I Have Three Things to Tell You, My Friend.

ABOUT Robert DAmato

Robert DAmato
I am an adjunct professor in Forida and, besides being an author, I enjoy travelling, biking, and sports. I also like reading both fiction and nonfiction My favorite genres are historical and biographical.

BUY ONLINE

Description

2014 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist The Golden Years Can Be a Killer!
In 2033, every senior citizen is offered a second chance and a second career. At 65, John Sinclair, a life-long teacher, faces two choices—a second career or permanent retirement and early death. The state will pay for his genetic rehabilitation, university education, and an extended life span of 160 years. It’s guaranteed! All Sinclair has to do is to mentor his young apprentice, commit to a new career, and avoid any dealings with a daft and spiteful school janitor, Fernando Smith. Like all incredible offers, Sinclair’s new career comes with a toxic price tag. The question is—is he willing to pay?

The Golden Years Can Be a Killer! In 2033, every senior citizen is offered a second chance and a second career. At 65, John Sinclair, a life-long teacher, faces two choices—a second career or permanent retirement and early death. The state will pay for his genetic rehabilitation, university education, and an extended life span of 160 years. It’s guaranteed! All Sinclair has to do is to mentor his young apprentice, commit to a new career, and avoid any dealings with a daft and spiteful school janitor, Fernando Smith. Like all incredible offers, Sinclair’s new career comes with a toxic price tag. The question is—is he willing to pay?

Perhaps because of living in a small town where we knew our school teachers, but especially after I started working for a university and realized that instructors made less than many working at that university, I've always felt strongly about the lack of support for education and especially teachers. This book reminded me of not only that fact, but that I was, as told to me by a counselor, used and abused by an institution and then thrown aside... Sure, there are others like me...but not as bad as it's going to get according to the author of this futuristic novel...

I started by sharing a video (on my blog) that I never knew existed. It's by Charlie Chaplin... Had you ever heard of or seen it? In the novel, it is part of a lecture by a provisional teacher. His mentor is allowing him to take over his class as he decides whether he wishes to stay teaching for his career. His partner wants him to become a lawyer, seemingly to me because of the low pay as opposed to anything else... Not only was I impressed with the lecture, which of course, was created by the author whose professional experience supports that role, but because it was one of the few lectures he might ever give. Amazing! You see, in the future, there are few teachers who do more than provide support as our youth are taught electronically by a canned and, more importantly, approved course curriculum... There is no free thinking on the part of teachers, or little of it...

While the setting is within a college, the rules and regulations actually are government controlled. It is hoped that Education professions will ultimately be eliminated due to electronic advances. Until then, funds have lowered routinely... Mr. Sinclair is the main character, although the Janitor is just as much in the same situation as Sinclair. In fact, everything regarding your career includes the need to know how old you are. Both Mr. Smith and Mr. Sinclair are near the time of, well, shall I just say, rehabilitation at this time...

You see, new medical sciences advances have allowed age to be stopped and your body energized and enhanced to a point that the individual is just about ready to start his career...The catch? You must choose a new profession, be retrained and committed to that career for the remainder of your life... 160 years..
.
Don't want to keep on working, especially if you can't stay in the career you love? Well, you can choose to retire. But don't plan to live beyond your 80th birthday... THAT'S THE LAW!

Not exactly a great time to be living; that is, if you ever planned to have some kind of life outside of working... After all, you are owned by the government once you sign your job contract...

Now while Sinclair is mentoring his possible replacement, he also is spending time talking to lawyers and friends about what he should choose to do. He's considering a new field in Engineering! And is working on an old motor bike even though he hasn't been able to get it running. His wife has left for Japan and he's almost sure she won't be back as she leaves. So he could potentially be alone or perhaps try to find somebody new...

Ironically, the janitor has taken a liking to him, almost as an equal. Mr. Smith has self-educated himself, although that cannot help him in his possible reassignment. He hates his boss and loves a woman who is also a janitor... But his greatest love is opera and he spends time listening to it and even invites his beloved to go to an opera. She announced at the end of the evening that she hated it... and without saying it... a whole lot more!

Daily activities of these individuals are also included and readers can see that there is not much "life" to celebrate... Life is centered around work... And the same old philosophical debates are, of course, still going on because nobody will ever agree...

I had most of what would be happening figured out...or at least I thought I did! But I was totally wrong, except for the young man who was being mentored by Sinclair... So, I was wrong--but-- you know, I was totally accepting of the ending! In fact, if I were living at that time...

It is hard to say that I loved this book, but, for me, it was mind-blowing! And, yet, as I consider my own evaluation of the work environment in the world, I find it both memorable and believable--tooooo believable. Ponder whether you work to live or live to work... I once lived to work and found that nobody really appreciated it as long as I contributed to the bottom line and expected no respect, courtesy or a life beyond that job...

If you've ever felt like that, this might be a must-read to help you face reality... You decide!

GABixlerReviews
Book provided for review