Eric Shapiro, It’s Only Temporary

It's Only Temporary

Eric Shapiro

Permuted Press, July 2005, $8.99

ISBN 097655593X

Sean always thought he had plenty of time to make something of himself, until six weeks ago when the government proclaimed that a meteor was going to strike the earth; best estimates were 60,000 would survive the impact. On his last day of existence, Sean spends it with his beloved Selma, who ended their relationship to start seeing another man before the pandemic collision was announced.

With a few hours left in the countdown, Sean drives off into the sunset to be with his lost love. On a deserted road, he picks up a previously kidnapped woman who persuades him to rescue the others. When that is completed they head up to someones home to get a car and wind up delivering a baby. Will he get to Selma before the people of earth are wiped out?

Eric Shapiro's fine tale with its limited cast will remind the audience of some of the classic disaster tales from the 1950's and 1960's, like On the Beach. The storyline is action-packed, but as the countdown continues, readers will begin to believe that no Bruce Willis will save the world from Armageddon. Instead, the plot is an insightful character study of one person finally understanding that life - IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY, and must choose what to do while the clock ticking towards certain death nears.