Sci-fi fiction which deals with longevity?

[Morrus]

I need to research the general topic of scientifically achieved longevity (or immortality) for some background material for the game I'm writing, so I figured I'd read some recent fiction about the subject, which deals with the issue on a personal level but primarily on a mass-sociological level - how does society and behaviour change, that sort of thing. How life-extension affects humanity as a whole.

Any recommendations? I'd like it to be as recent as possible, as - while I realise it's all sci-fi or speculative at best - I don't want my setting to be too outdated compared to current thinking on the subject. I'm going for as much plausibility as possible here. Plus no magic or vampires.

 

[Ryujin]

The first movie that came to mind involves extension of life, rather than actual immortality, at the cost of the lives of clones: "The Island."

Then there's "Immortal", if you like your SciFi with gods and genetically modified humans."

And finally there's the good, old fashioned immortals in the "Highlander" series of movies and TV shows.

*EDIT* I figure that you would have already thought of Doctor Who for The Doctor, Captain Jack, Me, Lady Cassandra....., but maybe worth mentioning anyway. "Jupiter Ascending" where planets are harvested to keep the ruling elite alive. Robert Adams "Horseclans" books, with Milo Morai and the Undying acting as the leaders of a post apocalyptic society (they're a rare breed of mutant who can only die if their brains are deprived of oxygen, as in drowning, and who cannot procreate).

 

[Radaceus]

Robert Heinlein Time Enough For Love

also,
C.J. Cheryh Cyteen

Both great reads


EDIT: I realised you said 'Recent', though I think both those are worthy of their salt, and still stand up to todays pulp.

I think William Gibson wrote something on the topic, but that's a decade old now...

 

[Ryujin]

Robert Heinlein Time Enough For Love

also,
C.J. Cheryh Cyteen

Both great reads


EDIT: I realised you said 'Recent', though I think both those are worthy of their salt, and still stand up to todays pulp.

I think William Gibson wrote something on the topic, but that's a decade old now...

I can't think of one by Gibson, but Bruce Sterling wrote "Holy Fire" a couple of decades back.

*EDITED TO ADD*

"Altered Carbon" by Richard K Morgan

"Transcendence" in which immortality is obtained by being dumped into a computer.

 

[freyar]

The Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson comes to mind.

 

[Hand of Evil]

it is an older book: Lord of Light by Zelazny - transference of "soul" into test tube humans, add to that Hindu mythology, Buddhism, super powers.

 

[Tonguez]

Inherit the Earth (Emortality) Brian Stableford

 

[Kramodlog]

Charles Stross' Accelerando. It deals in part with the impact of the Singularity on our mortality. Humans can download their cosnciousness in computers, have a clone made of themselves and download that consciousness in the clone. Live many lifes as downloads. Explore space thanks to being immortal computers, etc.

Kim Stanley Robinson's 2312. It deals in part with humanity being able to live a couple of centuries, how that affect our couples and family ties, how we pass the time, how it affects our memories, how it makes travelling between planets possible since we've got all this time before us.

Mira Grant's Parasite. GMO tapeworm take care of our health. It is an interesting idea.

 

[Richards]

Rollback by Robert J. Sawyer comes to mind. It deals with both first contact and the ability to regain a given body's younger form.

Johnathan

 

[CoreyHaim8myDog]

I need to research the general topic of scientifically achieved longevity (or immortality) for some background material for the game I'm writing, so I figured I'd read some recent fiction about the subject, which deals with the issue on a personal level but primarily on a mass-sociological level - how does society and behaviour change, that sort of thing. How life-extension affects humanity as a whole.

Any recommendations? I'd like it to be as recent as possible, as - while I realise it's all sci-fi or speculative at best - I don't want my setting to be too outdated compared to current thinking on the subject. I'm going for as much plausibility as possible here. Plus no magic or vampires.

The Peripheral by William Gibson. Came out in October 2014. Here is an interview I did with him where we discuss the book.

http://www.slate.com/articles/techn...ses_technology_and_predicting_the_future.html

 

[CoreyHaim8myDog]

Robert Heinlein Time Enough For Love

also,
C.J. Cheryh Cyteen

Both great reads


EDIT: I realised you said 'Recent', though I think both those are worthy of their salt, and still stand up to todays pulp.

I think William Gibson wrote something on the topic, but that's a decade old now...

Gibson's newest novel, The Peripheral, also has longevity in it. Very cool way, IMO. See link above.

 

[trappedslider]

The first movie that came to mind involves extension of life, rather than actual immortality, at the cost of the lives of clones: "The Island."

Or the movie it ripped off clonus the parts horror

 

[Jhaelen]

The Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson comes to mind.

+1 This trilogy immediately sprang to my mind, especially because it's quite hard sci-fi and makes an excellent effort to think about the implications for society and humankind.

At the back of my mind I recall another great sci-fi novel about a society of immortals, but the title currently escapes me. Hmpf... hopefully I'll be able to recall it.

Edit: Maybe I was thinking about a novel by Ken MacLeod? "Newton's Wake" might have been it.

Edit2: Peter Hamilton's "Misspent Youth" also tackles the topic to some degree.

 

[tomBitonti]

Immortality figures strongly in Old Twentieth by Joe Haldeman, Ace 2006.

TomB

 

[Deuce Traveler]

I was also going to say the already mentioned Lazarus Long books by Heinlein (Time Enough for Love) and Zelazny's "Lord of Light". The Lazarus Long books always read like they were just an excuse to publish Heinlein's personal fantasies, and immortality is achieved through genetic breeding where families known for long lives were encouraged to intermarry until a genetic line was produced with lifespans several times the norm.

Lord of Light was a much more engaging book, where scientists and engineers discover a way to put their consciousness into grown bodies in order to achieve immortality, then abuse this system in order to take the mantle of a Hindu pantheon and subjugate the society they were supposed to shepherd. One scientist rebels, however, and becomes the Lord of Light. One of my favorite books, and a direct influence on one of my PbP adventures I had run here on this site. Here's a quote:

"His followers called him Mahasamatman and said he was a god. He preferred to drop the Maha- and the -atman, however, and called himself Sam. He never claimed to be a god, but then he never claimed not to be a god."