Forever

"Forever" by Ned Lang is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around the ethical implications and societal consequences of an immortality serum discovered by Charles Dennison, an inventor. As he grapples with the implications of his creation, the narrative explores themes of power, control, and the potential for humanity's misuse of groundbreaking discoveries. The plot follows Charles Dennison's desperate struggle to protect his invention from nefarious forces after he discovers a serum that grants immortality. After a frantic escape from pursuers who wish to steal his creation, he encounters a shadowy organization known as the Undertakers, who aim to suppress the serum for their own ends, believing that immortality would lead to chaos and overpopulation. Captured and taken to their headquarters, Dennison learns that he is not alone; he meets other inventors who have faced similar fates. Together, they form the Immortality Club, working over decades to escape and reveal the truth behind the Undertakers' plan, ultimately leading to a thrilling resolution that challenges the nature of power and the future of humanity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert Sheckley was an American writer. First published in the science-fiction magazines of the 1950s, his many quick-witted stories and novels were famously unpredictable, absurdist, and broadly comical.