Resurrection

"Resurrection" by Robert Shea is a science fiction short story written in the late 20th century. The narrative explores themes of life, death, and the implications of advanced medicine, particularly the ability to revive the dead and modify human existence through technology. It delves into a speculative future where humanity has developed profound medical capabilities that challenge the natural order. The story unfolds through a conversation between a man with Asiatic features, who has been brought back to life in a futuristic society, and a young girl intrigued by his experiences. He recounts how, in this new age, deceased individuals can be resurrected through an understanding of biological memory, allowing pieces of matter that once belonged to an organism to reconstruct the entire being. As they discuss his past as Genghis Khan, the man reflects on the challenges of adapting to a transformed world where every historical figure can potentially be revived, raising complex questions about identity, space, and the essence of life itself. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert Joseph Shea was an American novelist and former journalist best known as co-author with Robert Anton Wilson of the science fantasy trilogy Illuminatus! It became a cult success and was later turned into a marathon-length stage show put on at the British National Theatre and elsewhere. In 1986 it won the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award. Shea went on to write several action novels based in exotic historical settings.