Synopses & Reviews
Two thousand years after Pompeiis destruction, a thriller of upheaval—volcanic and political—as only SF Grandmaster Frederik Pohl can write it! In All the Lives He Led, in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, a compelling human drama unfolds in a near-future science-fiction thriller.
When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. it gave so little warning that Pompeiians were caught unawares, leaving archaeologists evidence of just how life was before the catastrophe. It is now 2079, and Pompeii has become a massive theme park recreating the ancient Roman city, complete with workers from all over the world to act as “authentic” ancient Pompeiians. While everyone in Pompeii is preparing for Il Giubileo, a massive celebration to commemorate the anniversary, one worker, Brad Sheridan, has his hands full—with the woman of his dreams, and with troubling events that threaten to cost him his job. As the fateful day draws near, tourists flock to the site; the eyes of the world are on the famous Roman city. Perfect for business . . . but a nightmare for Brad when he discovers a terrorist cell readying its own surprise for Il Giubileo: a massive disaster that could wipe out humanity.
Review
“Pohl is still a master of everything that goes into a cracking good novel, and for this one has clearly boned up on vulcanology to boot. A masterful work from a grand master.”
—Booklist
“Pohl, named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America, spins an entertaining futuristic thriller with several thought-provoking threads ranging from the ethics of biotechnology to the fragility of the global economy.” —Library Journal
“This seminihilistic novel, reminiscent of Mining the Oort and The Cool War, is not among Pohl's best only because the Grand Master's previous novels have set such a high standard, and it stands as a demonstration of his continuing strengths in the eighth decade of his career.” —Publishers Weekly
“Always a pleasure to welcome a new Pohl, even when, as here, he's transmitting a decidedly ambiguous message.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The book is narrated...with charming innocence and seeming honesty about his failings. All the Lives He Led is a worthy addition to a long and distinguished career.” —The Denver Post
“Pohl proves once again that he deserves every one of his multiple awards in the field. At his game, no other writer in the field can match him.” —Frank M. Robinson, editor of Science Fiction of the 20th Century
About the Author
Multiple Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Award-winning author FREDERIK POHL has been named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America, and won Hugos as the editor of Worlds of If magazine. He and his wife, Elizabeth Anne Hull, a former president of the Science Fiction Research Association, live near Chicago, Illinois.