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The Methuselarity Transformation
We live in a world on the brink of radical life extension, the blurring of distinctions between human and artificial intelligence, the seamless blending of brain and machine, and genetic engineering of not only our food sources, but of our entire environment and ourselves. How will we live in such a world and what new daunting choices will we face?
Raymond Mettler and Marcus Takana live in such a near future in which consciousness can be exchanged between bodies, immortality is within reach, and the wealthy old can pay the young to die for them. As the world struggles at the edge of an ecological disaster resulting from Ray’s creation of a genetically modified turf grass gone haywire, the two men enter a secret pact that grants one immortality, the other vast wealth and knowledge in exchange for an abbreviated life, then deal with the unintended consequences of their Faustian bargain.
Raymond Mettler and Marcus Takana live in such a near future in which consciousness can be exchanged between bodies, immortality is within reach, and the wealthy old can pay the young to die for them. As the world struggles at the edge of an ecological disaster resulting from Ray’s creation of a genetically modified turf grass gone haywire, the two men enter a secret pact that grants one immortality, the other vast wealth and knowledge in exchange for an abbreviated life, then deal with the unintended consequences of their Faustian bargain.
- GenresScience Fiction
250 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2014
4 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Rick Moskovitz
10 books16 followersRick Moskovitz is a Harvard educated psychiatrist who taught psychotherapy and spent nearly four decades listening to his patients tell their stories. After leaving practice, he in turn became a storyteller, writing science fiction that explores the psychological consequences of living in a world of expanding possibilities.
His Brink of Life Trilogy begins with the quest for immortality in the mid-21st century and concludes with a search for the origin of human life. In Shared Madness, he returned to his roots as a psychiatrist to write a first person tale of a psychiatrist who, while treating a psychotic patient, descends into madness and finds himself at the nexus of a deadly mystery.
Carousel Music explores his fascination with the subjective and malleable nature of memory and how our memories create the narrative of our identities.
His Brink of Life Trilogy begins with the quest for immortality in the mid-21st century and concludes with a search for the origin of human life. In Shared Madness, he returned to his roots as a psychiatrist to write a first person tale of a psychiatrist who, while treating a psychotic patient, descends into madness and finds himself at the nexus of a deadly mystery.
Carousel Music explores his fascination with the subjective and malleable nature of memory and how our memories create the narrative of our identities.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 17, 2015
Interesting scenario!
I choose this rating because it was an interesting and complex story, involving many facets of life. Can we really obtain immortality, and to what cost would you put on being given the choice of living forever? This is also a great example of what can happen when science messes with the natural order of things!
I choose this rating because it was an interesting and complex story, involving many facets of life. Can we really obtain immortality, and to what cost would you put on being given the choice of living forever? This is also a great example of what can happen when science messes with the natural order of things!
June 25, 2014
This is a great novel and page turner. The characters are well developed in a futuristic story line that falls in a similar genre to the Hunger Game Trilogy. The thoughts behind the motivation of each character are relatable and in many ways can be realistic motivations for what happens in this book. I think it would make a great movie!!
May 16, 2017
A Fun Read If You Suspend Belief Completely
The book was enjoyable and it fleshed out the characters pretty well. It's a sort of Faustian bargain set in a sci-fi framework. I think the ethical issues and philosophical debates were well done. The future is set not so far from now and I am intrigued by the vision of the world with the complexities that could be.
My main issues are twofold. I don't think that the antagonists are fleshed out well enough and are brought in too late in the story. I also found the main characters to have too much coincidence. It may have been intentional, but it just read for me in very contrived manner.
However, overall, I enjoyed the reading the book and suspended my belief for a worthwhile investment in entertainment. Anyone who likes a fast-paced action, sci-fi, or just a pleasure read is likely to be pleased. Happy Reading to all!
The book was enjoyable and it fleshed out the characters pretty well. It's a sort of Faustian bargain set in a sci-fi framework. I think the ethical issues and philosophical debates were well done. The future is set not so far from now and I am intrigued by the vision of the world with the complexities that could be.
My main issues are twofold. I don't think that the antagonists are fleshed out well enough and are brought in too late in the story. I also found the main characters to have too much coincidence. It may have been intentional, but it just read for me in very contrived manner.
However, overall, I enjoyed the reading the book and suspended my belief for a worthwhile investment in entertainment. Anyone who likes a fast-paced action, sci-fi, or just a pleasure read is likely to be pleased. Happy Reading to all!
May 14, 2018
This is a really interesting book. The predictions related to future inventions and societal developments seem to be spot on. The characters were well developed, and the plot kept me guessing until the last page. The themes related to our quest for immortality, artificial intelligence, societal inequities, and quality-of-life are all thought provoking.
February 23, 2015
a Deep Read but a Page Turner at the Same Time - A Rare Combo!
Wow! What just happened? My head is still spinning. This is a truly original story - I've never read anything like it. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, and wondering what they were up to when I couldn't read about them. Loved it!
Wow! What just happened? My head is still spinning. This is a truly original story - I've never read anything like it. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, and wondering what they were up to when I couldn't read about them. Loved it!
August 26, 2016
This was a great read. Highly cinematic, it's easy to relate to the well-developed characters in the futuristic narrative that showcases the author's deep knowledge of emerging medical science. If you could choose to live forever, would you? This cautionary tale about living with one's choices and unintended consequences is both interesting and thoroughly enjoyable.
February 24, 2015
Book combines the author's knowledge of science, technology and psychiatry to create a work of great imagination. I agree that this story ended rather abruptly. It was the story of one transformation; what might some other transformations be like?
June 8, 2015
One of those great surprises when you pick up a book you've never heard of and find its one of the best you've read in quite a while. Speculative fiction at its finest, which makes you think and realize it's not that far away.
September 1, 2014
this was really interesting, but ended a bit too suddenly
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews