Book Review: Against the Fall of Night by Arthur C. Clarke

Millions of years in the future, only two territories remain on Earth, separated by a vast desert that had once been an ocean.   Diaspar, the city into which so many other major metropolises had been absorbed throughout the ages, is populated by a nearly immortal race of humans whose intellectual curiosity and ambition has stultified and been replaced by decadence and fear.  For the citizens of Diaspar care not what lies beyond the city's walls.  That is, all but Alvin, the first child born in Diaspar in seven thousand years.

Alvin's tutor, the much elder Jeserac, reveals to him the vast history of humanity.  Mankind had once reached beyond the stars until they found themselves at war with the Invaders.  Swiftly defeated, humans agreed never to leave their home planet again or risk the wrath of the Invaders once more.   As such, the people of Diaspar have been content to remain within the confines not only of Earth, but of their city.

Filled with an explorer's spirit, however, Alvin seeks a way out of Diaspar.  He travels to the Tower of Loranne which overlooks the vast desert that, supposedly, is all that remains of Earth.   There, Alvin finds a mysterious inscription that leads him to inquire with Rorden, the Keeper of Records.  Hesitant at first to help Alvin in his quest to leave the city, Rorden nonetheless begins researching the inscription which then leads the pair on an expedition to discover secrets hidden below the surface of Diaspar, including an ancient transportation system and map showing all of the cities of Earth, long ago claimed by the desert.  That is, all but one called Lys, the only other surviving territory.

A supersonic rail car still in operation takes Alvin to Lys where he discovers a race of mortal humans with highly developed telepathic abilities living in rural paradise.  While there, Alvin meets Theon and his mother Seranis.  While they are gracious hosts, Seranis warns Alvin that he has only two options now.  Either stay on Lys for the rest of his life, or submit to a memory wipe if he chooses to return to Diaspar. The people of Lys do not wish to risk cultural contamination.

However, Seranis takes pity on Alvin and asks that she be allowed five days to work out another solution with the Council.  During that time, Alvin and Theon become fast friends and decide to explore parts of Lys in which no one has set foot in recent memory.  Their adventures lead them to unlock even more secrets about Earth's past.   Bolstered by new knowledge and resources gained as a result, Alvin escapes Lys and returns to Diaspar where he recruits Rorden on a quest to reunite Lys and Diaspar...a quest which leads to the ultimate truth of humanity's history and paves the way to the future.

While the theme of the story is not entirely original (individual rebels against stagnant society), Clarke presents a well-developed and intellectual journey of the indomitable human spirit.  As usual in such tales, our protagonist is aided in his mission by an elder, wiser mentor (Rorden) and a young contemporary (Theon).  Albeit, Alvin seems quite independent and recalcitrant at times without any encouragement or assistance.

All told, Against the Fall of Night is reminiscent of a Heinlein juvenile novel.  A fun read!