Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site topaz.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!RAM@CMU-CS-C.ARPA From: RAM@CMU-CS-C.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Kate Wilhelm's Welcome Chaos Message-ID: <2039@topaz.ARPA> Date: Tue, 21-May-85 03:13:59 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.2039 Posted: Tue May 21 03:13:59 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 22-May-85 01:51:57 EDT Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 30 From: Rob MacLachlan I found this book to be exciting to read, but was disappointed when in the end because many of the important parts didn't make a great deal of sense. ************************ Spoiler Warning ***************************** The basic plot is that there is an immortality formula with one big catch: there a is 50% chance it will make you dead. The thing that I find incredible is that Ms. Wilhelm seems to think that given these odds, everyone will want to take the cure. In this situation, I would certainly wait at least a couple decades to see if the odds will improve. Admittedly is explained a number of times that it kills 50% and there is nothing that you can do about it, but there is no reason to suppose that this will remain the case once the entire world scientific establishment devotes its energies to the problem. I also find the nature of the cure rather unlikely. It is a substance fortuitously discovered in a bacteria culture which magically revamps your immune system. The ways that your body can fail are many and complex. I doubt that any one substance, let alone a natual one, will be the answer to "immortality". If substantial life prolongation is obtained, it will probably be through a large collection of carefully designed treatments. Rob