Buying Time

By: Joe Haldeman

Narrated by: Eric Vale

From Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Award winner Joe Haldeman, the best-selling author of The Forever War and Forever Peace, comes a thrilling sci-fi story that examines a world where time truly is money, and what happens when they both run out.

More even than space travel, the Stileman Process has altered 21st-century life. The most complex of medical miracles, it ensures that every 10 years or so, the ailing aging body can be restored to youthful vigour and health. There's a catch, of course: the cost. Every 10 years or so, you have to come up with £1,000,000 minimum to repeat the procedure or die.

For Dallas Barr, one of the oldest men on earth, it's that time again. While casting around desperately for his next essential £1,000,000, he meets Maria, a woman from - literally - a previous life, and makes two major discoveries.

One: Not all Stileman "immortals" were born - or created - the same.

Two: Someone is trying to kill them. All of them.

©1989 Joe Haldeman (P)2016 Novel Audio Inc.

Not the GREAT Joe Haldeman

Not comparable to Joe's earlier work unless he was trying to write a mocking parody full of SF troupes. Reading too many of his.young student's stories has maybe taken a toll. I finished it and enjoyed parts, but the last few chapters were just bad. I loved his earlier books.

Interesting world, meh story

It started with a great idea: limiting wealth distribution by making it a resource to fund immorality. Then it shoehorned a conspiracy into it with a lot of lucky coincidences that just happened to be exactly what was needed at the time. There just wasn’t a great story here. There are no wow moments and the ending is pretty abrupt. The narrator did a good job though and I’d listen to books narrated by him again.

The Movie Was Better

A big step down from his other books. The story and premise aren’t very interesting. I’d say this would be better served as a shorty story which would cut a lot of the fat out of the book. The narration is good despite the material.

Love Love Love!

Gotta love a good fast paced techno thriller scifi novel! I finished this one really quickly and kept listening after I got home (I generally just listen during my commute).
Joe Haldeman is always good IMO and I wasn't let down by this. I was drawn to it because of the cover --way better than the original artwork on this book-- and wasn't disappointed. I guess you CAN judge an (audio)book by it's cover.

Decent book from Haldeman

It wasn't quite at Forever War level but if you're a Haldeman fan you'll probably like this too. Never heard of the narrator before but he did a good job.