title: Last Day on Earth: Stories
author:  Eric Puchner 
description: "<i>Last Day on Earth</i> is a direct hit to the solar plexus that manages to be completelyentertaining. The characters in this collection are both familiar and surprising, and the grace Puchner lends to their struggles and hopes is profound. That he also writes sentences, paragraphs, pages that are funny, propulsive and true is nearly annoying, but this kind of consummate skill can only result in gleeful admiration. I cant remember the last time I enjoyed a collection more. There is not a false note in this book. (Cynthia DAprix Sweeney, author of The Nest)<br /><br />Pushing the bounds of the Richter Scale, the nine stories in <i>Last Day on Earth</i> are going to shake up the story world." (Adam Johnson, author of Fortune Smiles)<br /><br />Eric Puchner is an alchemist who captures the joy and danger in everyday life and,with precision, humor, and empathy,turnsthese moments into gold. These stories allow us to look at our own lives more closely and with more courage and understanding--a poignant and unforgettable collection from a great storyteller. (Yiyun Li, author of Dear Friend, From My Life I Write to You in Your Life)<br /><br />"A skewed and fantastic vision of the world." (<i>Kirkus, STARRED review</i>)<br /><br />"Ray Bradbury meets Tom Perrotta in this new collection which blends science fiction withall-too-real suburban horrors." (<i>Publishers Weekly</i>)<br /><br />Puchner deftly captures the nuances of human interactions, and while characters in the nine tales often stumble at the crossroads, there remains the hope that one day they may find the answers they seek. (<i>Booklist</i>)<br /><br />"Regardless of how modern our times might be, there's always a generation that's attempting to come of age in suburban America... these stories get right to the heart of what it feels like to be a not-quite adult." (<i>Newsweek</i>)<br /><br />"Well-crafted... memorable portraits of suburban angst...a unique take on themes of family and belonging." (Michael Magras <i>Houston Chronicle</i>)<br /><br />"Puchner shows us the many complicated facets of family and domestic life, of adolescence, parenthood, and coming of age, through a variety of highly compelling lenses." (<i>Buzzfeed</i>)<br /><br />Puchners affecting collection explores the endings of things  relationships, childhood, the illusion that one is a morally upstanding person  as well as what endures for the sympathetic characters in these nine stories top-notch realistic fiction, sensitive to the complexities of more or less ordinary lives. (Polly Rosenwaike <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i>)
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  ![Cover](images/cover.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## The Last Day on Earth
  
  
    
  
  
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  _( The Last Days - 1 )_
  
  
  
  
  
  ### R. M. Allinson
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When she finds out about the asteroid headed for Earth, Lucy knows that her
  family are some of the lucky ones. They have a farm, away from the chaos of
  the cities, with abundant food and fuel, and good weather. But finding out
  you're all probably going to die in two months is a quick way to discover how
  much everyone takes for granted.
  
  
  A novella of 20,000 words, or approx. 70 pages
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## R.M. Allinson
  
  
  ## THE LAST DAY ON EARTH
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _For my mum, Robin._
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### CHAPTER ONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **Present…**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **L** ucy dreamed that it had all been a big mistake. Relief washed over her
  for a few blissful moments when she first woke. All too soon she realised
  she’d been dreaming and today was the day. She wanted to go back to sleep. It
  felt surreal knowing she’d woken up for t