Appearance
The Fixed Period (The World's Classics)
I loved this book when I first read it many years ago, inspired by a positive review in the Toronto Star. What if we as a civilization decided that instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars on caring for people once they got old, we decided on a specific age that people would no longer be allowed to live? What if a group of young people decided on what that age would be? What would happen once the young people who made that decision started to reach "the fixed period"?
The Fixed Period (The World's Classics)
In this novel, written in 1882 but set in the 1980s, Trollope creates an island called Britannula (capital Gladstonopolis) which had been settled by a group of young men from New Zealand. It had been granted self-government as a republic by Great Britain (on the lines of New Zealand etc), only to have had it taken away again at the point of a British battleship's guns (called a "steam swiveller") when the government of Britannula about to implement, in accordance with a law the young men had passed, the Fixed Period. (One of the weaknesses of the book is that we are told about this dénouement right at the beginning - so the spoiler is not mine.) This law laid down that at the age of 67 its citizens should be deposited in a college for a year's preparatory and honoured stay, at the end of which year they should leave this world by way of euthanasia, to be followed by cremation.The story is told by President John Neverbend (Trollope is not subtle in the names he bestows on several of his characters), one of the creators of the law and a fanatic and self-righteous believer in it, and in the opening chapter he eloquently explains why it is for the benefit both of society, which will not have to support unproductive members, and of the senior citizens themselves, who will be spared the often prolonged sufferings that old age brings with it.Needless to say, a law enacted by men in their thirties and forties lost its appeal, to the disgust of John Neverbend, as they were approaching the Fixed Period. The first to reach that age was a still vigorous sexagenarian, ten years Neverbend's senior, who had been a stout supporter and friend of his, when the law had been passed. But, as I said, we have known since the beginning of the novel that the British would intervene to save him, which to an extent draws the sting from the prolonged account of how he struggles against it.The story involves a much-courted maiden, a cricket match between the Britanullans and a team from England (in which much of the bowling is done by a machine called a steam-bowler!). And when Neverbend expresses republican sentiments, we have to wonder whether these are also Trollope's.Trollope is here as readable as he always is. In his great novels there is often a repetition, over and over again, of what is in the minds of his characters - we accept that repetition there because of the realism: people DO mull over certain ideas in various combinations and permutations. So it is here; but I thought that here it is a matter of padding out a story rather than of developing a character. One could write a credible novel about supporters and opponents of a law ALLOWING euthanasia for the frail elderly under certain circumstances (indeed I wish we did live in such a society); but the situation in this book is too artificial, too much written with tongue-in-cheek, even to be taken seriously as an allegory. At best it can be taken as a sometimes witty jeux d'esprit. And Trollope could not find a neat end to the story because Neverbend's tale concludes abruptly when we would like to know more about the next stage of his life.
The Fixed Period (The World's Classics)
Interesting idea, and some humorous moments, but overall this book has far too many words for its story.
Kawasaki 80-350Cc Rotary Valve, 1966-2001 (Clymer Motorcycle Repair)
I own a 1973 Kawasaki G5-A and according to the description this would be the manual for me. However, I am not impressed with what I recieved. I understand that all the models listed are very similar, there are several parts of the bike that are not even mentioned (such as ignition,speedometer) the wiring diagram for my bike is not even listed in this manual. Which by the way is mostly why i bought it. Amazon was wonderful as usuall. no problems with them, i just wish clymer would have spent more time putting this book together. Lacks alot of needed diagrams for models it says it is suppost to have. (mostly bikes older than 1976)
Medico Mnemonica
Alright, so maybe it's shameless to plug my own book. But it honestly is remarkably useful for anybody studying medicine, nursing, dentistry, and many other health professions. I consider it the definitive source for medical memory aides; call me the Roget or Webster of mnemonics. In addition, the impregnable plastic wrap outside the book makes it a perfect ice scraper for your car. - ES Marlowe, MD
Medico Mnemonica
My good friend gave me this book in P.A. school and it has helped me so much with basic things like anatomy. Recommended. A+