Nightwings by Robert Silverberg
"Nightwings" is a science fiction narrative set in a complex, stratified society on a future Earth characterized by genetic modifications and interplanetary interactions. The story follows an old Watcher and his companions: Avluela, a genetically engineered flyer, and Gorman, who is initially presented as a changeling but is later revealed to be an alien invader scout. Their journey begins in the city of Roum, where Avluela is commanded by the prince to become his concubine, leading Gorman to seek revenge. As the plot unfolds, the Watcher, now named Tomis, embarks on a quest for understanding the true history of humanity’s actions against the invaders while grappling with moral dilemmas involving loyalty and betrayal.
Tomis's journey takes him to Perris, where he learns about the historical sins of humanity, and he is faced with a choice that pits his allegiance to an old friend against the survival of the alien invaders. Ultimately, his decisions lead to significant consequences, including the death of the prince and his own expulsion from the Rememberers guild. In pursuit of renewal, Tomis travels to Jorslem, where he is reunited with Avluela and is invited to join the Redeemers, a group striving to create a new era in human history. The narrative culminates in a moment of transcendence as Tomis and the Redeemers experience flight through their telepathic bond with Avluela, who seeks to expand their movement further. This story explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the quest for redemption.
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Nightwings
First published: 1969 (serial form, Galaxy, 1968)
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—future history
Time of work: The Third Cycle of Earth history, approximately forty thousand years in the future
Locale: The cities of Rome (Roum), Paris (Perris), and Jerusalem (Jorslem), as well as other Earth locations
The Plot
The old Watcher travels to Roum with Avluela, a young, female, genetically created true-breeding flyer with nightwings, and her lover, Gorman, a guildless changeling. Changelings are genetically modified members of the human race. The Watcher’s guild duty is to search the heavens for the invaders of Second Cycle myth and legend. They travel in a Third Cycle Earth that is highly stratified socially and is bankrupt. Earth also is full of modified humans and visitors from other planets.
Upon entering Roum, the Prince of Roum passes the three traveling companions on the city streets. Seeing Avluela, he commands her to become his concubine. Gorman vows to gouge out the eyes of the prince in revenge. In Roum, Gorman is revealed to be an alien invader scout instead of a changeling. He reveals that an invasion is beginning.
Torn from his traveling companions during the invasion and now a member of a useless guild, the old Watcher undertakes a journey to Perris to join the guild of Rememberers, the planet historians. While traveling to Perris, the old Watcher becomes the companion of the deposed and blinded Prince of Roum, who travels in the guise of the Pilgrim’s guild. As an apprentice rememberer, the old Watcher, now named Tomis, discovers the true history of the invaders’ claim to Earth, including visual records of the sin humanity committed against the invaders’ people.
The former prince of Roum, as a former world leader, is a criminal under indictment by the alien invaders, as are all former world leaders. The prince also transgresses the rules of the Rememberers guild. Tomis must choose between being denounced to the invaders for harboring the former prince or making a deal for the prince’s life in trade for the visual record of humanity’s crime against the invaders. Tomis chooses the latter and betrays humanity in general for the benefit of individuals. The prince is killed in an altercation, and Tomis is expelled from the Rememberers guild.
Tomis journeys as a Pilgrim to Jorslem to apply for renewal, a process by which the body is returned to youthfulness using Second Cycle technology. In Jorslem, Tomis is reunited with his flyer, Avluela. She and Gorman had tired of each other shortly after the invasion. Tomis is accepted for renewal, and the process is successful. Upon completion of his renewal, Tomis is invited by Avluela and others to join the new guild of Redeemers, a group united by a limited telepathy and an almost religious fervor, that hopes to create the Fourth Cycle of human history. As the story closes, Tomis and the other Redeemers experience what flight is like through a telepathic link with Avluela. They lend her the strength through this link to overcome the limitations of her nightwings, allowing her to fly in sunlight. She travels to invite others to join them in the Redeemers guild.