Solar eclipses in fiction

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Contents

This is a list of fictional stories in which solar eclipses feature as an important plot element. Mere passing mentions are not listed.

[edit] Written works

This literature-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Novels

[edit] Other

A solar eclipse on the cover of Tangerine Dream's 1972 album Zeit.
A solar eclipse on the cover of Tangerine Dream's 1972 album Zeit.

[edit] Films

[edit] Trivia

  • While director Peter Weir was filming Witness (1985) in the Amish region of Pennsylvania, a genuine solar eclipse occurred in the sky above his location. Weir filmed several of his actors in costume and character, responding to the eclipse, with a vague intention of revising the film's storyline to include a solar eclipse. Ultimately, however, the eclipse footage was not included in the final edit.
  • In an issue of the humor magazine Cracked, there is a "Shut-Up" sequence in which a white explorer captured by a tribe in Africa tries to scare the chief by saying, "Behold my power, Chief! Observe my magic and take heed!, Oh, Great Ball of Flame...oh Fiery Sphere in the Heavens, I command you to darken! SHA-LLALA KOO! SHA-LLALA POO! SHA-LLALA POO!" The chief snorts, "SHUT-UP with all that gobbledygook! We know there's an eclipse of the sun this afternoon!"

[edit] Television

  • Sailor Moon: In season four, two eclipses granted power to the villainous Dead Moon (Circus).
  • The Recess episode "Outcast Ashley" partly revolves around Gretchen's attempts to view the solar eclipse occurring that afternoon, and who she views it with.
  • In the episode of Avatar the Last Airbender,the eclipse, a solar eclipse that was the planned day of the invasion on the fire nation capital occurs leaving the firebenders without firebending for 8 minutes. The plan was for the invasion force to pass the Great Gates of Azulan then the invasion force would reach the shores of the Fire Nation Capital and Aang, the avatar to face the firelord during the eclipse and this way easily win while the invasion forse makes there way to the volcanoe where the capital city is located after defeating all the firebenders on the way. When they get to the dorment volcanoe, the eclipse is suppose to begin so while the avatar fights the firelord, they can easily defeat the royal guards and secure the capital city. Thi plan was to hopefully end the war.
  • In an episode of Darkwing Duck the title character accidentally traveled into the Middle Ages and was about to be executed as a warlock when he remembered that his execution was timed exactly with an eclipse. He threatened everyone he would black out the sun unless released and began to speak gibberish, pretending to put a spell on the sun. However, he misread the date of the solar eclipse by one day, and stood on the gallows for 24 hours, continuing the gibberish, until the eclipse happened.
  • In Samurai Jack (animated series, 2001-04), Aku is able to escape the tree he is sealed in due to an eclipse.