metronn 's review for:

Against the Fall of Night by Arthur C. Clarke

2.5

hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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haven't read the second story in my copy (gregory benford's beyond the fall of night), and i don't know if i'm going to. this was fine, i guess, but sort of boring in terms of the actual reading experience. alvin is arrogant in a way that is never addressed, because the narrative works to validate him as a hero or a unique mind. without flaws that complicate the story, the characters are very flat. some of the ideas are quite interesting -- i like 'lost histories' -- but clarke fails to animate things to his usual standard. which makes sense, as this was one of his first works. i won't judge him too harshly (after all, could i do any better?)