This is a first-time, self-published science fiction novel by a seasoned newpaper reporter who always wanted to write a book but never got around to it. Until now. The story is set some hundreds of years in the future, begins when Weaver Weaver wakes in the morning and ends when he goes to bed at night. It is the day after Weaver’s 100 birthday, celebrated the night before with lots of merriment and homebrew. Weaver, like every other citizen of earth has been on a 75-year regimen of ProLong, a drug that slows the aging process by two-thirds, which means he’s a centenarian with the body of a 50-year-old.
By law, Weaver, like every other citizen, can no longer take ProLong. On his hundredth birth day-plus-one he will begin to age normally, but he will probably live for another 50 years or so. For Weaver, it is a day for reflection, for walking about, for getting reaquainted with his first wife, who was at his party the night before and who…well, you have to read the book. Some of the things that were in the author’s mind when he began to write the book more than 12 years ago are starting to happen. Producing body parts with printers, for example. Income inequality issues, for another example. Some haven’t happened yet. Like using rock eating batcteria to tunnel beneath the earth, and zero-gravity bolts to hold up the tunnel roofs. And why are there so many tunnels, anway? which is another reason to read the book.
It’s a 60,000-word quick read with about 180 pages (“about” because it doesn’t have page numbers…or chapters…and the cover is sideways), that proposes a very peaceful Earth with prosperity and good health for all. But relationships are still as tricky as ever. And while some people have more than others, everybody has more than they need and nobody has too much. Many people live for sport and competitors can die in some of the games but, in those cases, death is not permanent. Although, eventually, death comes to every one of earth’s citizens.
Which is as it should be.
dick wanner - freelance 