Misspent Youth (2002) 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. Because of this act, he is chosen as the candidate for the first use of rejuvenation technology which leaves him with the body of a young man. Hamilton forms a picture of a famous man with a troubled family, living in a troubled Rutland, England – also Hamilton's home county. This is very much a character driven story and focuses on the effects that Jeff's rejuvenation has on his family.
The novel has received mixed reviews, with Hamilton himself best describing why: "I could see why it didn't appeal to a lot of people. It was an unpleasant story about unpleasant people. With hindsight, it was never going to be as popular as my other works."
The story is set around 2040. It envisions that after the invention of the "datasphere", traditional publishing industries finally lost control on their copyright, and the development of new novels, music and movies collapsed. The United Kingdom remains a part of a more closely integrated European Union, with violent separatist movements in many member states.
The novel was first published in the US in August 2006 in a new edition which had been re-edited for the US market.
Read more about Misspent Youth: Plot Summary, References To Other Works, Reception
Famous quotes containing the word youth:
“Oh high is the price of parenthood,
And daughters may cost you double.
You dare not forget, as you thought you could,
That youth is a plague and a trouble.”
—Phyllis McGinley (20th century)