The Hopkins Manuscript by R.C. Sherriff (1939) is classed as science fiction/speculative science fiction, or ‘visionary fiction.’ This is a genre I really like. ''What if?..." H.G. Wells and John Wyndham both wrote this type of fiction and Sherriff was thought to be the missing link between them.
In this story the moon is thrown out of its orbit and is heading towards the earth. The months leading up to this cataclysm are recorded by Edgar Hopkins, a self-important bachelor who is caught up in the minutiae of everyday life while waiting, looking after his prize chickens and getting upset that his views on the coming catastrophe aren't taken into consideration. Hopkins isn't a very likeable man at first but over time he changes for the better. He becomes like an uncle to a brother and sister who are on their own and they make a life together for a time. As the end draws near, he places his written record in a thermos flask and hundreds of years after Western Civilisation has disappeared, his manuscript is found by the Royal Society of Abyssinia.
I enjoyed this story although it did get repetitive at times. That may have been a purposeful ploy by the author and reflective of Hopkins behaviour and inner ramblings. As with other writers of visionary fiction the focus is not so much on the coming event but on human behaviour.
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