THE END is a contemporary environmental thriller. The plot evolves from Dr. Richard Nostrol's realization that Global Warming will soon cause the atmosphere to ignite and explode, consuming the world in flames. Believing in his theory, Nostrol's supporters build the Ecosphere, a self-contained underground facility where the last vestige of humanity might survive.

I based Nostrol’s theory on worst-case scenarios discussed by environmental scientists. In THE END, ten trillion tons of methane locked in the Antarctic permafrost escapes to trigger the environmental holocaust. Interestingly, a scientist named Gregory Ryskin at Northwestern University came out with a similar theory in 2003. Ryskin thinks that a massive methane eruption—equivalent to 10 times the world’s nuclear stockpile—from deep within the oceans caused the Permian Extinction 250 million years ago where almost all of the world’s species became extinct. So it’s a case of life imitating Art, so to speak.

I also weave in a Biblical theme, merging elements of the Book of Revelations with modern day environmental events. I leave it to the readers to discover this subtlety, and will say only that you should keep this in mind as you read the novel. Those who recognize the archetypes will find a new layer to the tale.

THE END captures a lot of our own fears and desires

and presents thereader with hope in the face of certain doom; lifesnatched from the jaws of death. I think the current appeal of this sort of tale reflects the precarious nature of our man-made world. Somewhere deep inside each of us is an understanding that we are living in an ivory tower; “safe” cities in a world of turbulent natural disasters. We feel safe, yet with every ecological catastrophe we read about in the headlines we begin to feel the walls of our ivory tower quake around us.

I think our faith in science begins to wane with every new prediction. Our scientists are more prophet than savior now, telling us of the impending Apocalypse, but offering no hope for redemption from it. In our new world we can’t even feel comforted in repentance. There is only cold, hard science. And, though we try to live in our ivory towers and ignore the portents of doom, each of us has at one time or another lain in bed late at night thinking “What if? What if…?”

THE END is my attempt to answer these ‘What ifs’. It’s my way of speaking to that still small voice in our heads, and letting it know that not all the fears wrought in the dead of night are paranoia. “Our worst nightmares can come true.” I want to say to it. “Our world can be destroyed. And here’s how…"

Arthur Cockfield, March, 2004