The Night Land

The Night Land (1912)
by William Hope Hodgson

[O]ne of the strangest visions ever published in science fiction or fantasy is presented. The Sun has gone out: the Earth is lit only by the glow of residual vulcanism. The last few millions of the human race are gathered together in a gigantic metal pyramid, the Last Redoubt, probably the first arcology in literature, under siege from unknown forces and Powers outside in the dark. These are held back by a Circle of energy, known as the "air clog," powered from the Earth's internal energy. For millennia, vast living shapes - the Watchers - have waited in the darkness near the pyramid: it is thought they are waiting for the inevitable time when the Circle's power finally weakens and dies. Other living things have been seen in the darkness beyond, some of unknown origins, and others that may once have been human.— Excerpted from The Night Land on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This work was published before January 1, 1928, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.