Eternity Falls by Kirk Outerbridge Published by: Marcher Lord Press (2009) 370 pages Rating: 8/10 Buy it Now:

While everyone else is writing about vampires, Kirk Outerbridge decided to write about cyborgs. Strangely enough, however, the two share one important theme: immortality. In fact, the whole subject of Eternity Falls is centered around man's quest for immortality.

The setting is 2081, and everyone is excited about the MIracle Treatment. It's a pharmaceutical solution to aging. At present, only the uber-rich can afford it, but it really seems to work... until Greta Darling, famous actress and high-profile customer of the Miracle Treatment, dies of natural causes.

Private investigator Rick Macey is summoned to check things out. The case seems open-and-shut at first - she's dead, and everyone agrees it was completely natural. But that wasn't supposed to happen. The Miracle Treatment has been tested and re-tested, and it works. So how did Greta die?

Rick's only clue is an inscription in an old Bible. A scribbled name is enough to make Rick take the case, for his own personal reasons. And Rick is a fascinating character. In a world of casual immorality, he seems almost prehistoric in his ethics. In a world where everyone is obsessed with extending their lifespan, he thinks it's overrated and unnatural. What exactly is the deal with this guy?

That's part of the mystery that keeps the pages turning. Not only is the primary case curious, Rick himself is an enigma. And then, halfway through, the entire game changes. In fact, it wouldn't be much of an exaggeration to say that the entire point of the story shifts dramatically.

It's all handled remarkably well. Sheila, Rick's contact with the company, goes through a character transformation that's perhaps a bit too fast, but other than that, each character is fascinating and realistic within the framework of the world Outerbridge has firmly established.

In the end, things come to a satisfying conclusion, but there's definitely room for a sequel. I certainly wouldn't mind reading one. Recommended.