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The Price of Immortality
In 2BR02B, Kurt Vonnegut takes readers into a future where death has been eradicated, and the issue of overpopulation has been solved. However, this seemingly perfect world comes at a disturbing price. Life no longer exists as an inherent right but has become a carefully regulated commodity. Now, new questions arise: how far is society willing to go to maintain such an order?
2BR02B originally appeared in If: Worlds of Science Fiction magazine in January 1962.
Edward Wehling Jr., a young and healthy man, faces a moral and existential dilemma when his wife becomes pregnant with triplets. In this society, for every new life, another must be taken. The concept of birth is no longer a joyous occasion but a transactional event, where the gift of life is exchanged for the inevitability of death.
Vonnegut’s Style
Vonnegut’s dark humour and sharp critique expose a world where progress has created a new set of ethical challenges. The story not only invites readers to reflect on the consequences of technological advances but also raises deeper questions about the meaning of life and the value of human existence.
As the narrative unfolds, the story forces us to confront uncomfortable truths: if death can be eliminated, what happens to the very essence of life? What is the true cost of immortality, and who gets to decide who lives and who dies?
You can read the story below, or download it for later.
