What do you think?
Rate this book
The Long Twilight
A huge volume of edge-of-the-seat science fiction adventure, * The Long Twilight : Grayle and Falconer met in relentless combat with no quarter in prehistoric ages past, their endless battle now remembered only as dark myths and legends. Now their long battle is nearing its climax—and the final battleground is an uncontrolled experimental power plant that threatens the Earth itself! * Night of Delusions : A detective is hired by men claiming to be government agents and given an assignment that may lead to his being hailed as the savior of the nation—or executed for treason. His mysterious clients also give him devices to use in the assignment, devices which seem to be far beyond anything of which human technology is capable. And as he doggedly pursues the case, he finds that the very fabric of reality seems to be changing around him, even to the point that he himself seems never to have existed! * Plus three short novels of equally stunning concepts and breathtaking action.
222 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
1 person is currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Keith Laumer
502 books229 followersJohn Keith Laumer was an American science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the U.S. Air Force and a U.S. diplomat. His brother March Laumer was also a writer, known for his adult reinterpretations of the Land of Oz (also mentioned in Keith's The Other Side of Time).
Keith Laumer (aka J.K Laumer, J. Keith Laumer) is best known for his Bolo stories and his satirical Retief series. The former chronicles the evolution of juggernaut-sized tanks that eventually become self-aware through the constant improvement resulting from centuries of intermittent warfare against various alien races. The latter deals with the adventures of a cynical spacefaring diplomat who constantly has to overcome the red-tape-infused failures of people with names like Ambassador Grossblunder. The Retief stories were greatly influenced by Laumer's earlier career in the United States Foreign Service. In an interview with Paul Walker of Luna Monthly, Laumer states "I had no shortage of iniquitous memories of the Foreign Service."
Four of his shorter works received Hugo or Nebula Award nominations (one of them, "In the Queue", received nominations for both) and his novel A Plague of Demons was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966.
During the peak years of 1959–1971, Laumer was a prolific science fiction writer, with his novels tending to follow one of two patterns: fast-paced, straight adventures in time and space, with an emphasis on lone-wolf, latent superman protagonists, self-sacrifice and transcendence or, broad comedies, sometimes of the over-the-top variety.
In 1971, Laumer suffered a stroke while working on the novel The Ultimax Man. As a result, he was unable to write for a few years. As he explained in an interview with Charles Platt published in The Dream Makers (1987), he refused to accept the doctors' diagnosis. He came up with an alternative explanation and developed an alternative (and very painful) treatment program. Although he was unable to write in the early 1970s, he had a number of books which were in the pipeline at the time of the stroke published during that time.
In the mid-1970s, Laumer partially recovered from the stroke and resumed writing. However, the quality of his work suffered and his career declined (Piers Anthony, How Precious Was That While, 2002). In later years Laumer also reused scenarios and characters from his earlier works to create "new" books, which some critics felt was to their detriment:
Alas, Retief to the Rescue doesn't seem so much like a new Retief novel, but a kind of Cuisnart mélange of past books.
-- Somtow Sucharitkul (Washington Post, Mar 27, 1983. p. BW11)
His Bolo creations were popular enough that other authors have written standalone science-fiction novels about them.
Laumer was also a model airplane enthusiast, and published two dozen designs between 1956 and 1962 in the U.S. magazines Air Trails, Model Airplane News and Flying Models, as well as the British magazine Aero Modeler. He published one book on the subject, How to Design and Build Flying Models in 1960. His later designs were mostly gas-powered free flight planes, and had a whimsical charm with names to match, like the "Twin Lizzie" and the "Lulla-Bi". His designs are still being revisited, reinvented and built today.
Keith Laumer (aka J.K Laumer, J. Keith Laumer) is best known for his Bolo stories and his satirical Retief series. The former chronicles the evolution of juggernaut-sized tanks that eventually become self-aware through the constant improvement resulting from centuries of intermittent warfare against various alien races. The latter deals with the adventures of a cynical spacefaring diplomat who constantly has to overcome the red-tape-infused failures of people with names like Ambassador Grossblunder. The Retief stories were greatly influenced by Laumer's earlier career in the United States Foreign Service. In an interview with Paul Walker of Luna Monthly, Laumer states "I had no shortage of iniquitous memories of the Foreign Service."
Four of his shorter works received Hugo or Nebula Award nominations (one of them, "In the Queue", received nominations for both) and his novel A Plague of Demons was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966.
During the peak years of 1959–1971, Laumer was a prolific science fiction writer, with his novels tending to follow one of two patterns: fast-paced, straight adventures in time and space, with an emphasis on lone-wolf, latent superman protagonists, self-sacrifice and transcendence or, broad comedies, sometimes of the over-the-top variety.
In 1971, Laumer suffered a stroke while working on the novel The Ultimax Man. As a result, he was unable to write for a few years. As he explained in an interview with Charles Platt published in The Dream Makers (1987), he refused to accept the doctors' diagnosis. He came up with an alternative explanation and developed an alternative (and very painful) treatment program. Although he was unable to write in the early 1970s, he had a number of books which were in the pipeline at the time of the stroke published during that time.
In the mid-1970s, Laumer partially recovered from the stroke and resumed writing. However, the quality of his work suffered and his career declined (Piers Anthony, How Precious Was That While, 2002). In later years Laumer also reused scenarios and characters from his earlier works to create "new" books, which some critics felt was to their detriment:
Alas, Retief to the Rescue doesn't seem so much like a new Retief novel, but a kind of Cuisnart mélange of past books.
-- Somtow Sucharitkul (Washington Post, Mar 27, 1983. p. BW11)
His Bolo creations were popular enough that other authors have written standalone science-fiction novels about them.
Laumer was also a model airplane enthusiast, and published two dozen designs between 1956 and 1962 in the U.S. magazines Air Trails, Model Airplane News and Flying Models, as well as the British magazine Aero Modeler. He published one book on the subject, How to Design and Build Flying Models in 1960. His later designs were mostly gas-powered free flight planes, and had a whimsical charm with names to match, like the "Twin Lizzie" and the "Lulla-Bi". His designs are still being revisited, reinvented and built today.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 10, 2021
‘El largo crepúsculo’ (The Long Twilight, 1969), de Keith Laumer, es una de esas novelas que cuanto menos sepas, mejor. Empieza con Grayle, que está en una prisión. Hasta que sucede algo que le hace actuar de manera anormal. También tenemos a otro personaje con cicatrices en la cara y una bala de la Guerra de Secesión bajo su piel. A todo esto, una central de radio energía parece haber trastornado. Y además, un misterioso remolino, un cono invertido está absorbiendo miles de litros de agua del océano.
La historia va como un tiro, lees y lees sin darte cuenta, y es muy entretenida. Te hueles un tanto el final, pero es porque el autor ha sabido sembrar muy bien las semillas.
La historia va como un tiro, lees y lees sin darte cuenta, y es muy entretenida. Te hueles un tanto el final, pero es porque el autor ha sabido sembrar muy bien las semillas.
April 29, 2017
Another favorite of mine. Two good guys who are trying to kill each other & I want to root for both of them. Great read; quick & fun. It has manipulative aliens, robots, apocalyptic storms, broadcast power, & brutal cops - a smorgasbord of action & adventure.
There are references to a galactic civilization from the beginning & the way Laumer builds it is great, especially the twist at the end. It's an especially good twist on the first read, but still leaves me wondering just how far flung the influence was.
The geography gets a little confusing due to the Viking culture which winds up being in Minnesota. There is some evidence that they were there in the 1300s.
http://www.history.com/news/ask-histo...
Anyway, this is another of Laumer's excellent adventures.
There are references to a galactic civilization from the beginning & the way Laumer builds it is great, especially the twist at the end. It's an especially good twist on the first read, but still leaves me wondering just how far flung the influence was.
The geography gets a little confusing due to the Viking culture which winds up being in Minnesota. There is some evidence that they were there in the 1300s.
http://www.history.com/news/ask-histo...
Anyway, this is another of Laumer's excellent adventures.
November 6, 2019
1983 grade A-
2019 grade A-
(1983 inside cover note) This is a good book but many innocent people are hurt or killed, especially in the last 3 lines.
(2019) Probably the most unusual SciFi take on Norse mythology yet. This is a fast reading action story. It is harsh in the way of the era and many innocent people die. But it is not so graphic that it is unacceptable. The whole story takes place in a couple of days of fictional time and mostly during the night and in the rain. (It was a dark and stormy night indeed.) My 1983 note was inaccurate in that most people die throughout the book. In the last three lines an important one dies.
Recommended.
2019 grade A-
(1983 inside cover note) This is a good book but many innocent people are hurt or killed, especially in the last 3 lines.
(2019) Probably the most unusual SciFi take on Norse mythology yet. This is a fast reading action story. It is harsh in the way of the era and many innocent people die. But it is not so graphic that it is unacceptable. The whole story takes place in a couple of days of fictional time and mostly during the night and in the rain. (It was a dark and stormy night indeed.) My 1983 note was inaccurate in that most people die throughout the book. In the last three lines an important one dies.
Recommended.
March 19, 2013
-Hablando se resolverían muchas disputas, pero el ser humano no siempre lo consigue y además se escribirían menos novelas.-
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Mientras comienzan las pruebas de un nuevo sistema de energía, un recluso un tanto extraño comienza a cambiar su comportamiento, una gran tormenta comienza a formarse en el océano y un loco borrachín trata de volver a la realidad.
¿Quiere saber más del libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Mientras comienzan las pruebas de un nuevo sistema de energía, un recluso un tanto extraño comienza a cambiar su comportamiento, una gran tormenta comienza a formarse en el océano y un loco borrachín trata de volver a la realidad.
¿Quiere saber más del libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
November 10, 2018
There is some 5-star Laumer (notably Dinosaur Beach), there is a lot of 3-star Laumer...and then there is the occasional, lamentable 1-star Laumer - and this one is really bad, 1-star Laumer. Instead of a plot, we have 4-5 competing storylines thrown together in an ungainly mash-up of Norse mythology, "The Highlander," "First Blood," the first "Wolverine" movie, HAL from "2001," a freak storm (that's never explained), some revolutionary new power-generating technology (that's kind of explained)...it's just a mess.
Plus, it's a poorly written mess. There's a cast of 100s, but zero character development. Published in 1969, the story apparently takes place in the early 80's (based on one vague mention of World War II plus 36 years), and so there are some "futuristic" touches like the above power plant and...maybe some advanced weapons? While Laumer's writing style usually works when it's first-person-tough-guy, it's awkward and clunky here, and sounds more like some corny 1940's than the 1980's:
The counterman at the all-night beanery waited until the quiet man in the gray slicker looked over the menu chalked on the dusty blackboard. He shifted the broomstraw to the other corner of his wide mouth.
And the dialogue's no better, all "nyahh, a wise guy, eh?" lines like "go knit a sweater, copper!" or "cripes, the poor boob'll drown!"
So...yeah. That said, will I still read more Laumer? Probably - because I'm still hoping there's another Dinosaur Beach out there!
Plus, it's a poorly written mess. There's a cast of 100s, but zero character development. Published in 1969, the story apparently takes place in the early 80's (based on one vague mention of World War II plus 36 years), and so there are some "futuristic" touches like the above power plant and...maybe some advanced weapons? While Laumer's writing style usually works when it's first-person-tough-guy, it's awkward and clunky here, and sounds more like some corny 1940's than the 1980's:
The counterman at the all-night beanery waited until the quiet man in the gray slicker looked over the menu chalked on the dusty blackboard. He shifted the broomstraw to the other corner of his wide mouth.
And the dialogue's no better, all "nyahh, a wise guy, eh?" lines like "go knit a sweater, copper!" or "cripes, the poor boob'll drown!"
So...yeah. That said, will I still read more Laumer? Probably - because I'm still hoping there's another Dinosaur Beach out there!
December 22, 2019
Read, as a 15-year-old. I had just discovered science fiction, especially through the monumental "The first and last people" of Olav Stapledon. This was really a letdown
March 6, 2017
I am a big fan of Keith Laumer but this is not one of his better works. I was looking forward to reading it because it is one of the few books by him that I have not previously read. I must say that I was disappointed. This is the somewhat vague story of two human aliens stranded on Earth and who through the treachery of one's self aware spaceship are at war with one another. They are basically immortal and are the root of the legend of the gods Thor and Loki. The story is told through flashbacks from the remote past up until their final conflict in the present. This story was written in 1969 and Laumer's idea of what Earth would be like is sort of dated from what we know really happened. The character's are not explained very well and most of the support character's are brutish and somewhat stupid in their efforts to stop these two immortals in their coming conflict. I cannot recommend this book unless you are just a hardcore fan of Keith Laumer. It's one redeeming feature is that by today's standards it is a short novel of only 212 pages so it didn't take long to read.
July 17, 2024
A spaceship crashes hundreds of years ago; two supermen vow enmity over a murdered family; a superstorm forms north of Bermuda at the same time a broadcast power station comes on line. As disparate as these three threads seem they are inextricably linked when a prisoner who seems to have been incarcerated since the Civil War, escapes from a maximum security prison and heads for the power station. The station has been tenuously linked to the strange Caribbean storm but seems to be actively fighting its own shutdown. The second ageless man, the enemy of the first, is also arriving at the station. But Keith Laumer surprises us with a real culprit, who nobody has suspected to this point. Lots of action and doesn’t occupy too much of your time.
August 12, 2020
I always enjoy Laumer's books. Perhaps not a great writer, often some similar characters, but always engaging. Fast paced, fun, some interesting twists and turns, and a nice weaving in of Norse mythology. It probably could have used another pass to tighten up the story, but it's a worthwhile read for a lazy afternoon. Enjoy!
February 8, 2025
Very good story, though the beginning is confusing. Figuring out what is happening is is a big part of the books allure. That question holds you to the end, which I thought could have been better. The author takes you from present to past to present in this tale. Hard to give any information without giving too much away. Well worth the read. As good as any other Laumer out there.
April 19, 2011
Fun read! I love Laumer, so it was an easy choice for me. Perfect for my mood. Light-weight, mostly straight-forward Sci/Fi adventure with a neat mythological twist.
October 19, 2025
Not a first-rate book, but readable and undemanding.
March 31, 2015
Nothing special but not bad. It moved right along.
Read
May 2, 2019I have the german edition: Duell der Unsterblichen
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews