Black-out

"Black-out" by Joseph Farrell is tale of hope and heartbreaking revelation set against the backdrop of a failing Martian civilization. As the last astronomer, Thak, clings to the belief that life on Earth holds the key to his people's survival. He and his pupils dedicate everything to building a telescope, desperate to receive a sign from this distant, blue planet. Thak interprets the lights he observes as evidence of intelligent life, a beacon of potential salvation. Yet, as the newly built telescope finally comes, a devastating truth emerges: the lights on Earth are going out, signaling a widespread blackout as the story vividly portrays the poignant longing for connection and the tragic realization of shared doom as both worlds face oblivion.