Alas nocturnas

by Robert Silverberg

Paperback, 1988

Status

Available

Call number

813

Genres

Science Fiction

All Topics

Graphic Novels and Comics

Fiction

Publication

Orbis - Hyspamerica

Description

Winner of the Hugo Award: This classic is an "evocative look at a crumbling Earth of the far future and a human race struggling to survive" (George R. R. Martin). "Roum is a city built on seven hills. They say it was a capital of man in one of the earlier cycles. I knew nothing of that, for my guild was Watching, not Remembering." For a thousand years, mankind has lived under the threat of invasion from an alien race. After the oceans rose and the continents were reshaped, people divided into guilds--Musicians, Scribes, Merchants, Clowns, and more. The Watchers wander the earth, scouring the skies for signs of enemies from the stars. But during one Watcher's journey to the ancient city of Roum with his companion, a Flier named Avluela, a moment of distraction allows the invaders to advance. When the Watcher finally sounds the alarm, it's too late; the star people are poised to conquer all. And so, with the world in turmoil, the Watcher sets out alone for the Hall of the Rememberers, keepers of the past, where humanity's last hope for survival might be hidden . . . Perfect for readers of Greg Bear and Ursula K. Le Guin, renowned, award-winning author Robert Silverberg's science fiction novel represents the best of the genre and beyond. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Robert Silverberg including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author's personal collection.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member dulac3

A short and elegaic SF novel in the 'dying earth' tradition that follows the wanderings of a member of the Watcher's Guild as he looks to the stars in anticipation of a foretold alien invasion of Earth. His companions include a beautiful young 'Flyer' (the "Nightwings" of the title) and an

enigmatic Changeling.

As the story unfolds we see great changes come over both the main character and the earth itself. I enjoyed this story for the tone it conveyed as well as the world & characters that were presented. Well worth picking up if you can find a copy.

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LibraryThing member clark.hallman

Nightwings is another great Robert Silverberg science fiction novel. This edition contains an introduction written by Silverberg in 2002, which provides a very interesting discussion of how he came to write the three novellas that make up Nightwings and what his life was like when he was writing

them. His friend, Frederick Pohl, was editor of Galaxy, the leading science fiction magazine at the time, paid Silverberg $500 each to publish them. The first novella, Nightwings, was published in the September 1968 issue of Galaxy and won the Hugo award for best novella in 1969. The second installment and third installments were published in Galaxy in November 1968 and February 1969 respectively. Silverberg later combined the three and first published them as a novel in September 1969. The novel takes place thousands of years in the future on Earth. In it, Silverberg creates a fascinating history of Earth’s civilization. The First Cycle includes the years before earthlings had contact with intelligent beings from other worlds. The Second Cycle began when hamans first encountered intelligent beings from distant worlds. Much technological advancement and trade with other worlds made the Second Cycle very prosperous for Earthlings. However, greed and other human emotions caused much exploitation of the planet and of out-world civilizations. Thus, during the Third Cycle Earthlings came to be viewed by inhabitants from other worlds with contempt. “In many parts of the universe humans were denounced as marauders, kidnapers, and pirates…” The population of at least one planet, who lacked the capability of space travel at the time, vowed to someday invade and conquer Earth as revenge for the cruel treatment of their species by humans. Earth became “a neglected world in a backwater of the universe.” Its economy went bankrupt and resulted in a society or paupers with class and occupational guilds, including Dominators, Masters, Merchants, and many more, to give order to the crumbling society. Silverberg’s engrossing story takes place mostly during the Third Cycle and chronicles the journey and experiences of an aging Watcher, whose purpose is to scan deep space for any signs of impending alien invasion. Carrying his watching equipment on his back, he travels by foot, like most others, stopping several times each day to conduct his watching. He travels with many different companions during his journeys, including beautiful Avluela, a Flier, a member of a re-egineered human species that was created by man for beauty and enjoyment. Her nightwings enable her to fly only at night because they cannot tolerate the sun. His travels take him from Agupt to Roum where he fulfills his responsibilities as a watcher by issuing a warning about an alien invasion. After Earth is conquered he leaves Roum disguised as a Pilgrim with the exiled Prince of Roum and goes to Perris where he becomes an apprentice Rememberer, the guild that researches the past and enables him to learn about Earth’s history. He is later forced from the Remeberer guild and escapes Perris as a member of the Pilgrim guild. He then travels to Jorslem as a pilgrimage and to undergo the renewal procedure. While in Jorslem he reunites with Avluela and plays an important part in the freedom and redemption of earth. Throughout this book Silverberg’s provides a very interesting, enjoyable, satisfying story that is rich in detail. I wish I had read it long ago and I’m certain I will read it again down the road. BTW: As a long-time academic librarian, I was interested that Silverberg included an Indexers guild, and states that they “… record and classify that which they often do not understand…” and that “Without them one scarcely is able to cope with the problems of research.” I wonder why he didn’t call them Librarians. First line: “Roum is a city built on seven hills.” Last line: “And we guided her down through the darkening sky.”

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LibraryThing member StaticBlaq

To say this book was interesting is a back-handed compliment. The initial premise had me hooked - a far future Earth, technology declined, plumbing the achievements of the past and awaiting conquerors from the stars. The story touches on the philosophy of conquest, and that gives the story some

depth. But very little actually happens, with most of the interesting events occurring offstage.In the end, we are left with a wandering daze of a story.
An interesting premise, an interesting idea, but very little is delivered.

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LibraryThing member Vinbert

I really loved this story.

LibraryThing member Vinbert

I really loved this story.

LibraryThing member AltheaAnn

Have you ever noticed the weird psychological effect where, if you're reading a new edition of a work, it just doesn't "feel" old (but if you're reading an old paperback with yellowed pages and a half-naked chick on the cover, it will undoubtedly feel dated?) Well, this copy of 'Nightwings,' which

was written in 1968, does, admittedly, have the unclad female (tho' such a pretty, tasteful one!), but it's all new and shiny, and I didn't feel the story seemed dated at all. Interesting.
Anyway.
Silverberg gives us, in his Hugo-award winning 'Nightwings' an Earth approximately 35,000 years in the future. Humanity has risen, and (through hubris, bad political moves, and the unfortunate effects of trying to change the planet's climate) subequently fallen.
Society is strictly governed by membership in guilds, some of which fill expected places in society... politics, mercantilism, historians, service industries... and some groups which are odder, such as the beautiful butterfly-winged fliers, created by genetic engineering in the Second Age, or the guildless Changelings, monstrous-looking outcasts, mistakes engendered by that same tinkering.
Our lead character is a Watcher, his life devoted to using a cart of instruments which allow him to monitor space for unknown alien invaders. It is barely remembered why the Watchers were set up - they seem practically useless... but little known to humanity, the invasion is nearly upon Earth...
Through three linked novellas, we follow the elderly Watcher on a journey through three ancient cities... first Roum, where he loves the lovely flier Avluela, but she loves the grotesque changeling(?) Gorman... Invaders set him on the path to Perris, along with a prince in disguise, where he becomes an historian, and later, a traitor(?)... and then to fabled Jorslem, where Pilgrims may have their bodies renewed and their sins cast aside...
At different times, the book reminded me slightly of Tanith Lee's books of Paradys, of Arthur C. Clarke's The City & The Stars, of China Mieville's New Crobuzon.... and also, of Silverberg's own 'Valentine' series... but overall, it was itself... with a beautiful dreamlike quality... very nice.

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LibraryThing member ikeman100

Interesting story. I'll read more by Silverberg

LibraryThing member unclebob53703

**Spoilers** I thought this was a good story, the main character was interesting and sympathetic, and Silverberg does a good job creating an earth that is at once recognizable and very much different. It didn't seem like much happened, although the entire planet gets taken over by aliens--there's

almost a sleepwalking quality to the action, as if it's happening all around the narrator but not to him. The other conflicts were muted also, and I think the ending it the weakest part of the book--everything gets resolved and fixed more by a different point of view than any action, and it's all a little too neat and complete for my taste. His novel Dying Inside is one of my all-time favorites, so I'm using the availability of discounted ebooks to read more of his stuff.

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