| Diana Brackley secures a job as a research scientist working for Francis Saxover, a somewhat eccentric private researcher. By accident they discover (independently) that a specimen of lichen sent to them for analysis has the ability to extend human life by many hundred years. They both see the implications of this (that many institutions will try to repress this knowledge) and are careful to keep the substance secret, but Diana decides that it must eventually become available to all humans and sets up an organisation designed to introduce it by stealth.
Unfortunately Francis decides to let his immediate family in on the secret, and his daughter-in-law gives away part of the secret for money. As a result criminal forces begin to take interest in both Francis and Diana. They meet in secret and Diana tells Francis that she is now ready to reveal all in a carefully manipulated media campaign, but the criminal element get involved and things go terribly wrong. | ||
|
Plot & Themes Tone of book - sensitive (sigh....) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes Stealing/recovering/destroying Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - throughout most of the book. How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog |
||