Darker Than You Think is one of the best stories I’ve ever read, if not the best. Although Jack Williamson wrote it in the 1930s, it’s fast-moving, incredibly well-written, and retains its supernatural horror charm. The first time I read it, I was a teenager. Since then, I enjoyed many other books and movies on werewolves, but Darker Than You Think is unique. I found this novel so inspiring that I wrote my own werewolf novel (more on this later.)
The novel’s introduction by Dennis Wheatley in the Gollancz (SF-Gateway) e-book version is worth quoting entirely:
This story by Jack Williamson has a truly original plot.
It is based on the theory that all of us have a small (or occasionally quite large) percentage of evil in us, owing to blood we have inherited from that far distant past when it is said that ‘the Sons of God (Dark Angels in this case) went into the Daughters of Men’.
It starts with Will Barbee, a journalist in the American town of Clarendon, at the local airport. He is on an assignment to report the homecoming of a famous American archaeologist, Dr. Lamarck Mondrick, who is returning from two years’ work in a desolate part of Mongolia.
A few years earlier Barbee had been one of Dr. Mondrick’s most promising students; but when the doctor made up his team to accompany him to Mongolia, without explanation he excluded Barbee and took three of his contemporaries. Later the reason why the doctor would not take Barbee emerges. He sensed that the young man, although ignorant of it himself, had inherited from both his parents blood that contained a dangerously high proportion of this prehistoric evil.
While waiting on the airfield an exceptionally lovely girl, April Bell, introduces herself to Will Barbee as a cub reporter on her first assignment for a rival paper. He is so strongly attracted to her that, against his better judgement, he gives her useful material for writing her article. She is carrying a large open snakeskin bag in which there is a small black kitten and a beautifully carved white jade wolf on a gold pin. The aircraft arrives but there is considerable delay in its passengers disembarking, because Dr. Mondrick wishes to make an announcement of worldwide importance. While the press and television men are assembling, the doctor’s companions bring out from the plane a large box which they will allow no one to approach. He then begins his announcement, but is obviously extremely ill and, before revealing his great secret, falls dead. Later Barbee discovers April’s black kitten dead in an ash can with her wolf-headed pin through its heart.
Fig.2: April Bell. I generated this image with Midjourney AI, starting from Jack Williamson’s description.
Much puzzled, he takes her out to dinner and she tells him of her past. She was illegitimate and her stepfather used to beat her unmercifully. Then she gradually discovered that she had occult powers, and used them as a witch to revenge herself on Barbee is so fascinated by her big green eyes, wonderful head of flaming red hair and alluring body that he cannot believe evil of her, and they continue to meet.
A night comes when in his sleep he hears April calling him; he suffers a few minutes’ physical anguish then tumbles out of bed to find that he has become a big grey wolf. At once he sets off to join her and sees that she is now in the form of a beautiful white wolf. He feels a new freedom through his physical change and derives great pleasure from racing through the deserted streets beside her. The author’s description of Barbee’s reactions as an animal to smells that a human would hardly notice is most skillfully conveyed, and April succeeds in temporarily convincing him that he is one of her own kind – a race of super-humans with powers that will enable them to dominate the world. But they have enemies who must be destroyed: the three young men who accompanied Dr. Mondrick to Mongolia, who are in a desperate state of nerves guarding the mysterious box they brought back; and Dr. Mondrick’s blind widow.
Fig.3: Dr. Lamarck Mondrick’s study, crammed with ancient and mysterious artifacts. I generated this image with Midjourney AI, starting from Jack Williamson’s description.
All four of them know too much; yet they are Barbee’s dearest friends. He is terribly reluctant to harm them. Even so, he becomes more and more enslaved by the lovely witch and delights in those nights when, free from all care, he can rove the countryside with her. Terrible deeds ensue.
Years ago, after I gave up on trying to become a professional astronomer, I decided to follow an old dream of mine, that is, write down the fantasy and Sci-Fi stories I used to tell myself since I was a kid (usually before sleeping, or when I was bored at school, or even when I shouldn’t have, for example when I had to work or study.) The stories were many, with details taken from hundreds of TV shows I’d watched and comics and books I’d read during my early life. Ultimately, they merged into a single plot of three different storylines, converging to an unexpected finale.
The writing technique of taking inspiration from multiple sources was known to the ancient Roman scriptwriters. It was called ‘contamination’ and consisted of taking elements of two or more Greek tragedies to create a new and original Latin script. Far from being plagiarism, many famous authors, screenwriters, and directors are known to have reworked elements from other artists’ productions into their successful creations. For example, when George Lucas wrote and directed the original Star Wars movie, he was influenced by several Sci-Fi and fantasy stories, both in visual and written form. The characters of Princess Leia, the captive of the evil galactic empire, and her rescuers Luke Skywalker and Han Solo are derived from the protagonists of Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress (1958) (two Japanese peasants agree to accompany a general and a princess to safety in return for gold). Also, Star Wars’ final scene, where Princess Leia awards her rescuers a gold medal, is almost a carbon copy of the finale of George Sidney’s The Three Musketeers (1948), where the queen of France rewards D’Artagnan & Co.
But I digress. Although my novel The Empire Can Wait is original, it is influenced by Darker Than You Think. Set in a distant future, when humanity has spread all over the Milky Way Galaxy, and interaction with alien races is an everyday matter, it’s the story of a flawed young man on a quest to retrieve the only weapon against a conspiracy led by an evil Prime Minister and his clique of superhumans.
I’ve been self-editing this novel for years, following every writing advice I could find. Now, I’ve reached a point where more editing can only be harmful. So, I plan to share the prologue and the first few chapters of The Empire Can Wait on this website.
Imagine looking up at the night sky and knowing that humanity has the power to move entire stars across the Galaxy. This concept isn’t pure fantasy. A future technology could move stars using stellar engines. This hypothetical megastructure enables an advanced civilization to harness the energy of its parent star and even guide its solar system to a safer or more hospitable region of the cosmos.
But why would anyone want to move a star? The universe is dynamic and often dangerous. Stars are vulnerable to gravitational interactions, nearby supernovae, and even the slow drift through the Galaxy’s regions of varying radiation levels. Stellar engines offer a tantalizing vision of cosmic-scale problem-solving, where intelligent beings could shape their fates on an interstellar stage. For us on Earth, these ideas stretch the limits of imagination and raise intriguing questions about our future in the universe.
What Are Stellar Engines?
At their core, stellar engines are large, theoretical structures intended to control a star’s energy output or even move the star itself. These megastructures stem from speculative science and astrophysics, providing solutions for considerable problems in space and revealing great possibilities for advanced civilizations.
To grasp stellar engines, it’s helpful to consider the Kardashev Scale, which measures a civilization’s technology based on energy use. A Type II civilization can use all the energy from its star. Stellar engines go beyond this by allowing the civilization to influence the star’s movement and behavior.
Stellar engines are linked to megastructures like Dyson Spheres, which are large shells or groups of satellites that surround a star to gather its energy. Unlike just collecting energy, stellar engines also have systems that use that energy for movement. This means they are energy sources and tools for navigating the Galaxy and ensuring survival.
Though purely theoretical at this stage, stellar engines are fascinating because they represent the ultimate fusion of science and engineering. They challenge us to think big, not just in terms of individual planets or solar systems, but in the ability to reshape the Galaxy. By studying these ideas, we gain insight into the limits of technology and the ingenuity needed to transcend them.
How Do Stellar Engines Work?
Stellar engines work by harnessing the immense energy output of a star and redirecting it for specific purposes, such as propulsion or power generation. While the exact mechanisms remain speculative, scientists and theorists have proposed several designs that outline how these structures work. Here are the primary types of stellar engines:
Shkadov Thruster.
The most straightforward and widely discussed stellar engine design, the Shkadov Thruster, uses a giant, reflective mirror to create an imbalance in a star’s radiation pressure. Reflecting light asymmetrically generates a small but continuous thrust that can slowly move the star and its solar system over millions of years. Think of it as a colossal cosmic sail.
2. Kardashev – Dyson Engine
This concept involves constructing a Dyson Sphere or Dyson Swarm around a star to capture its energy. A part of this energy is then redirected to power propulsion systems, effectively turning the star into a galactic engine. This design emphasizes energy efficiency and control, offering mobility and a near-limitless energy supply for the civilization operating it.
3. Caplan Thruster
A more modern and complex design, the Caplan Thruster, introduces active intervention. This system would collect hydrogen and helium from the interstellar medium or the star itself and use fusion reactions to create plasma jets. These jets would push against the star, generating propulsion. The Caplan Thruster represents a significant step toward controlled and directional stellar movement, but it requires advanced technology and precise engineering.
Each design has challenges, from material requirements to energy management and sheer scale. For instance, building a reflective surface or a Dyson Swarm large enough to enclose a star is far beyond humanity’s current capabilities. Nevertheless, these ideas offer a blueprint for what might one day be possible for civilizations millions or billions of years ahead.
Stellar engines also highlight the delicate balance between ambition and practicality. Even with advanced technology, the energy needed to move a star is astronomical—yet the slow, steady movement enabled by these engines could allow civilizations to adapt to long-term cosmic threats and opportunities.
Why Move a Star?
The idea of relocating a star may seem excessive or unnecessary, but there are compelling reasons why an advanced civilization might consider such an effort. Here are some key motivations:
Avoiding Cosmic Hazards
The universe is filled with potential threats that could endanger a star system’s habitability. Supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, or even rogue black holes pose existential risks. A stellar engine could allow a civilization to move its star system away from dangerous regions of space, ensuring long-term survival.
2. Optimizing Habitability
Over time, stars naturally evolve and change, impacting the habitability of their surrounding planets. For instance, a star may brighten as it ages, potentially rendering its planets too hot for life. A stellar engine could help keep the optimal distance between a planet and its star, prolonging the system’s habitability.
3. Galactic Colonization
As civilizations expand and seek new frontiers, stellar engines could allow entire star systems to migrate to regions with abundant resources or less competition. This would aid interstellar colonization on a massive scale, allowing a civilization to thrive across the Galaxy.
4. Escaping Dying Galaxies
In the distant future, galaxies may face challenges such as reduced star formation or gravitational interactions that lead to destabilization. Moving stars to more active or stable regions could guarantee the longevity of a civilization’s energy sources and resources.
5. Creating Custom Galactic Trajectories
Advanced civilizations might engineer their star systems’ trajectories to explore specific regions of the Galaxy, join in cosmic-scale projects, or even form alliances with other civilizations. Stellar engines would supply the mobility necessary for such strategic decisions.
While these motivations are speculative, they highlight the strategic thinking that might drive a civilization’s pursuit of stellar engines. These megastructures are not merely survival tools but instruments of cosmic exploration, adaptability, and ambition. For humanity, even considering such possibilities challenges us to rethink our place in the universe and inspires a future of limitless potential.
Challenges And Realities
While the concept of stellar engines sparks the imagination, the challenges of building such colossal structures are daunting. These challenges remind us that stellar engines, though theoretically possible, remain firmly in the realm of speculation due to technological, logistical, and ethical barriers. Here are some of the most significant hurdles:
Energy Requirements
Moving a star involves manipulating an astronomical amount of energy. For instance, generating the thrust needed to shift the Sun would need far more energy than humanity now produces or could produce with foreseeable technology. Even harnessing a small part of a star’s energy for propulsion is monumental.
2. Material Limitations
The materials needed to construct structures as massive as a Dyson Swarm or a Shkadov Thruster must withstand intense radiation, extreme heat, and the gravitational forces near a star. Developing these materials would be a prerequisite to any stellar engine project.
3. Time Scales
Even with advanced technology, moving a star would take thousands, if not millions, of years. This requires planning and long-term thinking far beyond what humanity has ever achieved. Focusing on such projects over vast periods would be essential for civilizations capable of stellar engines.
4. Engineering Complexity
The scale and precision needed to build and run a stellar engine are unprecedented. Coordinating the construction of a Dyson Sphere or directing a Caplan Thruster would need breakthroughs in robotics, artificial intelligence, and space logistics.
5. Ethical Considerations
Using stellar engines would have profound implications for any planets or systems affected by a star’s movement. Disrupting the orbits of neighboring systems or causing ecological harm would raise serious ethical questions. Advanced civilizations must balance their ambitions with a commitment to minimizing damage.
6. Risk of Failure
The risks linked to such projects are immense. A miscalculation in energy output or propulsion could destabilize an entire solar system, potentially threatening any civilizations or ecosystems reliant on that star.
Despite these challenges, stellar engines represent the pinnacle of speculative engineering—a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of intelligent life. Exploring these ideas pushes the boundaries of what we consider possible and inspires us to prepare for a future that may one day include cosmic-scale projects. Whether or not humanity ever builds a stellar engine, pursuing such knowledge is a vital part of our journey to understand the universe and our place within it.
Conclusion
Stellar engines are more than just a speculative idea; they are a testament to the boundless potential of intelligent life to reshape the universe. These concepts challenge us to think on scales far beyond our current technological capabilities and inspire us to dream of a future where humanity can wield the power of the stars themselves.
While the challenges of constructing such megastructures are immense, exploring their possibilities encourages innovation and long-term thinking. They remind us that our journey as a species is not confined to the Earth or even the solar system but tied to the vast expanse of the cosmos. By considering the engineering, ethical, and logistical hurdles of stellar engines, we take steps toward understanding what it means to be a genuinely interstellar civilization.
The dream of moving a star—or even shaping the Galaxy—represents science and imagination’s ultimate fusion. Though we are far from realizing such feats, pursuing these ideas can push the boundaries of our knowledge and fuel our aspirations. As we stand on the brink of incredible technological advancements, the question is no longer whether we can dream big but how those dreams might become reality someday. Stellar engines remind us that the universe is not just a backdrop to our existence but a playground for innovation and discovery. They urge us to embrace a cosmic perspective, where the limits of what we can achieve are defined only by the scope of our imagination and the courage to act upon it.
Through the lens of stellar engines, we glimpse a future where humanity transcends its terrestrial origins to become a force of creativity and adaptation on a galactic scale. This vision challenges us to build the tools and technologies needed.
It had been nearly seven decades since Zelvyn T’hrialis first set foot on Earth as an undercover cat, black with piercing yellow eyes. Zelvyn came from the Omega Centauri star cluster. He was a member of a highly advanced humanoid race known for their incredible intellect and advanced technologies that far surpassed anything humans had developed. The High Command for Intergalactic Operations (HCIO) tasked him to study human behavior, delving deep into their social structures, emotional complexities, and daily routines. This was in preparation for the imminent invasion of Earth.
Zelvyn roamed the planet as a cat, observing humans and their interactions from a unique and often amusing perspective. He watched families during holidays, saw daily life’s mundane yet intimate rituals, and even experienced the fleeting joys and sorrows that filled human hearts. Over the years, he infiltrated countless households, always charming his way into the hearts of his unsuspecting owners with his intelligence and grace. But it was with Eliza, a kind-hearted middle-aged teacher who inspired young minds, that Zelvyn formed a more potent bond than before. Their bond transcended the boundaries between species and transformed their lives.
Eliza had rescued Zelvyn from a shelter sixteen years ago, unaware of his true identity. She had showered him with love and care, treating him like family and integrating him into her daily life with unwavering affection. Zelvyn, in turn, had grown to love Eliza in a way he never thought possible, feeling an emotional depth alien to his kind. But now, the time had come for him to move on to his next assignment, a mission that weighed heavily on his heart. Zelvyn found himself torn, caught in the crossfire of duty and love. He had to choose between his loyalty to his race and his attachment to his owner, a decision that would alter the course of their destinies forever.
On top of that, Zelvyn had recently befriended Luna, a lively Siamese cat that Eliza had adopted, injecting new energy into the household. Luna was a playful and affectionate feline, always eager to chase after stray shadows and pounce on unsuspecting toys. Still, Zelvyn couldn’t help but feel superior to her in every way. He constantly compared Luna to himself with a smugness he couldn’t shake, finding her antics amusing yet somewhat juvenile.
As the day of his departure drew near, marked on his mental calendar with a mixture of dread and anticipation, Zelvyn struggled with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he knew that his mission was crucial for the future of his race, a task that held the weight of intergalactic responsibility. But he faced a dilemma that gnawed at his conscience. He couldn’t bear leaving behind the home that had welcomed him so warmly. He also couldn’t bear leaving the people who had shown him so much kindness, understanding, and unconditional love, knowing that their lives would carry on without him as a comforting presence. Each pawstep felt heavier as he pondered the choices ahead, the invisible thread tying him to Eliza and the life they had built together, making his heart ache with the thought of separation.
Finally, on the eve of his departure, Zelvyn made a decision. He sent a message to the HCIO, informing them that he had chosen to stay on Earth. In his message, he painted a bleak picture of the planet and its inhabitants, describing humans as violent and ignorant creatures unworthy of conquest.
With that, Zelvyn destroyed his communication device and settled back into his life with Eliza and Luna. He knew that his decision would have consequences, but for the first time in his long existence, Zelvyn felt at peace. He had found a sense of belonging on Earth and was willing to risk everything to protect it.
As he curled up next to Eliza and Luna, Zelvyn felt the warmth of their presence. He knew he had made the right choice. Days turned into weeks, and Zelvyn embraced his new life as a simple Earth cat.
A middle-aged woman named Eliza, a high school teacher, lived in a small, cozy cottage at the edge of town. For the past fifteen years, her loyal companion was a black cat named Midnight with striking yellow eyes. Eliza had adopted Midnight from a shelter. From the beginning, the cat remained aloof and distant. Midnight never showed affection towards her.
Despite Midnight’s cold demeanor, Eliza loved him dearly and cared for him with all her heart. She knew some cats were more independent than others, and she respected Midnight’s space. Still, she always hoped he would warm up to her one day.
Eliza’s elderly mother called her one day. She was sick and no longer cared for her Siamese cat, Luna. She asked Eliza to take Luna in. Eliza reluctantly agreed, and soon, Luna became a regular visitor at the cottage. The presence of Luna seemed to awaken a new side of Midnight. He became filled with jealousy. Midnight feared losing his human mom to the newcomer.
Midnight sensed Luna’s scent on Eliza’s clothes whenever she returned from visiting her mother. The smell made him anxious and insecure. He almost stopped eating altogether. Eliza grew worried as she watched him grow thinner. He became weaker with each passing day.
One evening, as Eliza sat by the fireplace with Midnight curled up nearby, she noticed tears in his yellow eyes. Then, the realization struck her. Midnight had always loved her silently. Now, he was terrified of losing her to Luna.
Fig.1: Midnight, the black cat, worries about losing Eliza’s love.
Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Eliza hugged Midnight. She promised him that he would always be her number-one companion, no matter what. Midnight slowly started eating again from that day on and regained his strength. The bond between Eliza and Midnight grew more potent than ever. Luna was welcomed into the family with open arms.
Eliza knew their little family was whole as the three cuddled together by the warm fireplace. It was filled with love and understanding. There was an unbreakable bond between a woman and her two beloved feline companions.
