Short but effective piece, similar in some ways to a number of Stephen Baxter stories, in looking at a globally catastrophic event through its impact on a family. The horror of rousing little children in the night to flee an approaching darkness is handled well, and Reed manages to provide an ending that is in fact a beginning rather than an ending. I’m only glad I read this the day before the news that scientists announced they have for the first time created artificial life – maybe those working on such projects should be forced to read several of the numerous grey-goo and other science-gone-in-the-wrong-direction SF stories before progressing their research. .
