Book Review: The Fountains Of Youth

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Fountains Of Youth     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Brian Stableford
Class/Genre:   Fantasy
Series: Inherit the Earth # 3
Tor, May 2000, $24.95, 352 pp.

The Emortals that the human race has evolved into wonder why Mortimer Gray would write his epic tome, “The History of Death”. It is to answer that question that he has posed to himself that has led Mr. Gray to write this autobiography of his five centuries of life.

Mortimer was born in 2520 with nothing in his background to suggest he would become so famous for the epic work that has shaken humanity. In 2535, Mortimer climbs a Tibetan mountain where he meets world leader Julius Ngomi inside an ancient ruin. Julius explains that the dead past resides side by side with the Emortals. Not too long after that encounter, Mortimer tastes but survives death due to a shipwreck that shows that mankind may have defeated aging and disease, but accidents can still kill. Mortimer becomes obsessed with the way the past coped with death and begins his treastise that leads to many fringe groups claiming him as their guru and chronicler.

THE FOUNTAINS OF YOUTH is a deep, thought-provoking science fiction tale that is not for everyone. Fans who enjoy action at the rate of “Stars Wars” need to pass on this tale. However, those readers who gain pleasure from a cerebral, philosophic futuristic look at mankind will relish this novel. Written more like an autobiography than a novel, Brian Stableford demonstrates his abilities to paint a distant future that raises questions about the present.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner