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Published: Nov. 16, 2009
Words: 20611 (approximate)
Language: English
Ebook short description
The Simulated Life Elapsed Experience Process aka The Death Trip -- "comfort care for the dying" or something more nefarious? After the death of his beloved grandmother, Chuck decides to investigate. He soon finds himself torn between two women -- the activist who suspects a dark agenda and the beautiful MD who helped create create the process.Extended description
The Simulated Life Elapsed Experience Process aka The Death Trip -- "comfort care for the dying" or something more nefarious?Some think there's a connection to a mysterious new designer drug,while others doubt the claims made by Panicium Inc. the secretive pharmaceutical company behind the trip.
After the death of his beloved grandmother, Chuck Kowalski decides to investigate. He soon finds himself torn between two women -- the activist who suspects a dark agenda and the beautiful MD who helped create the process.
The Death Trip is a quick read novella, approximately 20,000 words, or 80 print pages. It's a techno-medical thriller for readers who like thought-provoking novels.
Tags
speculative fiction, medical thriller, philosophy, euthanasia, dystopian, corporate greed, medical ethics, right to die, assisted suicide, pharma, drug trip, dystopian future, end of lifeAvailable ebook reading formats
This book is free.| Format | Full Book |
|---|---|
| Online Reading (HTML, good for sampling in web browser) | View |
| Online Reading (JavaScript, experimental, buggy) | View |
| Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps) | Download |
| Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others) | Download |
| PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing) | Download |
| RTF (readable on most word processors) | Download |
| LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub) | Download |
| Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices) | Download |
| Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting) | Download |
| Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page) | View |
Reviews
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Review by:
bonzi
on Aug. 23, 2011 :
The first half of this story reads like an early Greg Egan, posing questions on topics ranging from the nature of our experiences, ethics of euthanasia to politics of drug control. Despite some part of exposition being somewhat flat, mostly delivered through monologues, the reader does get drawn into considering those problems*. The end, sadly, devolves into a plain vanilla cloak and dagger story of megalomania and corporate greed, but does leave the protagonist, and the reader with him, with a tough if a touch contrived dilemma.
I did not have problems with slightly uneven pacing of the narrative. The plot does hinge too much on coincidences, but the characters are believable, reasonably well developed within the confines of the short form, and mostly free from stereotypes.
I certainly hope Ms. Stein will provide us with a full length collection of works in this vein soon.
*) As Edwin Schlossberg said, "The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think."
(review of free book)
Review by:
Jayson Kerrick
on Aug. 25, 2010 :
I was enjoying the story, even with the continual political jabs, which admittedly did date it considerably, but then...
it climaxed and ended a'la "The Lady or the Tiger?"
Very disappointing.
It felt contrived, like the whole story had been a waste of my energy reading it.
Too bad, I really enjoyed it up until the "end."
(review of free book)
Review by:
GraceKrispy
on Aug. 01, 2010 :
What a thrilling ride that challenges your idea of what constitutes life and death! At the end, you're left wondering, and thinking about your own ideals and mortality. I was debating between 4 and 5 stars, and I think the ending and the original plotline make it 5 star worthy.
(review of free book)
Review by:
benNaftali
on July 18, 2010 :
Wow.
I was skeptical at first, because there is a lot of bad sci-fi out there, but she nails it. It is funny, witty, wry, with great characters, and a true-to-life ending which really brings home tough moral ambiguities. Seriously, like something Graham Greene would write if he wrote sci-fi.
(review of free book)
Review by:
A. J. Braithwaite
on April 04, 2010 :
A chilling premise and a well-constructed tale. I liked the side reflections on the nature of attraction and affection. A gripping read.
(review of free book)
Review by:
C Koeber
on Dec. 01, 2009 :
Excellent story on a compelling subject. The story is eerily believable, and the author clearly has a solid knowledge of end of life dilemma. I have worked in the hospice field for many, many years and found this book riveting, funny and poignant. Not usually a sci-fi fan, but thoroughly enjoyed this. Five stars!
(review of free book)
Review by:
PD Allen
on Nov. 20, 2009 :
Grim story, the last third is pretty intense. The author has developed some intriguing ideas about medicine, the pharmaceutical industry, and consumer culture. She has an adequate knowledge of pharmacology and ethnobotanics. I love a good corporate conspiracy, and this one is very well-done, making possible some interesting statements about the modern world in which we live. The ending presents the main character with a tremendous dilemma.
(review of free book)
Review by:
Shayne Parkinson
on Nov. 17, 2009 :
Speculative fiction that's disturbingly credible, with an exploration of philosophical and ethical issues that are genuinely thought-provoking. And the ending is very clever.
(review of free book)
Review by:
xhema
on Nov. 17, 2009 :
I am somewhat an avid dystopian sci-fi reader and this is funny, well written and has a surprising ending. And the thing is, I can see it happening today.
(review of free book)