Introducing Mr Perky : subverting the fantasy trope of immortality in contemporary speculative fiction

The Tide Lords series of fantasy novels set out to examine the issue of immortality. Its purpose was to look at the desirability of immortality, specifically why people actively seek it. It was meant to examine the practicality of immortality, specifically — having got there, what does one do to pass the time with eternity to fill? I also wished to examine the notion of true immortality — immortals who could not be killed. What I did not anticipate when embarking upon this series, and what did not become apparent until after the series had been sold to two major publishing houses in Australia and the US, was the strength of the immortality tropes. This series was intended to fly in the face of these tropes, but confronted with the reality of such a work, the Australian publishers baulked at the ideas presented, requesting the series be re-written with the tropes taken into consideration. They wanted immortals who could die, mortals who wanted to be immortal. And a hero with a sense of humour. This exegesis aims to explore where these tropes originated. It will also discuss the ways I negotiated a way around the tropes, and was eventually able to please the publishers by appearing to adhere to the tropes, while still staying true to the story I wanted to tell. As such, this discussion is, in part, an analysis of how an author negotiates the tensions around writing within a genre while trying to innovate within it.

Immortality and sentencing law

The time may not be far away where we may be able to live much longer than we do now – potentially forever. This will have an enormous impact on the way people live their lives as the underlying premise that life is finite underpins many of the central decisions and life choices we make. This paper outlines some philosophical and legal doctrines that are based on the premise that life is finite and some of the changes that may need to occur in light of medical advances in ageing. In particular, it focuses on the changes to sentencing law that may be necessary to accommodate increased human longevity. For the skeptics who refuse to accept the concept of immortality, the arguments presented do not depend on living forever. Some of the issues discussed here are also relevant, albeit in an attenuated manner, because of increases in human longevity that have occurred in the last 100 years.

An essay on the universal plentiude of being and on the nature and immortality of the human soul and its agency : manuscript, [1784]

Autograph manuscript, signed, with autograph manuscript revisions.

The new light on immortality.

Mode of access: Internet.

King's College lectures on immortality,

Imperfect: Title page wanting.

The mind of Tennyson : his thoughts on God, freedom, and immortality.

Mode of access: Internet.

The immortality of the soul : considered in the light of the Holy Scriptures, the testimony of reason and nature, and the various phenomena of life and death /

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

The ancient Egyptian doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul

Includes bibliographical references.

Immortality,

Printed on one side of leaf only.

A GUIDE FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES OF THE HOLY SAVIOUR, IN THEIR WAY TO IMMORTALITY,

Mode of access: Internet.

The complaint and consolation, or, Night thoughts on life, death and immortality /

Title page and text in single line border; gilt edges.