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A review by marhill31
Nightwings by Robert Silverberg
3.0
3.25 Stars
Robert Silverberg has become my favorite old school SF writer and I have read 6 books during his most prolific period of 1967-1976, beginning with [b:A Time of Changes|1706646|A Time of Changes|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1264969026s/1706646.jpg|1011356], [b:Downward to the Earth|12143546|Downward to the Earth|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347607384s/12143546.jpg|953818], [b:Tower of Glass|22047472|Tower of Glass|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1399456667s/22047472.jpg|1876968], [b:To Open the Sky|25072316|To Open the Sky|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1425514520s/25072316.jpg|1398402], [b:The Man in the Maze|449329|The Man in the Maze|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457202385s/449329.jpg|2505700], and [b:Nightwings|18244810|Nightwings|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1374852236s/18244810.jpg|3118873].
Nightwings is a short and mournful novel that follows the wanderings of a member of the Watcher's Guild as he looks to the stars in anticipation of a foretold alien invasion of Earth. His companions include a beautiful young 'Flyer' (the "Nightwings" of the title) and an enigmatic Changeling. During his journey, this Watcher sees the devastation caused the invaders as he is trying to figure out his new role as Earth has become an alien tourist attraction backwater planet.
Similar to [b:Downward to the Earth|12143546|Downward to the Earth|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347607384s/12143546.jpg|953818], Nightwings presents a spiritual journey in the novel and Silverberg explores with the concepts of sin and redemption quite well. However, I will admit I did not connect to the Watcher character of this novel like I did with the main character in Downward to the Earth.
Nightwings is my least favorite of the six Silverberg novels I have read from his most prolific period. But, Silverberg knows how to tell a story and present thought-provoking ideas as well as anyone in the genre.
Robert Silverberg has become my favorite old school SF writer and I have read 6 books during his most prolific period of 1967-1976, beginning with [b:A Time of Changes|1706646|A Time of Changes|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1264969026s/1706646.jpg|1011356], [b:Downward to the Earth|12143546|Downward to the Earth|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347607384s/12143546.jpg|953818], [b:Tower of Glass|22047472|Tower of Glass|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1399456667s/22047472.jpg|1876968], [b:To Open the Sky|25072316|To Open the Sky|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1425514520s/25072316.jpg|1398402], [b:The Man in the Maze|449329|The Man in the Maze|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457202385s/449329.jpg|2505700], and [b:Nightwings|18244810|Nightwings|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1374852236s/18244810.jpg|3118873].
Nightwings is a short and mournful novel that follows the wanderings of a member of the Watcher's Guild as he looks to the stars in anticipation of a foretold alien invasion of Earth. His companions include a beautiful young 'Flyer' (the "Nightwings" of the title) and an enigmatic Changeling. During his journey, this Watcher sees the devastation caused the invaders as he is trying to figure out his new role as Earth has become an alien tourist attraction backwater planet.
Similar to [b:Downward to the Earth|12143546|Downward to the Earth|Robert Silverberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347607384s/12143546.jpg|953818], Nightwings presents a spiritual journey in the novel and Silverberg explores with the concepts of sin and redemption quite well. However, I will admit I did not connect to the Watcher character of this novel like I did with the main character in Downward to the Earth.
Nightwings is my least favorite of the six Silverberg novels I have read from his most prolific period. But, Silverberg knows how to tell a story and present thought-provoking ideas as well as anyone in the genre.