BUYING TIME

by Joe Haldeman ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 1989

Levelheaded, agreeable medium-future conspiracy-of-immortals yarn from the author of, most recently, Tool of the Trade (1987). In the 21st century, immortality treatments are available from the Stileman Foundation. Drawbacks: each treatment lasts only ten years (swift degeneration follows), and costs one million pounds or your total worth, whichever is greater. Dallas Barr has undergone many such treatments and finds it amusing to make each million by a different method. Soon after Dallas' latest treatment, he meets up with a former lover, Maria Marconi--highly unexpectedly, since Dallas had thought her dead. Turns out that Maria had been hiding in a nunnery and was tempted forth to meet Dallas by government bigwig Sir Charles Briskin; the latter invites Dallas to join his conspiracy of fellow-immortals, whose purpose is to change and then rule the world. Dallas isn't too keen on Sir Charles' ideas, and soon learns of several mysterious deaths that may or may not be the work of Sir Charles' conspiracy. Finally Dallas rejects Sir Charles, who at once tries to kill him; Dallas flees into space with Maria. However, scientists in the asteroid belt have independently duplicated the immortality treatment--only their version will last a hundred years, thus threatening Sir Charles' control of the Stileman process. So Sir Charles orders Maria kidnapped, drugged and brought back to Earth in order to force Dallas to attempt a rescue. But both Dallas and Maria find themselves developing new and unanticipated abilities--just in time to defeat Sir Charles' horrid plots. A hard-working, well-paced, absorbing blend of tried-and-true notions: Haldeman's best showing in quite some time.

Pub Date: June 21, 1989

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Morrow

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1989

Categories: FICTION