The Killswitch Review

In the spirit of Blade Runnerand Brave New World comes aterrifying postmodern vision…By the year 2156, stem cell therapy has triumphed overaging and disease, extending the human lifespan indefinitely.But only for those who have achieved Conscientious CitizenStatus. To combat overpopulation, the U.S. has sealed herborders, instituted compulsory contraception, and made technology-assisted suicide readily available. Yet in a world wherethe old can remain vital forever, America’s youth have littlehope of prosperityJason Haggerty is an investigator for the governmentagency responsible for dispensing personal handheld devicesthat record a citizen’s final moments. When three teens stagean illegal public suicide, Haggerty suspects their deaths mayhave been murders. Now he must uncover proof and preventa nationwide epidemic of copycat suicides. Trouble is, for the first time in history, an entire generation might justdecide they’re better off dead. I’ve always considered Steven-Elliot Altman one of themost provocative voices in modern fiction, and KILLSWITCH, his collaboration with Diane DeKelb-Rittenhouse, once againconfirms this conviction. -Stephen Susco, screenwriter ofThe Grudge In the tradition of Philip K. Dick, Altman and DeKelb-Rittenhouse keep the action coming even as they measurethe psychosocial toll of tomorrow’s technology. -WinstonEngle, Editor & Publisher, Thrilling Wonder Stories