The abortion, or perhaps euthanasia, imposed on humanity may well have been a companionate termination of a deformed fetus, a high-flow morphine drip in the arm of a slowly decaying hero, valiant now only in the dutiful passivity with which he watches himself being cared for daily. How much suffering had been prevented?"

This book was written to examine strong and weak people honestly in extraordinary circumstances. The characters should feel authentic, regardless of their surroundings.