{"product_id":"2940045539876","title":"Two Weird Tales of the Dystopian Present and Future","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Two Weird Tales of the Dystopian Present and Future\" is a two-story bundle of approximately 6,600 words – two prescient short stories that treat of what is and what may be. Both scenarios will likely come to pass, and neither will be very pleasant. So be warned . . . be prepared . . . and watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Eve's Refusal\"\u003cbr\u003eEve is a dirty, mentally challenged homeless woman who stands on a street corner in her rags and \"prophesies.\" But she knows exactly what she possesses – what most of those who pity her don't have.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEve refuses to take advantage of the social programs and for a good reason. She refuses to submit to the medical procedure and the progress monitoring, preferring instead to keep what she has.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEve has an important lesson to teach Andrew Thurston, Director of the Social Equity and Rehabilitation Department, who is determined to help her.\u003cbr\u003e\"The Thanatos Solution\"\u003cbr\u003eJust a few years down the road, the new health-care plan is firmly entrenched. A new bill, Ethical Assessment of End-of Life Care, has also been enacted into law. And the authorities are ruthlessly implementing it throughout the land – no more medical resources wasted on the defective and dying, equitable distribution of quality medical care, no more lingering half-lives sustained by expensive machinery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut there are, as always, unexpected ramifications, especially for those who wanted it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe woman knows her incontinent, disabled father is scheduled for imminent termination. It makes sense for him. But then she learns that her son is afflicted with a terminal condition. And things change.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael Hearing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072240140528,"sku":"2940045539876","price":1.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940045539876_p0.jpg?v=1763680629","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940045539876","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}