Human Legacy Project

by Christian Cantrell

The goal of the Human Legacy Project is to give everyone who wants it the chance to live forever. Immortality is not achieved physically, the project teaches, but through our influence on future generations.But as the political and economic environment changes throughout the world, the HLP takes many different forms, from a well-funded and charitable non-profit to a splintered terrorist organization driven underground by increasingly totalitarian governments. It isn't until the HLP's final phase is reached that the original vision of the founder is revealed, proving to be far bigger and more profound than anyone had imagined.This short story (about 7,200 words) is a critical and sobering analysis of many different aspects of human nature, from close personal relationships to mankind's ultimate contribution to the universe. It is best described as a compact but epic tragedy.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2010

About the author

Christian Cantrell is a writer and software developer living in Northern Virginia.

Reviews

[Jeo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another take to the Venum universe

This and Venom (or maybe all Cantrell’s stories?) are in the same universe. A decadent government that doesn’t deserve the loyalty of its citizens. The end isn’t too plausible but still entertaining.

[نزار شهاب الدين · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cantrell's prose is simple yet has its luster and taste. His main prowess is in the novelty of his ideas and surprising finales. This is the second book I read for him, and the joy they brought me had me start the third book right away.

This book's atmosphere brings to mind Orwell's 1984, yet Cantrell's objective is quite different and he hardly stops at the details of the oppressive government. The pace is fast and the finale strikes home, and hard.

[Lynxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Human Legacy Project depicts a desolate, horrific dystopian world where everyone is watched everywhere, the powers-that-be control everything.

There's a small group of people that oppose the government, they take subversive action to correct the actions the government have taken to destroy humanity.

The story is told in phases. Some present tense, others past tense. The phases took the reader through a combination of history and current action, using retelling the past to inform the reader and allow them to form a fuller picture of the decay of humanity.

There's a lot of science and technology themes and concepts tied into and teased out in the story. This added layers of complexity and realism to this idea. I could see it happening, all too likely, not too far off.

I noticed one thing:
7% - The PP gets tired, board (bored), distracted...

[Randy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pretty short read even by Cantrell standards. The story is good enough. There are a couple of fractured short pieces about how the world in the story came to be. This bit of world building goes a long way to make the rest of story worth reading, but ultimately Cantrell once again falls victim to letting his short end way too soon and without enough plot. What we're left with are two pieces of a potentially greater whole. "Potential" is really the best word that describes this story and Cantrell. The writing, as always, is engaging even when inconsistent. Each caharacter is vividly drawn in 2 dimensions. A 3rd, deeper, dimension is glimpsed but never realized. Leaves you wanting more, but not satisfyingly so.

[Preston Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A not inconceivable, cautionary short story of socialist political progression in the United States, narrated in the 1st person from the perspective of an information "archivist" turned rebel. Recommend to fans of fictionalized political works such as Ayn Rand's Anthem or Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Human Legacy Project's undertones are reminiscent of both, though without the detailed grandeur or depth due to the brief format.

[Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this one is a short story in the veins of 1984, Equilibrium and other government controlled distopias.
In this a group of people try to collect the entirety of the human experience and knowledge so that we can learn from the mistakes of the past, evolve and be a better mankind.
Of course, things dont work out as expected but the journey is interesting and detailed.
Very nice with the background and motivations for such a short story!

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sci-fi short story. I actually think it would make an interesting full length novel. It reminded me of the whole "Big Brother is watching you" concept. It was creepy! I really enjoy Christian's work and think he's defenitely an author to watch.

[Brian's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay Mr. Cantrell... this should be a full length. I started reading this, and then it was over. I truly enjoyed it, but man do I wish this was a longer/more in depth book. This "utopian"/ "orwellian" like era and I would love to read more about it. Great short story/novella though!

[Danzaiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even shorten than The Brain Box.

[Alexandru · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the somewhat Orwellian world in this one.

[Daron Yondem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Start sooo good. I really liked the story and the progress. But the end? It feels like the writer just did not want to write more. Too bad.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addressing the age old question... is mankind its own worst enemy?

[Alan Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story with an iuteresting premise. However, the tale is never really fleshed out enough.

[Avraham]

Interesting plot twist at the end with a profound message. Short story sci-fi that makes you think.

[Luke Howard-pask · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the 1984 style dystopia but with modern updated themes and futurism! Great little read!