Wolfbane

"Wolfbane" by Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth is a science fiction novel written in the late 1950s. The story explores a post-apocalyptic Earth where humanity struggles to survive after being abducted from the solar system by mysterious extraterrestrial Pyramids that have created a new sun from the old moon. The central characters include Roget Germyn, a banker trying to navigate the absurdities of his society, and Glenn Tropile, a man wrestling with his identity as a "Wolf," someone who cannot conform to the restrictive behaviors of the Citizens around him. The opening of "Wolfbane" introduces us to the somber reality faced by its inhabitants as they prepare for the anticipated re-creation of the sun, a ritualistic event that showcases their hope amidst chilling despair. We meet Germyn, who dresses in ceremonial attire while grappling with doubt about the sun's return, and Tropile, who lives on the outskirts of this society, entwined in internal conflicts about conformity and rebellion. As tensions rise during a critical moment involving Citizen Boyne's descent into madness, we see how societal pressures can incite an explosive reaction that threatens the fragile order of their world. The stage is set for a struggle against an alien oppressor and the existential battles within the characters themselves, making for a thought-provoking exploration of identity in times of crisis.