Subject
Cryonics -- Fiction Books
Best books
Edson McCann
Preferred Risk
"Preferred Risk" by Edson McCann is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story is set in a future where a powerful insurance company exerts control over society, ensuring a risk-free existence at the cost of personal freedoms. The main character, Claims Adjuster Thomas Wills, navigates the complexities of this world while grappling with his own past and the enigmatic figure of a notorious fraudster, Luigi Zorchi, who seems to defy conventional limits of human endurance and injury. At the start of the novel, Wills arrives in Naples, filled with both anticipation and trepidation as he acclimates to his new role with the Company. He quickly finds himself embroiled in a chaotic situation at the train station where a desperate man dives in front of a train, provoking applause rather than horror from the crowd. Wills discovers that this man, Zorchi, has a history of self-inflicted injuries for insurance claims, raising questions about ethics, loyalty to the Company, and the human experience in a world that prizes safety above all else. The opening sets the tone for a narrative that promises suspense, ethical dilemmas, and an examination of societal norms shaped by corporate power.
Neil R. Jones
The Jameson Satellite
"The Jameson Satellite" by Neil R. Jones is a science fiction novel written in the early 20th century. The story explores themes of mortality, preservation, and the potential for humanity to transcend earthly limitations through technology. The narrative follows Professor Jameson, who devises a plan to preserve his body in space after death, ultimately becoming a satellite orbiting the Earth for millions of years. In the book, Professor Jameson, having accepted his impending demise, builds a rocket to preserve his body, which then becomes a satellite of Earth. Millions of years later, a race of mechanical beings called the Zoromes discovers his rocket while exploring the solar system. They revive his long-dead brain, transforming him into a mechanical form. The professor grapples with the profound changes on Earth and reflects on the fate of humanity, which has long since perished. Ultimately, he chooses to accompany the Zoromes in their explorations rather than remain on the dying world, embracing the adventure of immortality among the stars.
R. C. W. (Robert C. W.) Ettinger
The penultimate trump
"The Penultimate Trump" by R. C. W. Ettinger is a science fiction novel written in the late 1940s. The story explores themes of mortality, technology, and the potential future of humanity through the lens of suspended animation. It revolves around the last days of the billionaire Harley D. Haworth, who, in his old age, desires to escape death by being placed in a state of suspended animation until humanity has advanced enough to revive him. The narrative follows Haworth's desperate quest to preserve his life through a revolutionary scientific project involving a new type of suspended animation. Along with Garibaldi Jones, an engineer, and Dr. Ellsworth Stevens, a bio-chemist, Haworth establishes a secret vault designed to house himself and select others for future revival. Haworth eventually awakens in a vastly changed world, where an oppressive Ascension Code mandates punishment for past wrongdoings, leading him to confront the consequences of his historical actions. As he grapples with his new reality and the suffocating moral framework of this future society, Haworth struggles against a predestined fate that condemns him to experience the suffering he previously inflicted on others.
Ann Warren Griffith
Zeritsky's Law
"Zeritsky's Law" by Ann Warren Griffith is a science fiction novella written in the early 1950s. This imaginative story explores the bizarre concept of freezing humans for future use, inspired by a peculiar incident involving a cat that was accidentally put in a deep-freeze. The narrative satirically examines society's fascination with shortcuts to immortality and the unexpected consequences of this technology, ultimately leading to the establishment of a law against the practice. The plot follows the Zeritsky Brothers, who capitalize on the idea of quick-freezing people, enabling them to escape their problems for years at a time. Initially catering to wealthy criminals seeking to evade justice, the business evolves to attract a diverse clientele, including desperate spouses looking for a way out of their marriages. As the Zeritskys grow rich and their practices gain notoriety, a scandal arises when a client is mistakenly defrosted after 25 years instead of the requested five. This incident exposes the dangers and ethical dilemmas associated with their service, prompting the government to enact "Zeritsky's Law," which bans the practice and enforces severe penalties for anyone attempting it. The story serves as a humorous yet cautionary tale about the intersection of technology and morality.
Neil R. Jones
Doomsday on Ajiat
"Doomsday on Ajiat" by Neil R. Jones is a science fiction novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Professor Jameson, who, through his eccentric experiments, achieves a means of preserving his body by launching it into space after his death. The narrative unfolds as his preserved body becomes the focal point of a new adventure millions of years later. In the book, after forty million years of drifting through space, Professor Jameson's body is discovered by machine beings known as Zoromes, who transfer his consciousness into a mechanical body. As the Zoromes explore the remnants of Earth, they must navigate a cosmic crisis: a meteoric swarm is on a collision course with the sun, which will cause a supernova, annihilating all life in the solar system. The Zoromes crash on a planet they name Ajiat, inhabited by massive creatures, and they must work against the clock to repair their spaceship and escape the planet before the impending disaster strikes. The narrative blends themes of survival, exploration, and the intersection between organic life and artificial intelligence while addressing the challenges posed by cosmic phenomena.
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