The Coffin Cure by Alan Edward Nourse
The Coffin Cure is a science fiction novel by Alan Edward Nourse, published in 1958. The story follows Dr. John Dearborn, a psychiatrist who discovers that the key to immortality lies within the human brain's ability to create and store memories. Dearborn develops a technique called "coffin therapy," where patients are placed in a state of suspended animation for extended periods of time, allowing their brains to process and consolidate memories. The novel explores themes of mortality, identity, and the human condition, as Dearborn's patients begin to question their own identities and the nature of reality.
By Alan Edward Nourse · First published 1957 · Genre: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian · 6,879 words
First lines
When the discovery was announced, it was Dr. Chauncey Patrick Coffin who announced it. He had, of course, arranged with uncanny skill to take most of the credit for himself. If it turned out to be greater than he had hoped, so much the better. His presentation was scheduled for the last night of the American College of Clinical Practitioners' annual meeting, and Coffin had fully intended it to be a bombshell.
It was. Its explosion exceeded even Dr. Coffin's wilder expectations, which took quite a bit of doing. In the end he had waded through more newspaper reporters than medical doctors as he left the hall that night. It was a heady evening for Chauncey Patrick Coffin, M.D.
Similar titles
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The book revolves around a futuristic medical breakthrough, a common theme in science fiction.
- Post-Apocalyptic — The plot presents a world disrupted by a medical cure, fitting post-apocalyptic definitions.
- Dystopian — The narrative reveals a flawed society due to the unexpected consequences of the coffin cure, a signature dystopian trope.
- Medical Thriller — The book involves a medical solution that goes terribly wrong, an element typically found in medical thrillers.
Tags
coffin · cold · colds · could · dawson · days · dr · ellie · even · eyes · face · fiction
What this Textopian page supports
The Coffin Cure is listed on Textopian as a novel by Alan Edward Nourse, dated 1957 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Alan Edward Nourse
- Date: 1957 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Medical Thriller
- Length: 6,879 words
- Structure: 1 section, 167 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Coffin Cure by Alan Edward Nourse
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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