by Greg Bear
First published 1987
Arthur Gordon stares at his instruments in disbelief on July 26th. Europa, Jupiter's sixth moon, has simply vanished. Not hidden behind another celestial body, not darkened beyond detection, but completely gone. Two months later, geologist Edward Shaw stumbles upon an impossible sight in Death Valley: a fresh cinder cone where none existed before in this thoroughly surveyed terrain. Strange phenomena multiply across Earth. A granite mountain materializes in the Australian outback. Mysterious sounds pulse from the planet's core. Light flashes dance between asteroids. Scientists piece together a terrifying conclusion: Earth faces imminent destruction, and humanity possesses no means to prevent it. As the world begins tearing itself apart, people respond in drastically different ways. Some seek comfort in religious faith. Others retreat to family bonds. A desperate few chase after supposed saviors who promise miraculous escape routes. Bear tracks both the cosmic scale of approaching annihilation and the intimate human stories of individuals confronting their mortality. The question becomes not whether Earth will survive, but who might escape and who will remain to witness the final moments.
Genres: fiction, science-fiction, astronomy, apocalyptic
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: end-of-the-world, humanity-in-peril
Setting: Australia, Death Valley, Europa, Jupiter
Period: July 26th, Two Months Later
474 pages · Hardcover · Tor Books