[HN Gopher] Nightfall: Can Kalgash Exist (2014)
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       Nightfall: Can Kalgash Exist (2014)
        
       Author : bryanrasmussen
       Score  : 37 points
       Date   : 2024-04-08 17:56 UTC (5 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (arxiv.org)
 (TXT) w3m dump (arxiv.org)
        
       | mock-possum wrote:
       | > We investigate the imaginary world of Kalgash, a planetary
       | system based on the novel "Nightfall" (Asimov & Silverberg,
       | 1991). The system consists of a planet, a moon and an astonishing
       | six suns. The six stars cause the wider universe to be invisible
       | to the inhabitants of the planet. The author explores the
       | consequences of an eclipse and the resulting darkness which the
       | Kalgash people experience for the first time. Our task is to
       | verify if this system is feasible, from the duration of the
       | eclipse, the "invisibility" of the universe to the complex
       | orbital dynamics.
       | 
       | Oh that's fun, Nightfall is a definitely one of my favorite sci-
       | fi stories of that era. Still makes my spine tingle just thinking
       | about the final passage.
        
       | bruce511 wrote:
       | Nightfall is justly famous, and recognised as one of the best
       | short stories ever penned, and very much a pinicle of Asimovs
       | impressive output.
       | 
       | It is interesting partly for being based on a discussion between
       | editor (John W Campbell) and author based on no more than a quote
       | from a poem by Emerson. That's all it takes. A simple quote taken
       | and examined.
       | 
       | It's also interesting for being written when he was only 21. Did
       | he "peak" then? I think not - his legacy stretches far beyond
       | Nightfall, and to my mind his Laws of Robotics have a bigger
       | impact on society, especially now.
       | 
       | But the story is remarkable for being unique, memorable, and
       | self-complete. Yes, he expanded on the idea in 1990, but the
       | story didn't need it, it was perfect as was.
       | 
       | Rest well, Good Doctor.
        
         | whartung wrote:
         | It was made into a movie. Well, at least one movie.
         | 
         | https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095738/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5_tt_8...
         | 
         | It was really bad.
         | 
         | I paid money for it.
         | 
         | Did I mention it was really bad?
        
       | davedx wrote:
       | Reminds me I need to read "Against a Dark Background" again -
       | similar theme!
        
       | lxe wrote:
       | As I was exploring this topic, another good article popped up:
       | https://planetplanet.net/2018/03/21/asimov-kalgash-take2/
        
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