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Gather, darkness!
First published 1976 · 283 pages
A tense, shadowy plunge into a post-apocalyptic dark age where science masquerades as divine magic and rebellion sparks a holy war.
What it feels like
Reading this classic science fiction tale feels like stepping into a shadowy, oppressive world where the line between technology and the occult has completely blurred. The mood is steeped in superstition and dread, capturing the heavy atmosphere of a society thrown back into the dark ages by nuclear devastation. It moves with a propulsive, urgent energy as the narrative explores the heavy burden of truth and the cynical manipulation of faith by those in power. The prose carries the dramatic weight of vintage sci-fi, blending the eerie textures of witchcraft with stark dystopian realities. It is a perfect fit for readers who are fascinated by the collision of false theocracies, lost knowledge, and the desperate spark of rebellion in a ruined world.
- Mood
- chaotic
- oppressive
- superstitious
- shadowy
- Tone
- cynical
- rebellious
- dramatic
- urgent
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- the illusion of power · religious hypocrisy · technological regression · rebellion against tyranny
- The writing
- Classic science fiction prose that blends the atmospheric dread of the supernatural with the stark reality of a post-apocalyptic world.
- The arc
- From disillusioned compliance to desperate, world-shattering rebellion.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love vintage science fiction that explores the intersection of technology, religion, and societal collapse.
Content notes
- nuclear holocaust
- religious manipulation
- war
About the book
GATHER, DARKNESS! is a science-fiction classic. It tells the story of Armon Jarles, a man on the edge, living amidst the disputes of two rival powers at large in the world. 360 years after a nuclear holocaust ravaged mankind, throwing society back into the dark ages, the world is fraught with chaos and superstition. The new rulers over the masses of humanity are the techno-priests of the Great God, endowed with scientific knowledge lost to the rest of humanity. Jarles, originally of peasant descent, rises to become a priest of the Great God. He knows the gospel propagated by the priests to be a fraud, based on illusion and trickery. Even more offensive to him is the paucity of true believers among the priesthood. One day he rebels against his priestly training and attempts to incite the peasants to rise up and demand freedom, but they are not ready. Jarles is not the only dissenter trying to sabotage and expose the false theocracy of the priesthood—witchcraft is slowly gaining strength and support among the populace. Although Jarles is unaware, his rebellion against the power of the priests is about to throw him headlong into the middle of the greatest holy war the world has ever seen.
Description from Open Library.
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