"Terrifying . . . It's the best end-of-the-world story since On The Beach . . . superb detail, shudderingly believable."—Frank HerbertThe chances that Lucifer's Hammer would strike the earth head-on were one in a million. Then one in a thousand. Then one in a hundred. And then . . .Lucifer's Hammer, the gigantic comet, slams into Earth, shattering civilization.The lucky ones die first. For the survivors, everyone's nightmare becomes true. Frightened and battered men and women must face earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale; tidal waves thousands of feet high; cities turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam—the beginning of a new Ice Age. The end of government and power plants and libraries and hospitals and law.Chance had saved a few. Now it was up to them. All restraints on human behavior vanish in flame and flood. But can they with bare hands, salvaged tools, and ingenuity forge a new societyFleeing the flooded cities and plains are farmers, tradesmen, students, bikers, black militants, rapists, murderers, army deserters. All are prepared to battle to the death for the precious highlands of central California where the last hope for a civilization is a feisty U.S. senator and his strong-willed daughter. They have turned their mountain ranch into a citadel against the marauding hordes of mercenary soldiers, murderous cannibals, and psychopathic religious fanatics.Who will survive and what will the new world be like now that Lucifer's Hammer has hit With bloodchilling tension, spellbinding suspense and scientific accuracy, the prize-winning authors have written a provocative, shocking, and terrifying novel of today—and perhaps tomorrow.Larry Niven is a three-time winner of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award. His most famous novel, Ringworld, won both. He and his wife reside in Los Angeles, California.Dr. Jerry Pournelle, who holds degrees in engineering, psychology, and political science, was active in both the Mercury and Apollo space programs. He is the winner of the 1972 John Campbell Award. He resides in Studio City, California, with his wife and four sons.Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle are the co-authors of the celebrated novel, The Mote in God's Eye.