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Submortal

by Scott S. Elliott

Submortal - Scott S. Elliott
Editions:Paperback - Second: $ 9.99
ISBN: B01MY1SNLD
Pages: 247
Kindle: $ 2.99
ISBN: B01MY1SNLD
Audiobook - Second
ISBN: B0DMMD7M1D

In the Fall of 2331, Zan Wilcox won the lottery to have his DNA hardened so that he would never age further. If he stayed healthy and avoided physical accidents, he could live indefinitely long in his 25-year-old body and mind - he would join a limited number of submortal humans.

Realizing that he could not bear to see his friends and family age and die, he joined a commune of other submortals who lived underground and acted as caretakers and restorers of endangered and extinct wildlife. There he met the woman of his dreams, and it seemed like their long lives together would be perfect - until they discovered the horrible secret.

Excerpt:

Zan reached the deep maintenance tunnel and heard a nauseating thrumming noise in the distance. Suddenly he saw two POGs wheeling a gurney with a body toward the noise. He wondered in dread, "Could that be Margaret?"

"Zan survived the treatment. He is now a Submortal!"

Reviews:Keelerlicious on Amazon wrote:

Submortal completely captured my imagination. The concept of winning a chance at virtual immortality—and all the unexpected consequences that come with it—was both thought-provoking and deeply emotional. Zan’s journey was compelling, from his excitement about a limitless future to the loneliness and tough choices that come with outliving everyone you love.

I really enjoyed the world-building, especially the idea of submortals dedicating themselves to caring for endangered species. It added so much depth and hope to the story. The relationships, especially Zan’s, felt authentic and nuanced. The twists kept me hooked, and I was surprised by how moving and suspenseful the final reveal was.

If you’re looking for a fresh, character-driven sci-fi that explores big questions about life, loss, and what really matters, I highly recommend Submortal. It’s a memorable read that lingers with you long after the last page.


About the Author

Scott Elliott's passion for science, technology and science fiction literature started as a child, when he grew up in the 1950s in a blue-collar suburb east of Los Angeles. He was the first in his family to have the opportunity to go to college, and he started at the University of California at Berkeley as an Engineering student in 1964. Eight tumultuous years at Berkeley infused him with the possibilities of science and technology to contribute to the betterment of human life, but also with the realities of human weaknesses, global social inequalities and social strife.

Scott went on to earn his PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He went to work for an Advanced Technology Center for Hewlett-Packard, doing research and engineering on lasers, ultrasonics, and high-speed communications. After 25 years in Engineering and Management, Scott started his own technology management consulting firm, working for more than a decade with high-tech companies in the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia. He is currently back with Keysight Technologies (the science measurement spin-off of HP), where he is a senior advisor.

During his career, Scott developed a love of creative writing and blogging, contributing many papers and book chapters on technology and technology management. He has now returned to his love of hard science fiction by writing very plausible scenarios that employ physically possible technological advances with the realities of human social behaviors.

Scott has two successful adult sons and two grandsons, and he lives, works, and writes atop a hill in San Francisco with his Chinese wife.