does anyone know what the "thousand year night" is?

[Ben]

at the end of alas, babylon it says the randy turns to face the "thousand year night" and i have no idea what this means

[Chuck]

Passage fromm the King James Bible; "For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."

[Mary JL]

I read that phrase a meaning that night=darkness.

So darkness--a dark age--was upon them and it would be a thousand years before the world recovered to what it had been.

[Larry]

I've read the book enough that I wore out the first copy and have since acquired two others over the years. Haven't read it in years and really need to do so again. My recollection is that it is an allegory for civilization being set back a thousand years into the dark ages. Hope that helps. One of my all time favorite books. Enjoy.

[Paul]

Larry, you are correct. The 'thousand year night' was an expression way back in the cold war referring to the end of civilization.

[Larry]

Paul, yeah, I have extremely vivid recollections of the Cold War. I was part of the U.S. Army stationed in Europe. Also a military journalist. Many "close ones" with regard to incidents with the Soviets including tank confrontations, Soviet aircraft overflights of Berlin, etc. Also spent several days in the East Zone of Berlin. Nothing like it to make one truly appreciate the U.S. as we approach this Independence Day.

Have a great holiday.

[LindaJ^]

The book triggered memories of bomb drills (like fire drills only we went into the school corrider and faced the wall) and the assemblies about bomb shelters from grade school -- especially around the time of the Cuban missle crisis. In the past 12 years, my husband and I have visted the Eastern bloc countries - including Russia, East Berlin, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic. It was interesting to hear the stories of contemporaries from the other side of the Cold War.

[Duane]

It's what happens when a SF author runs out of ideas on how to end his book and just punts it.

[Mark]

Duane wrote: "It's what happens when a SF author runs out of ideas on how to end his book and just punts it."
...and he nailed it right between the goal posts. Cheering ensues.