Synopsis

In a late 21st-century world dominated by a medical-industrial complex, where power rests with immortal, ultra-conservative seniors, Mia Ziemann is a privileged 94-year-old medical economist. Her life, though secure, is devoid of passion. A deathbed confession from an ex-lover and an encounter with a vibrant young bohemian spark a profound realization: she has lived without true pleasure or adventure. Seizing a desperate chance for a 'do-over,' Mia undergoes a perilous, experimental procedure to regain her youth. Escaping her vigilant medical 'keepers,' she embarks on a clandestine, intercontinental journey through Europe. Her quest is not just for youth, but for spiritual gratification, erotic awakening, and the "holy fire" of creative experience she’s long denied herself. She falls in with a group of rebellious anarchists, finding herself entangled with a charismatic leader who could be her salvation or her undoing. This radical new life, however, comes with its own risks and one final, potentially fatal, procedure.

Critical Reception

"Bruce Sterling's 'Holy Fire' stands as a provocative and unsparing examination of humanity's future, expertly blending speculative science with timeless questions of love, identity, and the meaning of existence."

Metadata

ISBN:9780307796776
Pages:393
Age Rating:16+

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