Inconstant Moon

Inconstant Moon is a science fiction short story by Larry Niven which first appeared in Niven's All the Myriad Ways book of short stories in 1971. Inconstant Moon won the 1972 Hugo Award for best short story.

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Short story - Larry Niven - All the Myriad Ways - Hugo Award

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An episode of the Outer Limits television series was based on this story, see Inconstant Moon (episode).

Related Topics:
Outer Limits - Inconstant Moon (episode)

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The writer Jo Walton later wrote a short poem, End of the World in Duxford, as "an unauthorised translation of Inconstant Moon into British."

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The story is expertly written from the perspective of a man who notices that the moon is glowing much brighter than the night before. All those who notice the moon exclaim its beauty, but lack the scientific background to ponder its cause.

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Our protagonist surmises that the sun has begun its inevitable transformation into a red giant, the far side of the Earth is probably already molten, and this is probably his last night on Earth. He then calls a female friend, who he presumes is ignorant of the occasion, and they enjoy the night on the town living dangerously and spending lavishly.

Related Topics:
Protagonist - Sun - Red giant

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Near the end of the story, he realizes that there is one other possibility. In case he is right, they find appropriate supplies and seek refuge from the coming natural disasters.

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The second possibility turns out to be correct, and the Earth has been struck by an enormous solar flare. The poles have melted, most of the earth is flooded, and the vaporized seawater leads to torrential rains. Indeed, most (if not all) people on the far side of the planet are dead. The story ends as the flood waters stop rising, just below the high-rise apartment (now an island) where they have taken refuge.

Related Topics:
Solar flare - Poles - Vaporized - Seawater - Island

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