Longevity

Longevity Law Enforcement #1

by S.J. Hunter

The last thing legendary solo detective Chris McGregor expected was to get a new partner, especially a Longevity Law Enforcement rookie. Now he has two. With Livvy Hutchins, an irrepressible transfer into D.C. LLE, and Louie, a neuro-enhanced dog, he faces the most challenging case of his 75-year career. Together they must work in secret to uncover the dark plans of a wealthy sociopath allied with a doctor of Frankensteinian talents. As always in LLE work, the secret must be kept - or they risk disrupting the knife-edge balance of civilization's opposing idealologies.

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery

178 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 2012

About the author

I write science fiction. As a sideline, I write humor/suspense meant for animal lovers. My science fiction is set in the near future and uses trends to project what might have an impact on the lives of the people who could be our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It's the way we confront the big issues that interests me most. For example, how are we going to deal with each other when some of us, and only some of us, can afford the genetic engineering that can offer us perpetual youth and near-immortality?

In the words of one reviewer, my speculative fiction "adroitly juxtaposes action scenes with subtle social commentary and character development."

No matter how serious the subject - murder, kidnapping, corrupt politicians, the collapse of civilization - so far I find that twinges of humor crop in. It seems unavoidable. My favorite characters all seem to agree with George Bernard Shaw: "Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh."

My work is suitable for adults and YA.

Reviews

[Jason Reeser · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is rare to find a book that combines science fiction and a good police thriller. Most of the time, science fiction is either about strange aliens or it involves a great deal of warfare. I was hoping that S.J. Hunter's Longevity would be what I was looking for in this genre. Hunter did not disappoint.

In this near-future earth, humans have learned how to "beat the system" when it comes to age. You could, theoretically, live forever. However, the State has determined that you may not live longer than 200 years. If this had been the total package of Hunter's idea, it would have made for a great story. However, she goes much deeper than that. First of all, having children cuts down on the years you are allowed to have. And the process is expensive, so there is a class distinction here that creates an imbalance. Again, if Hunter had decided to stick with a have-nots against the haves, it would have made for a good story. Again, she takes it deeper than that.

In this action-packed novel, we follow the officers from LLE, a special division that keeps a lid on the activities of scientists who are always pushing against the laws that restrain scientific enhancements in people. Through the eyes of a rookie officer, newly transferred from working homicides, we get a beginner's view of Hunter's world. It is a well design world, with some fun, unique "tech" that lifts it out of hum-drum sci-fi and puts it on a very entertaining level.

I'd rather not give much more than that away. There is plenty of action, great interaction between well-developed characters, and some interesting themes that arise from the question of longevity. Presently, there are three books in the series, and I have already downloaded the second book. I look forward to reading all of the books.

[Mikko Azul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Longevity in order to conduct a review. Whoa, what a great ride! The opening scene introduces the hero after an inconceivable tragedy that only hints at the depths of depravity to which the story's bad guy is willing to dig. The story doesn't let up or let the reader down from the moment the cover is opened until the last page is turned.

Longevity Law Enforcement (LLE) officer Chris McGregor is chronologically over 100 years old, but thanks to Longevity, has the look of a man in his mid-30's. After 80 years in LLE, Chris thinks he's seen it all, but the disappearance of a twisted doctor who'd been underground for over 50 years forces Chris to question the morality of the life choices he's made. His rookie partner Olivia Hutchins, has no pre-conceived notions about what her job entails. Her years in Homicide and Tactics have done nothing to prepare her for what she'll face in LLE. Together, this mismatched duo are joined by a brilliant, neuro-enhanced dog named Louie to save an innocent young man from becoming the victim of an unspeakable crime.

This novel is smart, well-written and filled with twists that I didn't see coming. It examines the morality and ethics of science in the name of progress without sounding preachy. With non-stop action, intelligent dialogue and a little canine comic relief, it's a great read that I highly recommend!

[Suneeta Misra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Longevity By S.J. Hunter
I received a free copy of the book for review purposes.

This is a futuristic story of a time when people can have enhancements to freeze the aging process and prolong lives. Chris McGregor is a detective in the elite DC LLE squad, who has lost his motivation to live as a “natural” after the death of his wife, Karen DeVoe , a researcher in the field of bioethics.

Cut to another fifty-six years into the future and Chris still a youngish 35 year old in physical if not chronological age, is investigating crimes against illegal medical research in enhancements, and this time with a partner Livvy, who is a rookie in LLE if not in law enforcement.

This story sets a breakneck pace as the two detectives investigate a series of crimes that point to the dangers of unchecked research into prolonging the age of those who can afford the procedures that promise immortality. The book covers the ethical issues similar to the debate today about affordable health care for all. It poses a very interesting question of whether we want to live in such a society where progress is unevenly distributed and where basic human values have become irrelevant. After reading this interesting book, I am eagerly looking forward to the other books in the series.

[Kathy Gottberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t want to live forever?

The thing I love about sci-fi stories are the questions they raise and the what-if possibilities presented by the author. Longevity does just that with likable characters, just enough action, fast-moving plot line, and an even extra smart and faithful dog named Louie! While this story doesn’t come presented in minute detail or characters so finely drawn that that you know them better than your own siblings like some epic sci-fi novels—it does offer a very entertaining and enjoyable read. Plus, if it does nothing more than ask people if they would like to live forever and what lengths they would go to do it—then it is worthy of the short time it takes to read.

I also appreciated that even though it is part of a series (not my favorite type of reading) this first book ended on a very satisfying note so that I didn’t feel cheated. It did leave a hint of interesting developments to come without leaving you dangling in frustration. Longevity is exactly the kind of book I would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a light, fun and readable sci-fi story.

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[K.A. Krisko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by this author, and, although they are in two different genres, there's one connection: the writing quality is consistently high. I'd call this one "sci-fi lite" - that is, it doesn't concentrate on space stations, space travel, or extraterrestrial settlement, but on earth-bound goings-on in a technologically advanced future earth.

I read quite a bit of sci-fi when I was younger, and I found the ideas in this one novel and interesting. While I'm not going to rehash the plot, the intricacies of a society segregated by the ability to afford life-extensions and the restrictions placed upon the technology that makes it possibly creates a number of philosophical dilemmas. Hmmm. Do I detect a note of allegory? I believe I do.

This could be a really good series. There's a lot more to be explored here, and the characters and situations are enough to keep me reading more in the future.

[Echo Heron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the type of SciFi that deals with what life in the future will be like...Author S.J. Hunter has done a really fine job of creating an engaging and fast-paced read. I was totally engaged in the story beginning to end. It is 2051 - Chris McGregor, a long-time Longevity Law Enforcement officer, his rookie new partner, Livvy Hutchins and Louie, the neuro-enhanced dog make quite a team as they join up to take down a sociopath who will stop at nothing to extend his longevity, even if it means taking the life of his own grandson.
Ms. Hunter created not only a very good story, but strong, believable characters (especially loved the dog!).
The only thing I would suggest is that this book might benefit from a little line editing.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for the story:

This is a detective novel set in a near-future earth rather than a typical science fiction story. Scientists have figured out how to "reset" the aging process making the idea of immortality plausible. Longevity laws were enacted in the US to keep things from getting out of control after riots nearly destroyed the country in the 2050s. Society is still very much in flux in 2107, with haves and have-nots, the people who are have-nots being those who don't partake of Longevity treatments, either because they can't, for economic reasons, or won't, for ideological ones.

Chris McGregor is a veteran Longevity Law Enforcement (LLE) officer. The LLE has broad powers and likes to do things in secret. Olivia Hutchins is his new, unwanted partner. They are immediately thrown into a case that is more complex than it seems and involves a reclusive trillionaire who wants to live forever.

This is an interesting world and I like the topic of extended life and how people deal with it. The story was engaging from the start. Chris and Livvy are realistic, likeable characters. Louie, their neuro-enhanced dog partner is an interesting addition but isn't cutesy in any way. It's not a long book and it was fast paced. I was eager to get back to it this morning and see how it ended.
The book is the first in a series but it is not a trilogy; the book is entirely complete unto itself. Again, it's a mystery series, not a SF series. I am completely on board with it and am looking forward to reading the next one.

2 stars for editing:

Unfortunately, my rating averages out to 3 stars because of some poor editing. It's not atrocious but it's noticeable. In addition to some clunky futuristic words, "molebiol" and "comu", for example, there are missing words in the text, and a compliment vs. complement failure. There were a couple of sentences with such awkward structure that even on re-reading I couldn't figure them out. The second half of the book was cleaner but still not perfect. These were not deal-breakers for me because I enjoyed the story so much but I'm hoping the editing improves in future volumes.

[Michael Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Socrates were alive, he would be proud of the mentoring methods displayed in this tight futuristic tale. The book moves the reader methodically towards an action packed conclusion. Hard science and real life meld together seemlessly. Perhaps needed a bit more of the enthralling action of the close a little earlier on in the book. I liked the book and look forward to reading the rest of the series. I hope the next book explains in more detail about the biological process of longevity.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I signed up as a reader/reviewer for the Goodreads Review Group and this is my second review for said group. I thank the author for providing her book for me to read, rate, and review.

So! Longevity! It’s a futuristic thriller suspense mystery with life-changing technology, really rich people, secretive government agencies and a dog. (Sooze: PUPPIES!)

Here are the things I liked about this story:
-It’s fun and exciting. No, not the whole people getting killed and the world still being crap at running correctly parts, but the future and being able to extend your life and to perfect your looks and the 1% wanting to be more powerful than humans really ought to be - all that makes for a fun story.
-It’s interesting. It made me think. I was intrigued by the limitations put on all this technological betterment: You can have EITHER longevity and gorgeousness and all that jazz OR you can have children. You can’t have both, though there is compromise between the two, as each child costs 50 years you could have tacked on to your lifespan, if I’m reading this correctly. So fascinating! I wondered what enhancements I would choose. Would I be smarter? Prettier? Would I elect to live longer? I thought about these questions a lot while reading.
-It’s fairly easy to understand how this future works. All the new technology doesn't come with lengthy explanations yet it all makes sense anyhow. I was impressed at how quickly I was able to figure out what things meant, how technology worked, the new societal organization, et al.
-While the story structure isn't new, it's got a quirky spin that gives the old whodunnit a fresh and appealing shine.
-There's a dog!
-It's a fast read (unless you're me reading a Kindle ebook. I just can't get through those things quickly. I am ebook impaired)

Then there's the part I didn't like. This story suffers from the same malady as so many indie/self-published titles: lack of serious editing. It reads like a first or second draft, like we're done with all the rough drafts, the timeline and story and characters are all in place but it hasn't been edited for flow, continuity, general sense-making and the like. In some places, mostly after the ⅔ mark, it often breaks down and there's one whole chapter that contains typos, syntax errors, and other mistakes, ie "past" instead of "passed" and the like.
There’s some lazy writing going on (towards/forwards/afterwards) and there are gaps that need bridging, enough so that it becomes hard to follow the story in areas and some passages suffer from too many possible interpretations. For instance, there’s this bomb and when I first read about it, I thought the bomb was in a parking space or a parking garage. The cop who finds it is all impressed with the bomb being there but the reader (me) was not because how hard it is to watch someone go home and then plant a bomb in their parking spot one day while they're at work? And who comes home and doesn't notice a bomb sitting where they usually park? After re-reading that passage a couple more times, I finally understood what was going on but because the sentence structure was off and because those gaps weren't bridged, it was really hard for me to visualize the scene correctly. This happened to me a lot throughout the book and I found it hampered my reading enjoyment.

My concern with this type of writing is twofold:
1) What could be a really good story is marred because it’s hard to read, the flow keeps getting interrupted by confusion, and for snobs like me, it’s irritating to see the glaring mistakes. That tells me the writer does not care enough about the reader to deliver a finished product and this makes me sad. I realize that many readers do not feel this way but for those who do, the lack of editing becomes a serious hindrance.
2) There are now more indie/self-published ebooks out there than there are mainstream published ebooks but mainstream books continue to get the sales because they're vetted. They've been through a publishing house and have been tidied up to appeal to a variety of readers. The i/sp books are having a terrible time competing because when a reader pays for a book, even if it’s just .99 cents, the reader often expects a certain level of quality. When that quality is not delivered, the reader doesn't feel as confident about buying i/sp books in the future, opting for mainstream publications, instead.
I would love to see i/sp books gain footholds in major reading lists but at this rate, they won't because too few of these titles are written well enough to drum up the interest necessary to launch them into the public eye. Yes, of course it has happened, but any mathy person can figure out the ratio of all the self-published works out there to those that have made it to a best seller list.

To indie/self-published authors: I beseech you! Please pay an editor and get some unknown readers/victims to scour your work before you let it out into the wild. It will be worth it in the long run, especially if you're making a name for yourself as a serious author. (If you're just providing the internet with free books because you want to have stories out there and you don't care if anyone ever reads them, then carry on. You're doing fine)

Now that I'm done ranting, I would like to say that this story would be a really good read if it were cleaned-up. I can totally see this making it as a trade paperback and getting checked-out from the library by eager people embarking on vacations. As it stands, it's worth reading for the storyline alone, but snobby readers (like me) will need to exercise patience.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Longevity" by S.J. Hunter is a fun read with a lot going for it: A futuristic science fiction setting, an adorable dog and two detectives with their own brand of an odd chemistry between them.
The time is 2107 and people have a chrono age - their real age - and a bio age - the age of what they look like. There are laws regulating this new way of life, making for a very intriguing premise for the book which brings up a few questions on the morals of this age concept.
Longevity Law Enforcement Officer Chris and his new side-kick Livvie are joined by a neuro-enhanced dog called Louie in their hunt for a socio-path in his quest to enhance his longevity.
This is action packed and face paced, a very entertaining novel with an original cast and lots of promise for the next instalment.

[Max Reeser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun to read, with good, understandable tech/science, a fairly fleshed-out world, and solid characters. As a rather short, mystery/sci-fi book, I think it succeeded at all that it needed to, while also presenting a meaningful social commentary. The action descriptions were well done, and admirably conveyed the events in the action. Also, the environment descriptions were well done, at times painting some positively picturesque scenes. I enjoyed my time with this book, and would definitely choose to spend more time in Longevity's world.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one has been sitting in my “want to read” pile for some time. I finally got around to it and really enjoyed it. It took me a bit to figure out the whole legal vs. illegal side of the longevity business but I really liked the two main characters. I will definitely read the next book and hope we get to learn a bit more about the department and a few of the other characters as well.

[Toria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun detective story with just enough scifi to give some new situations and ethical grounding for our heroes. There is a good dog.

[Maisy Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.

In Longevity, S.J. Hunter has constructed a complex future world in which science has been able to stall the affects of aging indefinitely. Hunter explores the complex social, political, and legal ramifications of this new reality with remarkable depth. In response to the dramatic social upheaval in response to “longevity,” a set of laws has been developed restricting the number of years people are eligible for “resets” before aging naturally, and other limitations on the “enhancements” that science has made possible. The plot of “Longevity” centers on the agency that is charged with enforcing these laws.

While impressed with the creativity of this imagined future and its implications, I wish that Hunter had spent more time on character development and less on lengthy explanations of this imaginary science with its invented vocabulary. I wanted to know the agents, Chris and Livvy, better, to see them as human while living in the bodies of young people for decades. What were the emotional affects of all this? What were their motivations? They seemed rather robotic.

Some of the sentence structure throughout the book was confusing, forcing me to reread sections to understand what was happening—the dialog often caused me to backtrack to figure out who was speaking. The pacing of the second half of the book improved substantially, as the plot twists and action drew me in. I could picture an exciting and suspenseful movie.

Overall, it is a worthy and intelligent effort that would benefit greatly from a good editor.

[Paul Spooner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is excellent work - and I don't mean 'excellent for it's price bracket', I mean excellent in an absolute sense. The quality of the writing stands comparison with established authors. It does what a good book should; makes you forget you're reading and transports you to a world which is sharply defined in your imagination.

The exploration of the subtle consequences of longevity on society, and the character development of the main protagonists, is superbly done.

As an avid fan and voracious reader of science fiction for the last 35-40years, I can do no more than say that this book ticked all my boxes; If you like well written SF, then I urge you to give this book a try.

[S.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The following review is from Allan McDonald, Amazon reviewer:

I finished this recently and was surprised by the high quality of the writing. Hunter writes like a pro. There are no disruptive mistakes such as poor English or bad spelling. It doesn't read like the dialogue is robotic. The characters are well developed and the plot is believable and well executed.
This is not entirely an action Sci-Fi thriller, although it is that. It is a study of what a society could look like if we cured aging and what it would take for us to stay a coherent civilization. Very well done Mr. Hunter!

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

More free book #1 of a series Amazon giveaway material. Acceptable, not brilliant, I suppose?