THE WALL OF DARKNESS

Episode #83 · Written by Arthur C. Clarke · Narrated by Scott Miller

A mysterious wall divides a world that knows no night from a land of eternal shadow. One man’s quest to climb it will unravel the ultimate secret of space and time itself.

In the eternal daylight of a strange planet, the sun never sets and time itself seems to stand still. Yet along the horizon lies the one forbidden mystery—an immense, mile-high wall of black material circling half the world. No one knows who built it or what it hides. The myths speak of madness, of the dead, or of gods who sealed away their own creation. But to young Shervane, it is the ultimate challenge—an enigma he must face, no matter the cost.

Guided by his friend Brayldon, an ambitious architect from the eastern lands, Shervane devotes his fortune and years of his life to building a colossal stairway that might finally reach the top. Through the storms of the Shadow Land and the long seasons when their sun disappears, the two men press forward—toward a truth more astounding than any legend. Clarke turns this classic quest into a breathtaking revelation about the structure of the universe and the limits of perception. The Wall of Darkness is not only an adventure across a world of perpetual light, but a philosophical journey across the boundaries of reason itself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) stands as one of the grand architects of modern science fiction. A scientist by training and a dreamer by instinct, he bridged the gap between technical possibility and cosmic wonder. Before becoming a full-time writer, Clarke served in the Royal Air Force and worked on radar development, experiences that would later infuse his fiction with authenticity. His Sentinel story evolved into 2001: A Space Odyssey, and his essays predicted communications satellites decades before they became real.

Across novels and short stories, Clarke examined the destiny of intelligence in the universe—the meeting of human curiosity with the infinite unknown. The Wall of Darkness exemplifies his belief that mystery, not certainty, is the truest engine of progress. Few writers have made the cosmos feel so vast, so logical, and so quietly awe-inspiring.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Wall of Darkness by Arthur C. Clarke — a classic sci-fi mystery of discovery and cosmic design in vintage science fiction brilliance.

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