In truth, it appeared we were looking in the wrong places. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were believed by many to be figures of legend. However, it seems we have misunderstood the true nature of these harbingers. Last, on a mount of sickly cast, will ride Death.

Famine will ride a steed black as a starless night, bearing scales of burnished bronze. Then, War will follow, on a horse red as blood, swinging a longsword with a ruby on its hilt. The first, Pestilence, will draw nigh on his white stallion, crowned and with bow in hand. Colonies were sent to three planets which were believed to be the best candidates to support human civilization. Then, in 2042, the first large-scale attempt to settle other planets began. In 2039, the first fully functional warp drive was developed. Allow me to go back to the beginning, as that is where all fairly good stories begin. However it isn't proper etiquette to start a story partway through. Some say the Apocalypse will come after the Four Horsemen ride forth. Lifson, 16, a student at the Hebrew Academy of Montreal in Montreal, writes about space exploration. The winners will be selected by bestselling YA writer Courtney Summers and be announced on May 31. The shortlist was selected by a team of writers across Canada.

Read about all the finalists of the 2023 The First Page student writing challenge.

More than 1,200 students submitted their stories. Students across Canada wrote the first page of a novel set 150 years in the future, imagining how a current-day trend or issue has played out. The Death of Planet Earth by Zev Lifson is one of 11 stories shortlisted for The First Page student writing competition in the Grades 10 to 12 category for 2023.

Moon chosen series in order