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Nightfall

Isaac Asimov · 1941 · Short Story

Explore this on the mapTrace its ancestors and descendants live in the tree.
Genre & subgenre ⓘ
Post-Apocalyptic Worlds

It vividly explored the psychological and societal impact of a unique astronomical phenomenon (perpetual daylight followed by rare night), leading to cyclical societal collapse.

What it is

On a planet with six suns, night falls only once every two thousand years, leading to societal collapse due to widespread madness. It explores the psychological impact of cosmic phenomena and the cyclical nature of civilization.

↑Inherited from(1)

The Last Man· 1826↑ open

Asimov's deep engagement with the history of science fiction and the clear thematic lineage of global catastrophe and societal impact from Shelley's pioneering work.

↓Passed on to(1)

A Canticle for Leibowitz· 1960↓ open

The cyclical nature of societal collapse and rebuilding, as explored through human folly in 'A Canticle for Leibowitz,' is a direct thematic link to Asimov's 'Nightfall'.

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