August 20, 2024
1 min read
Review: The Secrets of Creatures That Thrive in the Dark
In Night Magic, darkness is revered, and its secrets are revealed
On supporting science journalism
If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
In Brief
Night Magic: Adventures among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark
by Leigh Ann Henion.
Algonquin, 2024 ($30)
I recently returned from a camping trip with legs covered in bug bites and a newfound awareness of my reliance on artificial light and the glow of electronic devices. It seems author Leigh Ann Henion had a similar epiphany and sought an antidote by venturing into the Appalachian Mountains after hours. Night Magic chronicles her journey to “re-center darkness” through experiencing the living things that thrive in it: spotted salamanders that perform mating dances before an audience of fairy shrimp and tricolor bats that see through sound. Henion’s vivid style of nature writing and complementary self-reflection are reminders that witnessing the extraordinary can be as easy as shifting your bedtime back an hour and going outside.
