Night of Power (novel)

Night of Power is a novel by Spider Robinson. This is a speculative fiction tale about a race war that could have happened in New York. The book, written in 1984 although first published a year later, is set in the year 1996. The story revolves around an interracial family that has to deal with a black revolution in New York.

Night of Power

Night of Power cover, Baen hardcover first edition
Author	Spider Robinson
Cover artist	David Willson
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Baen Books
Publication date	1985
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Pages	287 pp
ISBN	0-671-55944-3 (first edition hardback) ISBN 978-0-671-55944-1
OCLC	11496630
Dewey Decimal	813/.54 19
LC Class	PS3568.O3156 N5 1985

The title alludes to the Islamic holy day of Laylat al-Qadr, which is sometimes translated as "Night of Power".

Characters

Russell Grant is a 48-year-old designer who has made enough money from his unconventional inventions to retire early.

Jennifer is his 14-year-old daughter by his first marriage. She's characterized by the author as "a prodigiously bright and imaginative child."

Dena Grant is Russell's wife. She was born and raised in Halifax. She is a 37-year-old modern dancer coming to New York because "her old friend Lisa Dann has offered her a chance—one last chance—to dance in New York, and not just in New York but at the Joyce Theatre, the showcase, the worldwide Mecca of Modern dance."

Michael is a charismatic black man who is leading the revolution that the Grants find themselves caught up in.

José is the superintendent of Grant's apartment as well as being hired by Russell as a bodyguard for Jennifer. He is "a short dark handsome seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican with long unruly curls and an air of cynical amusement."

Sources, references, external links, quotations

• Author's site
• Publisher's site