The Barnes & Noble Review
More than 30 years after it was originally published, Robert Silverberg's Hugo Award-winning novella Nightwings is being reissued by Pocket Books. The new edition, which has been rewritten and reedited by Silverberg, features an introduction by the author himself as he candidly talks about the story's origins, the political climate of America in 1968, and his volatile relationship with Frederik Pohl, then the editor of Galaxy magazine.

The Watcher has spent his entire life scanning the depths of space for alien invaders. As he travels to Roum with the beautiful Flier Avluela and Gormon the Changeling, the invaders finally arrive, and his world is turned upside down. As the conquerors take control of Earth, the Watcher, now jobless, becomes a student, then a pilgrim, as he begins a long journey to find Avluela -- and himself.

This reissue is not only a tribute to one of the most creative and prolific science fiction writers of all time but also offers fascinating insight into the man behind the legend. (Paul Goat Allen)

Here are some sf goodies for fans of the genre. The Wanderer (1964) is a massive space craft that comes into Earth's orbit. Larger than the moon, the ship causes violent changes in tides and weather that threaten the planet. Wealthy Simeon Krug, protagonist of Silverberg's 1970 Tower of Glass, has an army of androids building an edifice in the Arctic to answer signals coming from deep space. The synthetics worship Krug, whom they believe can make them human, and take their revenge when he is found to be mortal. Nightwings features alien invaders challenging Earth. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

"Nightwings is Robert Silverberg at the top of his form, and when Silverberg is at the top of his form, no one is better. A haunting, evocative look at a crumbling Earth of the far future and a human race struggling to survive amidst the ruins, full of memorable characters and images that will long linger in your memory.” —George R. R. Martin

“Robert Silverberg is our best . . . Time and time again he has expanded the parameters of science fiction.” —The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

In these three linked novellas, Silverberg introduces listeners to a world of the far future, creating a saga of mystery, romance, and renewal. Stefan Rudnicki portrays the “Watcher,” the narrator of the book, with stoicism, authority, and clarity. The social order of future Earth is dominated by various guilds, and the Watcher belongs to the one that must prevent aliens from invading. Rudnicki’ s changes in pacing and accent are subtle yet effective, and his performance highlights the Watcher’s emotions—anguish over his failure to prevent an alien advance as well as his eventual optimism in spite of an uncertain future. Using lighter tones, Rudnicki adeptly portrays Avluela, a young Flier who travels with the Watcher. The melancholy, romantic mood of the story is enhanced by Rudnicki. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine