The End of the World Running Club by Adrian J. Walker will be featured on the Radio 2 Book Club on Monday 20 June.
The book was selected with the help of a panel made up of Reading Agency and library staff from across the UK.
We have an exclusive extract available for you to read as well as a discussion guide for your reading group.
You can even listen to an extract from the audiobook.
The End of the World Running Club
When the world ends, what do you try to save? Your family.
The End of the World Running Club sees Britain nearly annihilated by asteroids. In Edinburgh, Edgar Hill and his family have survived – just. But despite his best efforts, Edgar hasn’t managed to keep his family together.
There’s a hope that they can all be rescued, but with the roads in ruins and society destroyed, Edgar has only one choice: cross Britain on foot. In three weeks. It’s 550 miles of blood, sweat, tears and a constant struggle to stay alive. Can he make it? If he wants to save his family, he has to.
Fear, determination, hope, panic, anguish, blisters & the ultimate race against time. Welcome to the End of the World Running Club…
Read Ed’s Survival Guide for more information on how to run the length of the UK.
Selection panel review
Our reading panel of staff from The Reading Agency and public library staff loved The End of the World Running Club – here are some of their comments:
“Beautifully written, compelling story of survival in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world destroyed by meteorites. The story of the near-impossible struggle of a husband to travel from Scotland to Cornwall on foot to be reunited with his family following their rescue from an army base. Accompanied by a small band of men and one woman the group overcome a variety of challenges from restraint in Manchester to marauding gangs and killer farmers to achieve the near-impossible, though losing several people along the way. Heartwarming and well worth the read.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and found it unexpectedly gripping and suspenseful. Thrillers are very often plot-driven, but Walker pays equal attention to his characters and manages to avoid the pitfall of trotting out the usual stereotypes. I liked the fact that he doesn’t sell out; the ending is far from ‘Hollywood’. Having said that, this novel is very filmic and has a definite pace to it that is in tune with Ed’s driven odyssey to reach his family.”
“This is not simply a good novel, it is a marvellous one! The first 100 pages are amongst the most compelling and moving of any book that I have read…This book is a real page turner, it will appeal to anyone who cares for the planet and humanity, is obsessed with end of the world conspiracies and of course enjoys running. Given the current refugee crisis the story of one man’s epic overland journey to be reunited with his family against the odds, suddenly takes on an extra level of meaning and poignancy. In short this is a terrific read.”
About the author
Adrian J Walker was born in the bush suburbs of Sydney, Australia in the mid ’70s. After his father found a camper van in a ditch, he renovated it and moved his family back to the UK, where Adrian was raised. Ever since he can remember, Adrian has been interested in three things: words, music and technology, and when he graduated from the University of Leeds, he found a career in software. He lives in London with his wife and two children.
A word from Adrian
“I’m thrilled that The End of the World Running Club has been chosen for the Radio 2 Book Club and am very grateful to everyone who helped select it. I know how knowledgeable and discerning library staff are about books, so it makes me especially proud that they considered mine good enough to be featured. I’m really looking forward to appearing on the show and discussing the book with the team.”
Get involved
Tune in to Simon Mayo’s Drivetime show on Monday 20 June to hear a live interview with Adrian J Walker talking about his book.
Do you like the sound of The End of the World Running Club? You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter, or read reviews from our early readers. You can also follow author Adrian J Walker on Twitter.
Want to find out more? Take a look at the Radio 2 Book Club Twitter feed or find out more on the Radio 2 Book Club website.
