11

The whole world is filled by people whose completion of puberty is delayed, so they stay young forever. Their world is mostly just fun and play, with few people understanding science.

One man's treatment fails and he starts to age. They are horrified by his grey hair and wrinkles. He becomes isolated and mournful. One of his friends or daughters realizes there is more to life, and starts talking to a scientist, and learning the basics of biology.

It's a fairly short story, from the 90s or earlier.

Improve this question
5
  • 1
    I've tagged short-stories with regards to your last sentence, but feel free to revert if you meant a very short novel or something :)
    – Jenayah
    Commented Oct 7, 2018 at 20:50
  • Norman Spinrad's "Deathwatch" has some of the same elements, but I don't think that's it. An immortal couple gives birth to a son who ages normally. You think that old person dying is a parent or even grandparent but it's their son.
    – Emsley Wyatt
    Commented Oct 8, 2018 at 3:02
  • 1
    It also sounds a lot like Damon Knight's "The Dying Man", though it is all that short (more like a novelette): In a far future, mankind has discovered the secret of immortality, and death is thought to be non-existent. But when the frustrated student Dio discovers he is mortal and death is approaching, he encounters, for the first time in his life, supreme happiness.
    – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
    Commented Oct 8, 2018 at 7:59
  • @KlausÆ.Mogensen you are correct, that is the right story. Thanks!
    – fastmultiplication
    Commented Feb 27, 2021 at 19:33
  • @fastmultiplication: Okay - I'll write it as an answer you can accept.
    – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
    Commented Feb 28, 2021 at 10:50

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
10

Damon Knight's novelette "The Dying Man" (1957)

In a far future, mankind has discovered the secret of immortality, and death is thought to be non-existent. But when the frustrated student Dio discovers he is mortal and death is approaching, he encounters, for the first time in his life, supreme happiness.

The story can be read online at Baen Books.

It is also collected in the 1969 book Three Novels*

enter image description here

Improve this answer
2
  • 3
    That's a surprisingly modern looking book for 1869! +1
    – Organic Marble
    Commented Feb 28, 2021 at 13:36
  • I'll edit that. :-)
    – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
    Commented Mar 1, 2021 at 8:35

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.