Publisher's Synopsis
Five tragedies and the choices that wrought them.
What does it mean to exist when death is denied, progress never stops, and the nature of humanity is constantly shifting? In this thought-provoking collection of five speculative fiction novelettes and short stories, David Shaw Mackenzie explores the intersections of mortality, ambition, and the concept of the self, weaving narratives that question the cost of relentless advancement.
The Time of Your Life: When the government begins allotting citizens a fixed number of years to live, life becomes a commodity-and capitalism finds a way to profit.
Certain Things About McFarlane: In the labyrinthine hallways of a strange hotel, a man can't help but reflect on the emptiness of his accomplishments and the haunting futility of time.
Buy or Be Bought: In a world where capitalism reigns supreme and consumerism becomes the foundation of law, personal freedoms and choice are sacrificed to the marketplace.
Eden Rich: Knowledge is power. When the entirety of human knowledge can be downloaded directly into the brain, subliminal messaging blurs the concept of free will.
The Decline of the Death Artist: When medical breakthroughs eradicate death and governments outlaw its very concept, two artists search for meaning in an existence that may have no end.
Blending biting social commentary with richly imagined futures, The Decline of the Death Artist and Other Stories invites readers to confront the inevitable and the infinite-and to question what it truly means to be human.
