Book Reviews

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In this over-the-top comedy/murder/romance, Sarah, a gorgeous ninety-four- year-old who doesn’t look fifty thanks to rejuvenation procedures, resolves to escape the death sentence of HEAVEN (Homeland Equitable Amendment for a Victimless Economy and Nation) scheduled to take place on her upcoming birthday, August 28, 2073.

Pat Dickinson on amazon.com wrote:
Nan Becklean’s H.E.A.V.E.N. turns such serious stuff as aging and dying into a clever caper that delighted me from start to finish. …A spoof on the human condition…

January 20, 2010
By Jennifer Wilson “JensBookTalk”
This is a work of fiction but it truly makes one sit back and say hmmmmm.

To help the overpopulation problem the government forms H.E.A.V.E.N. (Homeland Equitable Alliance for a Victimless Economy and Nation) and basically what happens is once you apply for H.E.A.V.E.N. you are free to love out the rest of your life in peace and joy with no worries of bills nor health issues whatsoever. Your meals, residence, and healthcare are all provided for you free of charge and all your possessions are passed to your beneficiaries with no taxes or nothing! Sounds like pure HEAVEN right? Ready to sign up? Oh yeaaaa I forgot to mention that well here’s the catch…. once you sign on the dotted line you get all this free and clear BUT you have to agree to have your life terminated at age 95 whether your in good health or not.

This brings us up to speed on our issue at hand now which is where Sarah is about to reach age 95 but she is not ready to be put to rest yet and is bound and determined to find a loophole and get herself out of this mess!

I Loved this story! It’s a bit of everthing rolled up into one. It has romance, mystery, intrigue, and technolgy all for ones reading pleasure.

December 28, 2009
By Ellen P. Lafleche-christian (Vermont, USA)
H.E.A.V.E.N is a lighthearted science fiction read that takes gives you an insight into the future of 2073. In this world, there is over population, a growing aging population and increased government control over people’s lives. The government’s solution is to have people sign up for voluntary euthanasia at age 95. If they sign up for H.E.A.V.E.N. they are guaranteed to live the last ten years of their lives in a virtual paradise. They’re also guaranteed that they’re entire estate will go untaxed to whomever they want it to.

People rely much more heavily on technology than they do now, so much so that handwriting is no longer taught in school. All people are expected to know is to sign their names and fill out some very basic information on a form. Robots are common place. There are even robotic crocodiles!

As Sarah approaches her 95th birthday, she comes to regret her decision to sign up for H.E.A.V.E.N. and begins to plan her escape. Can she manage it with only two weeks until her contract date? I don’t want to spoil the story so I won’t tell you!

I enjoyed reading H.E.A.V.E.N. The characters were interesting and the plot was fun to follow. If you’re looking for a glimpse into our future, H.E.A.V.E.N. will certainly entertain you.

September 19, 2009
By Stacy Carmichael

A comic sci-fi look at the environmental question that no one wants to talk about – overpopulation and what to do about the burgeoning aging population. Becklean imagines a future society that encourages voluntary euthanasia in exchange for ten years of ideal retirement living,-in H.E.A.V.E.N.

Her tale is told with wit and imagination. The cast includes Sarah, a 95-years-young lady who refuses to conform and Ben, the crocodile, a sympathetic talking robot. The dialogue sparkles and the plot is thickened with romance and murder.

This is a funny but thought-provoking novel and a great read.

February 5, 2010
By Steve Moore
This short novel (or long novella?) is an extrapolation to what might result if medical science progresses to the point where people live longer and longer. In 2056 the Forty-first Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is passed creating the Homeland Equitable Alliance for a Victimless Economy and Nation, or H.E.A.V.E.N. This official program is Social Security on steroids, offering a luxurious end to life for those people who agree to an assigned date of death.

It is now 2073 on an idyllic island off the Georgia coast, an island that is part of the government’s official euthanasia program. Sarah’s day of reckoning is coming soon in August. Lionel, an ex-Senator, falls for her and agrees to help her escape from the appointment with the grim reaper. A murder, partially observed by Sarah, is a major distraction. Suspects in the murder have their own romantic interests and also contribute to solving the murder. Ben, the robot shaped like an alligator, tries to understand all this strange human behavior and discovers himself in the process.

Ms. Becklean has produced an amusing tale that has comedic elements ranging from Moliere to Wilde and Shakespeare to Hiassen. As a mongrel looks at you with intelligent but mournful eyes while happily wagging its tail, the mix here is a little too cutesy and leaves me somewhat dissatisfied. From the title to the ending, the work is contrived, yet entertaining.

The author’s premise is an old one in sci-fi going at least as far back as Huxley without having the desperation and futility present in Brave New World and Ape and Essence. But it is first and foremost a tongue-in-cheek critique of the superficiality of society. “…the lyrics of all popular carols, anthems and marches had been changed to fit the no-differences agenda of the nation,” the author writes. “God bless America. Land that I love, for example, was now Goods bless America. Things that I love….” Will this be where our insistence on political correctness ends up?

One of the ironies is that Ben, the robot, has more profound thoughts than most of the humans. About the murdered woman Tessa, he ruminates, “Where did the Tessa part of her go? The motor? He needed to know more or his dissertation [about humans] would be nothing but a list of questions like: What does it mean to be alive? What does it mean to be sick? What does it feel like to die? What’s the point of everything?” Through Sarah, the author answers Ben’s questions, to the extent that they can be answered by the living.

H.E.A.V.E.N. is a sci-fi work so one naturally asks whether the extrapolation of present day science and technology to 2073 is reasonable. The answer is a qualified yes. It is a little hard to imagine that robotics or AI have developed so much in sixty-three years that Ben is worried about the above questions, for example, but Sarah and Lionel’s plane accident, which occurs because a hurricane turns inland, should not happen in 2073. We do a good job of predicting hurricane paths right now. Other than these observations, I would say that Ms. Becklean does quite well, precisely because she doesn’t focus on the science and technology but on the people.

While this novel can be many things to many people, it is not a thrilling page-turner. It is mostly a quiet chuckle about the human condition. Take it for at least that and you will not be disappointed.

Ellen’s review
Read in December, 2009
H.E.A.V.E.N is a lighthearted science fiction read that takes gives you an insight into the future of 2073. In this world, there is over population, a growing aging population and increased government control over people’s lives. The government’s solution is to have people sign up for voluntary euthanasia at age 95. If they sign up for H.E.A.V.E.N. they are guaranteed to live the last ten years of their lives in a virtual paradise. They’re also guaranteed that they’re entire estate will go untaxed to whomever they want it to.People rely much more heavily on technology than they do now, so much so that handwriting is no longer taught in school. All people are expected to know is to sign their names and fill out some very basic information on a form. Robots are common place. There are even robotic crocodiles!

As Sarah approaches her 95th birthday, she comes to regret her decision to sign up for H.E.A.V.E.N. and begins to plan her escape. Can she manage it wi…more H.E.A.V.E.N is a lighthearted science fiction read that takes gives you an insight into the future of 2073. In this world, there is over population, a growing aging population and increased government control over people’s lives. The government’s solution is to have people sign up for voluntary euthanasia at age 95. If they sign up for H.E.A.V.E.N. they are guaranteed to live the last ten years of their lives in a virtual paradise. They’re also guaranteed that they’re entire estate will go untaxed to whomever they want it to.

People rely much more heavily on technology than they do now, so much so that handwriting is no longer taught in school. All people are expected to know is to sign their names and fill out some very basic information on a form. Robots are common place. There are even robotic crocodiles!

As Sarah approaches her 95th birthday, she comes to regret her decision to sign up for H.E.A.V.E.N. and begins to plan her escape. Can she manage it with only two weeks until her contract date? I don’t want to spoil the story so I won’t tell you!

I enjoyed reading H.E.A.V.E.N. The characters were interesting and the plot was fun to follow. If you’re looking for a glimpse into our future, H.E.A.V.E.N. will certainly entertain you.

Book Review
by John H. Manhold
This is an unusual “quasi Sci-Fi” novel covering a period of time from August 11 to August 28, 2073. The action is set on a piece of land called Pine Island off the east coast of the United States that would appear to be just east of the city of Savannah, Georgia. It is an area designated by congress for persons to live in after choosing to enroll in a new program offered by the government. Congress had made the program possible by passage of an amendment to the constitution. This ‘Homeland Equitable Amendment for a Victimless Economy and Nation’ (H.E.A.V.E.N) reads, in part, “applies to all persons attaining the age of eighty-five who elect of their own free will to live until the age of ninety-five and no longer. Such persons shall be cared for by the state until the age of ninety-five, or the next weekday following, if said birthday falls on a holiday or carpe diem. At that time, the state will assist them to depart life without pain, and in a state of ecstasy.” The amendment makes further commitments to maintain the enrollees’ health with replacement of parts, and provision of any other requirements, even those providing bodily rejuvenation, until that time.

A later amendment allows yearly election of a maximum of ten ‘Living Treasures’ on January first of every year. These ‘Treasures’ can go on living indefinitely,

Several plots are set forth that involve a number of both residents and their ‘caretakers’, who are both human and robots. One of these later, a friendly robotic crocodile, seems to have had a human element incorporated in some manner that causes him to ‘upgrade’ and assume human-like characteristics that play an important part in the action. Included among the plots are: A retiree, approaching the day of ‘assisted release’ decides instead to attempt to escape. Another involves the unheard of situation of a murder on the island. Both episodes include many of the characters we have come to know.

There is little doubt that my description of this book by this time seems ‘a little off -the- wall’, and quite frankly, I am not surprised. However, to provide a good description of this book would require far more space than I have available, and would spoil the story for the reader. Let me postulate, however, that this tongue-in-cheek idea, in all probability, has been generated from the horrendous treatment of the recent Health Care debates by the media, and is a most interesting extension of ideas hinted at in this coverage.

So, to summarize my impression of this book, I believe Nan Becklean has set forth a most interesting look at a possible future .scenario that our enlightened congress probably will wish to ponder.

This was a really cute science fiction story that is a real quick read. I was happy to win a copy thru LT. It focuses upon a government program H.E.A.V.E.N (The Homeland Equitable Alliance for a Victimless Economy and Nation). The book takes place in the future and follows Sarah who was due to go thru her age of 95 where her life will end. This program is a way of helping to control the population and ones who sign up thru H.E.A.V.E.N can live out the rest of their lives in peace and not have to worry about money issues or health issues. The only stipulation being the purchaser will die at age 95. As Sarah is approaching her end of days, she is having doubts about her impending demise. There are several characters in the novel and the book centers around their lives as well. I wanted more to read out of this book, kind of like a good movie and when you are finished you are bummed out that it is finished. I like the fact that this is the first novel for the author and it has a little bit of everything in it.

By lg4154
April 15, 2010
When I started reading this book, I was worried about it taking place in the future. I figured it would be very unbelievable and over the top. I was very wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed reading H.E.A.V.E.N. Although there were several technologies in the book that don’t exist,(yet,) none of them were out of the realm of reality. I found the character’s to be very relate-able, and the plot to be a very unique and exciting concept. I thought the book was well written and easy to follow. I was completely absorbed in the story. The one and only problem I have with H.E.A.V.E.N. is that it was only 181 pages, so I finished it quickly. I will definitely be reading Nan Becklean’s next book. ( )

By readercat419
Apr 5, 2010
Fun, quirky little book. It reminds me of one of those screwball comedies Cary Grant used to make. There is an ingenue who will love whoever is in love with her, an older, womanizing politician who just needs the right woman to set him straight and an older lady with a mission and a plan. The Story takes place in H.E.A.V.E.N. which is a place where 75 year olds can go and live in luxury for 10 years in exchange for agreeing to be euthanized at 85. The surveillance system used to keep track of everyone uses robotic crocodiles that walk around telling everyone the time and temperature and perhaps walking their dog.

The book brings up concerns about folks outliving their savings, euthanasia, and the normal man/woman interactions. There are lots of interesting characters and intersecting lives. A good read.

By Phyllis Gronewold “division99″
(Louisville, MS United States)
H.E.AV.E.N is a short book but certainly an amusing one. You’ll really enjoy the hours you spend in 2073 with Sarah, Lionel, Zack, Melody, Huxley and Ben. In 2073, Sarah is 95; ten years earlier, her husband, Jeff, talked her into joining H.E.A.V.E.N. Once you apply for H.E.A.V.E.N., you are free to live the rest of your life in luxury with no worries of bills or illness and you can give all your possessions to anyone you wish without them having to pay taxes. Your residence, meals, and healthcare (even extensive remodeling of your body) are all free. However, when you sign to join H.E.A.V.E.N., you are also agreeing to have your life terminated at age 95.

Sarah has turned 95 and does not want to be put to rest yet; she’s determined to sneak away from H.E.A.V.E.N. and live the rest of her natural life in hiding. Lionel, an older, handsome man, Zack, a young pilot who thinks he’s in love with Melody who prepares the dead bodies for transport but wants to write songs and sing, and Ben, a talking robot crocodile who is writing a dissertation on the human species, all become involved with her escape. (I want a Ben!)

The quirky book involves love, murder and fun. It’s thought provoking and filled with futuristic technology and the scenarios could definitely happen.

Nan Becklean has a very entertaining novel with H.E.A.V.E.N.