The Immortals

"The Immortals" by David Duncan is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The narrative delves into the implications of immortality through a fictional hormone called the Y Hormone, which halts aging and affords humans the potential for eternal life. The story revolves around Dr. Clarence Peccary, who is torn between his ambition to profit from his discovery and the haunting consequences it could have on society. The plot follows Dr. Peccary and Roger Staghorn, who operates a powerful computer named Humanac. Peccary's experimental Y Hormone leads to a prediction about a bleak future where a group known as the Atavars captures youth and perpetuates a life devoid of risk and aspirations. As the duo explores this projected future, they encounter a society of beautiful but dispassionate individuals, revealing the detrimental effects of immortality. The tension culminates with a confrontation between Peccary's hopes for the Y Hormone and the harsh reality of its aftermath, ultimately leading to a dramatic showdown against the Atavars. Through a journey that intertwines probability, conscience, and the essence of existence, Duncan explores profound themes of mortality and the human condition.