On the other side of night

On the Other Side of Night is a dystopian story about humanity’s attempt to reverse the devastating consequences of global pollution in the near future. A toxic, suffocating smog has consumed cities, people, nature, and nearly every living thing on Earth, leaving much of the planet in slow decay. As catastrophe looms, humanity builds isolated glass cities — sealed sanctuaries designed to preserve civilization from extinction. Yet life inside these protected domes comes at a cost far greater than anyone expected. Divided into two interconnected parts, the story follows different lives shaped by the same collapsing world. In the first, a scientist journeys across the fading remains of Earth in search of answers that may still save humanity. In the second, an ordinary teenager struggles to find trust, hope, and a reason to survive in a fractured society. As their worlds slowly draw closer, difficult questions emerge about sacrifice, freedom, and what it truly means to be saved. Beneath the promise of safety lies a reality few dare to confront. Sometimes, the brightest places cast the darkest shadows.

This story was originally written in Russian and even won first place in a literary competition in 2018, so I decided to translate it into English. There may be grammatical errors, as English is not my native language.