Is death the only thing guaranteed in our lives?

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Death, the only thing in life that is guaranteed. That’s what people say and that’s what we all think. However, what if it isn’t?

(Location 26 of Kindle version)

The author gets a start to his story with the above statement. He says that 'people say so'. Do actually people say like that? Do you too think like that? What is the actual relevance of this statement to this story?

If we all agree that death is inevitable. Does this set the stage for what we do next in life? Are we carefully trying to avoid death by the things we do? I mean Gary had a near-death experience in at least two of the worldlines. I think the author is making an indication to open our minds to the whole concept. What would I do if I could help someone to live a better and longer life? I think the author is speaking to the fact that each decision we make can impact the quality of our lives and of others.

I think the author goes beyond the experience of death. He wants us to think what if we can get a second chance, how differently we would have acted in certain situations. Death is a scenario which you cannot perform twice. What if even death can be repeated? Or changed? That is a whole new dimension for thinking.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

This statement is not entirely true because death is a possibility but as long as we have life, we are guaranteed of seeing the next day. Death is not a guarantee, it is a one time thing but we have life on a daily basis. It is not relevant to the story.

I like the point your making!! For example, for the majority of the worldlines Garry the main protagonist is alive. Doesn't this then say that living is more likely than death.

As per the probability, yes, life is more likely than death. But of we consider the long play, none of these world lines can last forever, and so the Gary's different lives in each of them as well. So no matter how long it will take, but you cannot defy death though you have a infinite number of world lines.

[Wayne Njoroge]

Personally I don't think death is ultimate in the novel. If you consider Michelle's murder. It happened on one reality. Therefore with the awareness that other realities exist, it is had to conceptualize death. Since Michelle would exist in other realities.

[lavkathleen]

Yes, people do think and say that. I'm actually shocked some of you think otherwise.

They discussed in the book the possibility of immortality, if some of their theories about the multiverse were true. Now that I remember it, I have a suspicion that the author would use this for the sequels since it wasn't actually explored in the first book, it was only discussed in theory.

[lavkathleen]

Well, I do not think people say that, since this is the first time I have read this. To answer your second question, I do agree that death is guaranteed in life but I do not think it is the only thing guaranteed, I think life is also guaranteed for before you die you have to live. I do think it is rather relevant to prove his point,

I'm shocked that this is the first time you've read of this. Some of us think like that. What the statement is trying to point out is that, no matter what plans you make as you go through life, none of them are guaranteed to happen. Except death, because that will surely come for all of us. And, uhm... I don't think you finished that last sentence?

[lavkathleen]

I don’t think people actually say things like that. But is something that is true. I don’t personally think along those lines if we are here and then die, but prefer to think that I am living my life’s journey wherever that may be. I think it is relevant because of the way the characters lives were and it added depth to the overall story.

Some of us actually say that, sorry. It's depressing. As for your answer to the second question, what do you mean by "the way the characters lives were?" Also, I don't think it added depth to the story... at least, not yet. Immortality was discussed in page 51, but it wasn't really explored in reality. This is too huge to overlook, though, I don't think the author just carelessly added it to the story.

[lavkathleen]

I don't think this was relevant to the author's story. But it is a quote that is factual, in that we all die in the end. I don't think like that and I also don't believe people think like that.

Aah, well some of us do. Anyway, the statement was trying to tease us with the idea of immortality. And while it was discussed as a theory/thought experiment in the story, it wasn't explored or shown. I actually forgot about it until OP asked. But I have a suspicion that it might come up again in the next series installments... this is too huge for the author to pass.

[lavkathleen]

Yes, people do say that. How many of them believe that to be a driving principle, I do not know. While it's factually true, I wouldn't say it applies to 'LIFE' as humans. Different things are guaranteed to individuals, and using that statement with a negative approach just dampens everything.
As far as the relevance of this statement to this story is concerned, it is relevant in accidents or premature deaths. So it was relevant to a large extent in this story. However, in the end, life will be extinguished some time or another, whether it is merely due to aging or disease (not trying to be a downer). So life for infinity does not seem real.

I guess everybody forgot about the part where they discussed the possibility of immortality. It wasn't explored in the story, so it wasn't that relevant... yet. Also, you're all discussing real life when we're talking about the science-fiction! Let's talk about what it would look like if the author actually followed through with the theories he laid down in the first book of his series! It's exciting and intriguing!

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Well, I do not think people say that, since this is the first time I have read this. To answer your second question, I do agree that death is guaranteed in life but I do not think it is the only thing guaranteed, I think life is also guaranteed for before you die you have to live. I do think it is rather relevant to prove his point,

Excellent point!! It is only after being alive that one can experience death. In addition, the author explores the possibility of "life and death" occurring together by creating multiple scenarios. However, if we look at the worldlines presented being alive - for each individual - is a more likely outcome because of the different situations that can arise in living. Death is merely a result of having lived.

Death is a result l, yes, but it can occur in various ways. It is same to life as well. In general it is sort of a result. But it can be in various forms. In these world lines life and death seemingly occur at similar times. Seemingly more lives are created with a single death. But that does not challenge the inevitability of death.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Death, the only thing in life that is guaranteed. That’s what people say and that’s what we all think. However, what if it isn’t?

(Location 26 of Kindle version)

The author gets a start to his story with the above statement. He says that 'people say so'. Do actually people say like that? Do you too think like that? What is the actual relevance of this statement to this story?

From the author's point of view. No, death is not the only thing that is guaranteed. In fact, life may be the only guarantee for some based on the multiverse concept. Some people are alive in the given worldlines, for example, Professor Buzzard is alive in all the worldlines.

I am not sure whether professor Buzzard was 'alive' in all world lines. Gary had to experience everything similarly in other world libes as well. So it is some sort of a theory that author has not specifically explained, but it allows the rest of the people to be present in other universes parallel with Gary's multiverse experience. As per the author one should die in one universe to begin a new life in another universe. We see Gary dying, but not the professor.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

That statement was not relevant to the entire story but I agree with it. When you are alive, you have a freewill, you can do anything and control almost every thing about your life, but death you can't. It is guaranteed and no matter how cautious we can get, we can't run away from it.

I see your point. In addition, It is more likely for the most part to keep on living than to die. If we should examine the various worldlines Professor Buzzard is alive in all of them. Is the author suggesting then that living forever based on scientific thinking - accurate knowledge - is a possibility. Is it tangential thinking on the part of Professor Buzzard? Is it a real possibility based on what scientists have discovered?

I am not certain whether immortality is a real possibility. But as per the author and his theory of quantum immortality, yes, it is possible. We have many things to reveal related to quantum physics. So I think it is quite early to check the practicality and applicability of this theory. But it is interesting and convincing as per the story itself.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think that this is an excellent question to think about. I'm on the fritz about this because part of me feels like it is guaranteed but the other part of me wonders if it isn't. The part of me that thinks it isn't is only because I have watched waaaayyyy too many Sci-Fi movies about incubating people for centuries and when they wake up they are perfectly fine. The other part of me that feels like it is guaranteed is because by nature, we as humans all pass at one point. Then the other question that arises is whether we can become reincarnated, which would be a WHOLE other thing.

This author has brought the concept of reincarnation to a whole new level, and it is more convincing with his scientific backing rather than a mere spiritual explanation. Yes, there are many things that we do not know about death. So this author's theory of quantum immortality is worth to give some consideration, and it is hard to totally disregard.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Death being guaranteed is of no relevance to the main plot of the story. But take a look at Michelle's death, it was guaranteed in the blue line, wasn't it? However, on a more multiverse scale, Michelle is still very much alive in the red and black lines simulteaniously with her being dead in the green and blue lines.

Maybe it is of no relevance to the main story. But it is very much relevant to the main theme of the book, the multiverse theory and the concept of multiple deaths and lives. Author takes a great opening to the book with this 'matter of fact statement' and towards the end of the book he disproves it, quite ironically.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I’ve heard that the only thing guaranteed in life are death and taxes.

It’s an important quote to introduce the many worlds theory. Here is the potential to be immortal, or so it seems.

Certainty of taxes cannot be avoided in any number of universes that you will be living

But the certainty of death is being constantly questioned throughout the story with,

1) death being just a subjective experience, not an objective one

2) and a death giving rise to lives in other universes, making the subject immortal.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I have heard many people use this line in their speeches and all. So, to answer your first question, yes, I think people say this.

Now the second question arises that is whether I believe it or not? In the opinion of, I think it's true and I believe that birth and death are guaranteed. Also, Michelle's death was guaranteed in the book.

Seemingly this is a quote that people like to say among the public, but not to actually think about or act accordingly.

Yes, as per the story only a single death was guaranteed. Gary had near death experiences (or maybe his friends have actually seen him die as per his professor), but all of them gave rise to multiple lives in multiple universes. So the guarantee for death was varying as per the person in this story.