With Morning Comes Mistfall

"With Morning Comes Mistfall" is a science fiction story by American author George R. R. Martin, published by Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine in May 1973. It was the first story by Martin to be nominated for the Hugo Award and Nebula Award. It was later included in his 2003 anthology Dreamsongs: A RRetrospective.

"With Morning Comes Mistfall" is set in the same fictional "Thousand Worlds" universe as several of Martin's other works, including Dying of the Light, Sandkings, Nightflyers, A Song for Lya, "The Way of Cross and Dragon" and the stories collected in Tuf Voyaging.

The story takes place on Wraithworld, a barely habitable planet with unusual weather conditions. Each morning in a wonderful phenomenon, the mist comes down from the mountains, revealing the beauty of the planet. This phenomenon is called Mistfall.

The planet is home to only a few people, primarily because it is believed that its mist-covered valleys are occupied by "wraiths", creatures that are claimed to have killed a number of humans. The mystery of the wraiths is also the main thing that attract visitors to the place. The only establishment on the planet is Castle Cloud, a hotel mounted on top of one of the mountains. The hotel is visited by wraith hunters, people looking for a thrill.

The novel tells a story of the expedition which sets out to either find proof of the wraiths' existence, or establish that they are nothing more than a myth. The owner of Castle Cloud fears either answer, as he does not want the mystery of the wraiths to be uncovered.

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