simivin

I'm reading the book Hyperion for the second time and just finished the priest's story. The image from raenna reminded me of what happened in the story: another priest became a member of the "cruciform," a strange seemingly organic object that melded with the person and granted lasting life. But when you died, you felt the pain, and then were reborn, losing part of what made you human; furthermore, you were limited in traveling distance. The person couldn't stand it, and eventually climbed up a fire-inducing tree, cruicified himself, and lived and died for seven years. "feel the pain, but unable to die" indeed.

What would I choose? When I was younger, I definitely would have chosen eternal life. I'm too curious about so many different things, in our world and just the universe in general, that it would be neat to see different things. That being said, I do have some doubts; it certainly would get old after the first million years, after everyone dies away, and no matter how many adventures you have, you won't have the (cliche) adventure of death. I think I'd still choose eternal life, but that philosophy could easily change in the coming years.