Night of Power (novel)

Lore & Background

The novel follows the Grant family: Russell Grant, a 48-year-old designer who retired early on his unconventional inventions; his 14-year-old daughter Jennifer, described as 'a prodigiously bright and imaginative child'; and his wife Dena Grant, a 37-year-old modern dancer from Halifax who comes to New York for a last chance to dance at the Joyce Theatre. They become entangled in a revolution led by Michael, a charismatic black man. The Grants' superintendent, José, a 17-year-old Puerto Rican, is hired as Jennifer's bodyguard.

Reader's Guide

Night of Power stands as a period piece of mid-1980s speculative fiction, exploring racial tensions through a near-future lens. Its significance lies in its direct engagement with the possibility of a race war in New York, a theme that resonated with contemporary anxieties. The novel's use of an interracial family as protagonists and its allusion to an Islamic holy day add layers of cultural and religious symbolism. While not a major bestseller, it remains a notable example of Spider Robinson's work outside his more famous humorous science fiction, and it reflects the genre's willingness to tackle social issues. Its legacy is as a time capsule of 1985 fears and hopes about race relations in America.

Did You Know?

• The novel's title alludes to the Islamic holy day Laylat al-Qadr, sometimes translated as 'Night of Power'.
• The protagonist Russell Grant is a 48-year-old designer who retired early from his unconventional inventions.
• José, the superintendent, is a 17-year-old Puerto Rican hired as a bodyguard for Jennifer.