Watching Trees Grow
Encyclopedia
Watching Trees Grow is a novella by British author Peter F. Hamilton
, published in 2000 (101 pages). It is set in an alternate history universe. It is essentially a detective story
about a murder investigator who attempt to solve an unusual murder that took place early in his career. The detective has all the time in the world to catch the culprit as the group of humanity that he belongs to has a very long lifespan to begin with and later on become essentially immortal as rejuvenation
techniques are invented during the story. As with Misspent Youth
, the novella could be interpreted as an experiment by Hamilton in which he explores the concept of rejuvenation and immortal humans in fiction.
never collapsed
, with the world controlled by various Roman dynasties. Due to the presence of a continuous stable society, scientific and technological advancements have proceeded at a faster pace in this world. For example, the opening segment of the story, set in the early 19th century, features electric cars and widespread use of telephones.
The story also contains a class system handed down from the Roman era, in which upper-class humans, descendants of Roman patricians, are eugenically
advanced and have a much longer-than-normal lifespan. The majority of humanity are known as "Shorts"; they have a normal livespan and lack most of the privileges of the upper class, who attend universities and control the world's wealth, companies, governments and access to high technology. Murder is virtually unknown among the upper class, and so provides the power behind the main story line.
The novella explores this world via a quest for a murderer, undertaken by a member of a Roman noble family. The time-span reaches from the 1830s to a distant future in which starflight and other highly advanced technologies are ubiquitous. As time passes and more advanced forensic techniques become available, the protagonist re-visits old evidence and witnesses to further his investigation.
The novella was first published in a limited signed edition by PS Publishing, later anthologised in Futures, then published in a mass market paperback edition, ISBN 0-575-07305-5.
Peter F. Hamilton
Peter F. Hamilton is a British author. He is best known for writing space opera. As of the publication of his tenth novel in 2004, his works had sold over two million copies worldwide.- Biography :...
, published in 2000 (101 pages). It is set in an alternate history universe. It is essentially a detective story
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
about a murder investigator who attempt to solve an unusual murder that took place early in his career. The detective has all the time in the world to catch the culprit as the group of humanity that he belongs to has a very long lifespan to begin with and later on become essentially immortal as rejuvenation
Rejuvenation (aging)
Rejuvenation is the hypothetical reversal of the aging process.Rejuvenation is distinct from life extension. Life extension strategies often study the causes of aging and try to oppose those causes in order to slow aging...
techniques are invented during the story. As with Misspent Youth
Misspent Youth
Misspent Youth is a science-fiction novel by English author Peter F. Hamilton.Set in the near-future, it describes the story of Jeff Baker; an inventor who revolutionizes the world by creating the ultimate method of information storage and instead of selling it, offers it open source...
, the novella could be interpreted as an experiment by Hamilton in which he explores the concept of rejuvenation and immortal humans in fiction.
Plot and setting
The setting is a world in which the Roman empireRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
never collapsed
Point of divergence
In discussion of counterfactual history, a divergence point , also referred to as a departure point or point of divergence , is a historical event with two possible postulated outcomes...
, with the world controlled by various Roman dynasties. Due to the presence of a continuous stable society, scientific and technological advancements have proceeded at a faster pace in this world. For example, the opening segment of the story, set in the early 19th century, features electric cars and widespread use of telephones.
The story also contains a class system handed down from the Roman era, in which upper-class humans, descendants of Roman patricians, are eugenically
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
advanced and have a much longer-than-normal lifespan. The majority of humanity are known as "Shorts"; they have a normal livespan and lack most of the privileges of the upper class, who attend universities and control the world's wealth, companies, governments and access to high technology. Murder is virtually unknown among the upper class, and so provides the power behind the main story line.
The novella explores this world via a quest for a murderer, undertaken by a member of a Roman noble family. The time-span reaches from the 1830s to a distant future in which starflight and other highly advanced technologies are ubiquitous. As time passes and more advanced forensic techniques become available, the protagonist re-visits old evidence and witnesses to further his investigation.
The novella was first published in a limited signed edition by PS Publishing, later anthologised in Futures, then published in a mass market paperback edition, ISBN 0-575-07305-5.