Human but not human. How these people work and interact to survive and thrive is incredibly imaginative and yet relatable.

The story follows the Watcher, the Flyer and a deposed Prince of the ancient city of Roum. Everything they have is gone. The Watcher realizes there is no longer a need for Watchers, the Prince now blinded is dependent on the kindess of others. The three decide to travel to Perris.

This is when the adventure commenses as you travel with these strange humans as they seek a new life after the upheaval

If you love Science Fiction and beautiful writing, you will definately love this book. The writing is incredble.