Today is Forever by Roger Dee Aycock
In a future society governed by a strict political structure known as AL&O (Administration, Legislation, and Order), the arrival of extraterrestrial beings, the Alcorians, introduces a controversial offer of longevity that threatens to disrupt the established order. The protagonist, Boyle, a cunning and ambitious figure, learns from a young technician, Locke, that the Alcorians are offering a form of immortality to the ruling Council members, which could create a significant divide between the elite and the general populace. Locke, driven by a sense of justice, believes that this offer is tyrannical and must be stopped. Boyle, however, sees the potential for personal gain and begins to plot a coup to seize the longevity process for himself. He manipulates Locke's idealism, convincing him that they must act quickly to ensure that the privilege of immortality is extended to all, rather than just the Council. As the story unfolds, Boyle's ambition leads him to devise a plan to kidnap an Alcorian and obtain the longevity serum. He successfully infiltrates the deliberation chamber where the Council is meeting with the Alcorians, using a freeze-gun to incapacitate the Council members and create chaos. In the ensuing confrontation, he captures one of the Alcorians, Fermiirig, and demands the serum. Fermiirig reluctantly complies, injecting Boyle with a serum that promises seven hundred years of life. However, Boyle's triumph is short-lived. In a moment of hubris, he attempts to eliminate both Fermiirig and Locke, but is thwarted by the intervention of Ordermen, who have been guided to him by the telepathic abilities of the Alcorians. Boyle is arrested for murder, facing a life sentence in a society that has abolished capital punishment. The narrative explores themes of ambition, morality, and the consequences of seeking power at any cost. Boyle's quest for immortality ultimately leads to his downfall, revealing the irony that his desire for eternal life results in a sentence of life imprisonment, effectively trapping him in a state of eternal punishment rather than the immortality he sought. The story concludes with Boyle's realization that he has not achieved immortality, but rather an unending existence filled with regret and isolation.
By Roger Dee Aycock · First published 1960 · Genre: Science Fiction, Political Thriller, Dystopian · 4,702 words
First lines
Boyle knew there was an angle behind the aliens' generosity. but he had one of his own!
"These Alcorians have been on Earth for only a month," David Locke said, "but already they're driving a wedge between AL&O and the Social Body that can destroy the Weal overnight. Boyle, it's got to be stopped!"
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Today is Forever is listed on Textopian as a novel by Roger Dee Aycock, dated 1960 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: Roger Dee Aycock
- Date: 1960 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Political Thriller, Dystopian, Adventure, Drama
- Length: 4,702 words
- Structure: 1 section, 112 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Today is Forever by Roger Dee Aycock
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The plot revolves around aliens offering immortality, exploring themes of longevity, societal structure, and the implications of advanced technology.
- Political Thriller — The narrative includes political intrigue, manipulation, and the struggle for power within a futuristic government system.
- Dystopian — The setting depicts a controlled society with a focus on the consequences of a rigid social order and the loss of individual freedoms.
- Adventure — The protagonist engages in a high-stakes plan involving kidnapping and deception, which drives the action of the story.
Tags
time · philosophy · existentialism · life · perception · reality · consciousness · memory · change · identity · human experience · narrative