“A provocative new author. A fascinating debut novel. Read it!” –Jeff VanderMeer In Rachel Heng’s debut set in near future New York City–where lives last three hundred years and the pursuit of immortality is all-consuming–Lea must choose between her estranged father and her chance to live forever. Lea Kirino is a “Lifer,” which means that a roll of the genetic dice has given her the … genetic dice has given her the potential to live forever–if she does everything right. And Lea is an overachiever. She’s a successful trader on the New York exchange–where instead of stocks, human organs are now bought and sold–she has a beautiful apartment, and a fiancé who rivals her in genetic perfection. And with the right balance of HealthTech(tm), rigorous juicing, and low-impact exercise, she might never die.
But Lea’s perfect life is turned upside down when she spots her estranged father on a crowded sidewalk. His return marks the beginning of her downfall as she is drawn into his mysterious world of the Suicide Club, a network of powerful individuals and rebels who reject society’s pursuit of immortality, and instead choose to live–and die–on their own terms. In this future world, death is not only taboo; it’s also highly illegal. Soon Lea is forced to choose between a sanitized immortal existence and a short, bittersweet time with a man she has never really known, but who is the only family she has left in the world.
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This was a well-written, well-crafted tale on a topic that I think is coming very close to being overdone… Immortality or extra-longevity seems to be an obsession (see my recent post about the latest Dara Horn for an example – albeit a very good one) – it appears in science fiction, futuristic tales, vampire/supernatural stories, humor (dark and not-so-dark), and drama (again, dark and not-so-dark), and the inevitable ennui that seems to accompany it is becoming, well, boring to read about. I understand that we are a society obsessed with life, health, and technology, and see the appeal of stories like this. But I’m starting to feel the ennui of the characters when I read them…
But, there’s good news – nearly any topic (even the overdone ones) maintains its interest in the hands of a talented author, and I’m pleased to report that Rachel Heng is such an author. With a delicate touch, Heng paints a vivid picture of extra-longevity and its adherents and opponents in such a way that each position is presented with equal consideration in the course of a narrative that is as much family drama and personal growth as it is manifesto. There is so much nuance in the personal journeys of the two main female characters; their positions could not be farther apart on the longevity spectrum, but their lives feel oddly parallel and it is that contradiction that kept the story engaging and fresh for me.
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.
I happily lost a whole weekend to SUICIDE CLUB. This life-affirming book about death lingers long after the last page. ‘Be careful what you wish for’ has never been so chilling, or so gripping.
Set in a future New York, Lea is a Lifer whose body has been enhanced to survive for centuries. Out of the blue, she is reacquainted with her father who doesn’t qualify for enhancements because he refused to toe the line in the authoritarian state. Lea must choose between immortality and family, and learn the value of life. Original and thought-provoking speculative fiction.
Dark and intense. A different look on life and death.
How can such a young writer know all these things? Rachel Heng’s first novel is as keen as a sharpened blade. Suicide Club is on the money about where our current obsessions are leading us and yet she makes us care about her characters in deep and old-fashioned ways. It reminded me again and again of Orwell and Huxley. I have the feeling that this is the beginning of a long and illustrious career.
Suicide Club by Rachel Heng a thought provoking five-star read. This has been one of the hardest reviews I have ever written, It’s taken me weeks and many, many deleted words to get these final words on the page and I still don’t know if I have gotten what I want to get across. I loved the title and description of this book and the whole concept. That wasn’t what I got, I got so much more, but there was something lacking, but overall I desperately wanted to give it five-stars as the part that was lacking was just the way plot developed at times it was a little stilted but the flow through the whole book was well done. This story is one that is filled with beauty and passion and makes you take a good hard look at how the world we live in at present in one that takes beauty and popularity as a currency held above many others. This book isn’t what you may expect, and some of the flash backs gets a little confusing but keep with it as in the end you will love it.
The question is would you want to live to be 300 years old. How would you cope with so many rules. Would your life be your own. That’s the fun part of this book it answers those questions and more in a fictional way. I received an ARC copy of this book.