wrtten in 1999....NOvel about the largest earthquake since 1755...8.9 on the Richter scale. Takes place in New Madrid Missouri. Scientists had predicted the disaster but no one paid any attention. Within minutes there is nothing but chaos and ruin as America's heartland falls into the nightmare know as the rift. - a fault line in the earth. The real terror begins for the survivors: nuclear waste in the water supply, a sheriff KKK who seeks racial vengeance, et.c. A very long book but interesting, especially since there is in deed a large fault across middle America.