The Peter Pan Syndrome

Thinking about the recent discoveries about genetics, I wondered what it might be like if governments decided to control how long we should live. The aspect I chose is about increasing our lifespan (but I know there is another side to this which is rather more sinister!) My story is set in the future, where Gene Control apparently sets the ground rules in every country and civilisation in most areas is confined to huge domes with artificial weather systems. Health both physical and mental is dealt with by the Government of each civilisation if necessary by altering peoples genes. Should anything go wrong with genetic interference, it is not unusual for people to disappear. There are rebels, who hate being controlled. Some have escaped to Outside, where plants grow uncontrolled and which is thought to be lawless, backward and uncivilised. However, a majority of residents love the controlled weather system, which never interferes with pleasurable activities (it rains only at night!); has a moon, sun and stars which appear to revolve around the system, a crop-growing facility and farming including horses, cows, poultry, orchards etc. People can live as long as they like for hundreds of years if desired and children can stay as children for as long as they (and their parents) wish. There are robots for servants; there is an education system and hospitals etc., etc. everything you could wish for! However, not everyone is happy with the situation the children in particular. The story is about one family in particular, Katie and Ian Stone, their children, Michael and Sarah and their experiences in (and out of) Gene Control.