The Postmortal
Registered by 
buttonbright
of Raleigh, North Carolina USA on 7/25/2016
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
buttonbright of Raleigh, North Carolina USA on 7/25/2016 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
2 journalers for this copy...
I found this book on the discount shelves of a local used book store.
• Finalist for the Philip K. Dick and Arthur C. Clarke Awards •
The gripping first novel by Drew Magary, Deadspin columnist, GQ correspondent, and author of The Hike
"An exciting page turner. . . . Drew Magary is an excellent writer. The Postmortal is . . . even more terrifying than zombie apocalypse." — Mark Frauenfelder, Boing Boing
John Farrell is about to get "The Cure."
Old age can never kill him now.
The only problem is, everything else still can . . .
Imagine a near future where a cure for aging is discovered and-after much political and moral debate-made available to people worldwide. Immortality, however, comes with its own unique problems-including evil green people, government euthanasia programs, a disturbing new religious cult, and other horrors. Witty, eerie, and full of humanity, The Postmortal is an unforgettable thriller that envisions a pre-apocalyptic world so real that it is completely terrifying.
• Finalist for the Philip K. Dick and Arthur C. Clarke Awards •
The gripping first novel by Drew Magary, Deadspin columnist, GQ correspondent, and author of The Hike
"An exciting page turner. . . . Drew Magary is an excellent writer. The Postmortal is . . . even more terrifying than zombie apocalypse." — Mark Frauenfelder, Boing Boing
John Farrell is about to get "The Cure."
Old age can never kill him now.
The only problem is, everything else still can . . .
Imagine a near future where a cure for aging is discovered and-after much political and moral debate-made available to people worldwide. Immortality, however, comes with its own unique problems-including evil green people, government euthanasia programs, a disturbing new religious cult, and other horrors. Witty, eerie, and full of humanity, The Postmortal is an unforgettable thriller that envisions a pre-apocalyptic world so real that it is completely terrifying.
Mailed as a Random Act of BookCrossing Kindness to a BookCrosser in New Hampshire. It was on their Wish List. Wish? Did somebody say "Wish"?
Mekka-lekka-hai, mekka-hiney-ho!
Mekka-lekka-hai, mekka-channi-ho!
The wish has been granted.
Long live Jambi!
The book arrived safely today - many thanks for filling my wish! This looks like just the sort of quirky and imaginative book that I love. (I got a kick out of the "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" reference, too!)
Later: Very entertaining and involving read, with some interesting takes on the concept of possible immortality - though in many ways that's misleading, as the story's about a cure for aging, not pure immortality: people can still acquire fatal diseases or be killed by trauma. But many of the problems in-story come from the public assuming that "the cure" *does* mean total immortality...
Not that it's an unequivocal good as it is; humans being what they are, some immediately make use of the new technology for highly disturbing purposes (see the bit about the woman who wanted her baby daughter to remain an adorable infant forever - {shudder}), others want to restrict who can have it and who can't, and still others demand that it be equally available to all regardless of psychological suitability.
The story is presented as a "found" document from far in the future, where - we're told at the outset - it's been decided that "the cure for aging must never again be legalized", so we know going in that things aren't going to be rosy. But the way it's presented, through the journals of one man, makes it more personal - and often surprising, not least because of the ways he winds up spending his long, long life.
Other "immortality" tales have dealt with things like marriage, estates and wills, job security and retirement, and other factors of life-where-death-isn't-optional, but this one takes an all-too-believable look at it, with protests and subversive groups, government lockdowns and personal tragedies...
It's not all bleak, but in general it does suggest that humanity isn't ready to embrace even partial immortality. Good story!
Later: Very entertaining and involving read, with some interesting takes on the concept of possible immortality - though in many ways that's misleading, as the story's about a cure for aging, not pure immortality: people can still acquire fatal diseases or be killed by trauma. But many of the problems in-story come from the public assuming that "the cure" *does* mean total immortality...
Not that it's an unequivocal good as it is; humans being what they are, some immediately make use of the new technology for highly disturbing purposes (see the bit about the woman who wanted her baby daughter to remain an adorable infant forever - {shudder}), others want to restrict who can have it and who can't, and still others demand that it be equally available to all regardless of psychological suitability.
The story is presented as a "found" document from far in the future, where - we're told at the outset - it's been decided that "the cure for aging must never again be legalized", so we know going in that things aren't going to be rosy. But the way it's presented, through the journals of one man, makes it more personal - and often surprising, not least because of the ways he winds up spending his long, long life.
Other "immortality" tales have dealt with things like marriage, estates and wills, job security and retirement, and other factors of life-where-death-isn't-optional, but this one takes an all-too-believable look at it, with protests and subversive groups, government lockdowns and personal tragedies...
It's not all bleak, but in general it does suggest that humanity isn't ready to embrace even partial immortality. Good story!
I left this book on a chair near the side door of Le Tomifobia, a charming restaurant where I had a delicious lunch. Hope the finder enjoys the book!*** Released as part of the 2016 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2016 Spooktacular Halloween release challenge. ***
