Waiting for the end of the World by R.B. Russell (PS Publishing, 2020) Jacketed Hardcover Signed by the Author and Limited to 100 Copies

Waiting for the End of the World

by

R.B. Russell

Elliot Barton is haunted by a tragic mistake. At the time it seemed like the end of his world, but somehow he has managed to rebuild his life, and now lives happily with his partner, Lana, in their house on Sapphire Street.

But Elliot’s good fortune threatens to implode when his old schoolfriend, Vincent, reappears. He has become a Christian, and wants to tell the authorities what happened so many years before. Rather than simply following the teachings of Christ, however, Vincent also claims to have met him. Elliot becomes involved with Vincent’s millennialist church, which prophesied that the world would end in the year 2000.

But what happens to the Messiah and his church when that prophesy does not come to pass? And can Elliot navigate his way through the chaos of incredible experiences back to his happy existence on Sapphire Street?

Reviews:

"Waiting for the End of the World is, as you would expect, a novel about apocalypse. Initially, a personal apocalypse – 'revelation', from the Greek: a secret, long hidden, is finally revealed . . ." The Manchester Review of Books

". . . incredible storytelling, compelling characters and a completely unpredictable plot. This book will suck you in, shake you up and spit you out wondering what on earth just happened ... Ultimately, this story is unlike anything I’ve read before and kept me utterly gripped to the end." Siobhan O’Brien Holmes, British Fantasy Society

"Ploughing a similar sort of furrow as Andrew Michael Hurley although of perhaps a more cosmic and less earthy bent it is, as I said, an absorbing read and one that I devoured over two afternoons."  Wyrd Britain

"This one I can certainly and very highly recommend.  Like all of my favorite books,  I can honestly and without reservation say that I've never read anything quite like it." Nancy Oakes, Oddly Weird Fiction

"Russell is an expert at making us love his characters, and he creates scenes on the page that will live in readers’ memories right alongside their own.  As for his elements of the fantastic, Russell manages the unusual feat of creating something that seems grittily realistic, while at the same time being wildly, inventively imaginative.  Suffice it to say that your charmed smile will give way to a dropped jaw more often than you will suspect.  The combination is utterly unique; I’ve never read anything quite like it." Rick Kleffel, Narrative Species blog

"The author pulls you in with his ability to write true-to-life characters. His description is nothing short of poetic brilliance. The reader is drawn into this world of suspense and flawed faiths. His ability to capture his audience lies in his talent to delve into the deeper questions, and present them from a rational stance. Elliot's humanity is explored beautifully through his love for his partner Lana. Waiting for the End of the World pulls from the depths of its character's souls. Their backstories are presented seamlessly, and tugs at the reader's emotions.

    From the first chapter his passion and ability to tell a story are seen throughout the pages. R.B. Russell takes everyday activities, and creates a world that is both comforting and tragic. Each new person that is introduced within Elliot's past and present has a unique dialogue all of their own. The reader will find themselves wanting to know more about not just those involved, but the entire world that Russell has built. Waiting for the End of the World is an honest depiction of life and religion stripped down to its bones." Jessica Stevens, Phantasmagoria Magazine

"And when I say loaded, I mean it. Russell manages to pack the book with an enormous amount of moral philosophy and religious history, both mainstream and offbeat, while avoiding pomposity. . . . after an explosive and frequently confounding second half the final chapters strike the right balance between satisfying explanation and mystery. This is a novel aimed squarely at readers with an enquiring cast of mind, but it’s anything but dry and nerdy. The lush depictions of places and people bring life and colour to all those “big questions”, and Russell never fobs off the reader with easy answers." Daisy Lyle, Gingernuts of Horror