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.
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Famous quotes containing the words watching, trees and/or grow:
“To be shelterless and alone in the open country, hearing the wind moan and watching for day through the whole long weary night; to listen to the falling rain, and crouch for warmth beneath the lee of some old barn or rick, or in the hollow of a tree; are dismal things—but not so dismal as the wandering up and down where shelter is, and beds and sleepers are by thousands; a houseless rejected creature.”
—Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
“the broad cloud-driving moon in the clear sky
Lifts o’er the firs her shining shield,
And in her tranquil light
Sleep falls on forest and field.
See! sleep hath fallen: the trees are asleep:
The night is come. The land is wrapt in sleep.”
—Robert Bridges (1844–1930)
“I work all day, and get half-drunk at night.
Waking at four to soundless dark, I stare.
In time the curtain-edges will grow light.
Till then I see what’s really always there:
Unresting death, a whole day nearer now,
Making all thought impossible but how
And where and when I shall myself die.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)