scythe, by neal shusterman

Let's just say right off the bat - if you're squeamish, DO NOT read this book! Full of macabre and gory details, Scythe is not for the faint of heart. Having said that, the story is wonderfully original, and well worth the read. In the near future (2045), death - as in the end of one's life - has become a thing of the past. Humanity is living in a post-mortality world. Have an accident? Not to worry, your remains will be taken to a revival centre, and in a few days you'll be as good as new. Gotten too old? Never fear, all you have to do is 'turn a corner' and become young again. Pick your age! Anything from age 21 onward is possible - it's up to you to decide.

Of course, there is the problem of population control. This is answered in the form of Scythes, who have an annual gleaning quota to fulfill. The quota, and its specifications for candidates, is based on mortality-age statistics, and all Scythes must adhere to strict regulations to ensure a lack of bias. Ultimately, candidate selection is up to them, and once you've been gleaned, there's no coming back - there is, however, a year's immunity from gleaning for your remaining family members, so its not all bad...

Being a Scythe is not a job for everyone, and like any job, it requires training. This story follows the selection, induction, and training of two apprentice Scythes, whose lives have been irrevocably changed after a chance encounter.

A real page-turner, don't be surprised if you manage to get through this in a weekend (or a day, if you have plenty of down time on your hands).  It's full of mind-challenging ethical dilemmas, sure to get your thoughts churning.  Rated a pretty healthy 4.33 stars on Goodreads, why not give it a go?

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