Prolific author Eric Walters’ latest novel describes humanity’s impending destruction by an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. It is not the collision that is the focus, however, so much as the undoing of society that results from knowledge of the upcoming disaster.

With news of the asteroid, Earth’s scientific community is split into competing and secretive camps. The first aims to put global political divisiveness aside and work toward the common goal of destroying the asteroid. The second, led by a reclusive billionaire genius, works on a backup scenario that involves recruiting and training highly skilled young people from around the world for a top-secret assignment that will save the planet. This team of teens includes Billy, a street-smart 16-year-old who has thrived in a crumbling civilization as the leader of a gang of children squatting in New York City. His survival and leadership skills turn out to be vital to the scientists’ plans.

The third-person narrative is divided between the two scientific camps, though an equally strong (perhaps even better) novel could have been crafted using Billy’s voice to describe the action, such as it is. This is a novel of ideas that evokes the classic science fiction of Isaac Asimov and Orson Scott Card. As such, Walters’ characters don’t actually do much except wait for the rock to fall. Their struggles are limited to the ethical dilemmas faced by the head scientist of the destruction committee, and a minor adjustment period as rough-around-the-edges Billy meets the sheltered science kids. It might not sound like there is enough going on to hold readers’ attention, yet there is.

The style of End of Days, with its scientist heroes and reliance on exposition, is perhaps atypical. However, a driving plot, consistently high stakes, and an unpredictable outcome make it a gripping page-turner that is sure to find wide appeal.