Many books have been written about the Big Bang and how the universe became the way it is today. "Armchair astronomers" have found them endlessly fascinating. But what about the future of the universe? What will happen to the Earth and solar system? What about our galaxy? Indeed, how long will the universe as we recognize it survive?

It is only in recent years that astronomers and cosmologists have come to any kind of consensus about the probable history of the universe, so have been relatively few books speculating about its future evolution.

This will be a "must read" for all amateur astronomers, and scientifically inclined general readers.

Jack Meadows was formerly Professor of Astronomy and of the History of Science at Leicester University, UK. He is now Emeritus Professor of Information Science at Loughborough University, UK.