The Trick is to Die First

An English fantasy novel. (YA, apocalyptic, semi-realistic.)

We’re in a world that tried to save itself with desperate measures. Things like internet and smartphones have been forbidden, banned, removed from everyone who couldn’t afford to go to Safe Haven (or something like that; should resemble the word heaven)

Joke/Worldbuilding: Safe Haven is literally built like a giant safe, keeping its contents safely inside.

There’s a strong distinction between lower class and upper class, but not in wealth. The upper class simply have more comfort, more technological advancement, more indulgence in the forbidden fruits. They provide the money, space and materials for the lower class … but restrict everything else.

Why? The only way to get into Safe Haven is by proving your worth. You must be able to show your advanced scientific knowledge and skill, perhaps invent a life-saving thing or two, because the world really needs that. (This is a world post-climate change, post-wars, everything is broken and in a state of near-death.)

The conflict? Obviously, there will be people stealing other’s ideas. Trying to fool the masters. People who don’t want this life, who are more artsy, or just want a sweet family life. (But for some reason or another, they must belong to the Haven.)

Also, this “trial” to get into Safe Haven is quite rough and an adventure in and of itself.

Also an interesting idea: it’s called Safe Haven, because they are trying to create a place which will be 100%, eternally, completely safe. They want to actually completely solve all problems, make sure everyone can literally live happily ever after.

Of course, there will be people going crazy about this (why do the problems never end??), and in the end everyone must realize that it will never be completely safe and that is what matters.

Another interesting idea: the Everhungry. A group of people—or fantasy beasts—that are simply never satiated. They continue working and eating, until they fall down from exhaustion and must sleep and rest and heal. It’s not a matter of stupidity, or an external force enslaving them, it’s just who they are.

This is a metaphor for the people, the artist, always working on something new. Trying to fix new problems. Never being satisfied, or content, or fully safe.

Another interesting idea: the past few years, they’ve barely admitted anyone into Safe Haven. Rumors have appeared that they don’t “need us anymore”. They are completely safe, everything works, everyone is happy, they’ve stopped the whole system.

Of course, there are still demonstrations and challenges, but these are “for show” (as per the rumors). In reality, the problem they’re facing is just too big? Or is this one of those never-ending questions?

Another interesting idea: the title also refers to the idea of “your loved ones dying/being in danger”. One person can never live with the fact that their children might die at any given moment, or that their partner might die before them. How to solve? “The trick is to die first”

Another interesting idea: in a “perfect” society, with no problems, nothing that can go wrong, etc. ... how do you deal with criminality? You don’t? Prisons are extremely nice, or extremely barbaric? You just ignore it and pretend it doesn’t exist? (In that case, it’s interesting to find a reason why they would execute that poet at the start.)

Nice sentence: “Someday, you’ll make some very powerful people very mad. And I couldn’t be more proud.”

Opening Lines

Nobody wants to do it, yet everyone does. They throw it away in disgust, turn aside, empty the trash, only to find themselves crying out in their sleep, waking in sweat-covered covers, reaching for that which they cannot have. They should not have.

Nobody wants to be enslaved, yet everyone allows it. Their brains hysterically jumping up and down, sucking the sweet dopamine from the air, nevertheless desperately keeping and guarding the responsibility of explaining their behavior. Confirming their behavior.

Nobody wants it to end, yet everyone needs it to.

Here’s a Continuation

“Seriously? That’s the reason? A stupid poem?” When the news of Jerno’s execution reached her, she had trouble functioning for days. She imagined a secret resistance, a war waged by Jerno for years leading up to a spectacular death. Maybe even a smuggling route by his invention, so effective and useful that it just couldn’t stay hidden.

Hearing the true reason for his demise could only make her question if this wasn’t all just a silly dream.

“They barely need a reason. But why?” His whispers transformed into a loud roar, but only for the brief second it took him to contain his confusion. “He had everything! A perfect life, free from care. Food, pleasure, supplies – all those things he fought for. He had it. And he threw it away. Why did he keep writing?”

(What’s this about? The poem above is actually the last message from Jerno, which immediately led to his swift arrest and execution. They intercepted it by … somewhat illegal means a few days later.

Jerno actually tried to give people the codes into safe haven, by means of secret messages in his poems and messages. But it takes a while before the reader discovers it.)

**An English fantasy novel.** (YA, apocalyptic, semi-realistic.) We're in a world that tried to save itself with desperate measures. Things like internet and smartphones have been forbidden, banned, removed from everyone who couldn't afford to go to *Safe Haven* (or something like that; should resemble the word *heaven*) > Joke/Worldbuilding: *Safe Haven* is literally built like a giant safe, keeping its contents safely inside. There's a strong distinction between lower class and upper class, but not in wealth. The upper class simply have more comfort, more technological advancement, more indulgence in the forbidden fruits. They provide the money, space and materials for the lower class ... but restrict everything else. **Why?** The only way to get into *Safe Haven* is by *proving your worth*. You must be able to show your advanced scientific knowledge and skill, perhaps invent a life-saving thing or two, because the *world really needs that*. (This is a world post-climate change, post-wars, everything is broken and in a state of near-death.) **The conflict?** Obviously, there will be people *stealing* other's ideas. Trying to fool the masters. People who don't *want* this life, who are more artsy, or just want a sweet family life. (But for some reason or another, they *must* belong to the Haven.) > Also, this "trial" to get into Safe Haven is quite rough and an adventure in and of itself. **Also an interesting idea:** it's called *Safe Haven*, because they are trying to create a place which will be 100%, eternally, completely safe. They want to actually completely *solve* all problems, make sure everyone can literally *live happily ever after*. > Of course, there will be people going crazy about this (why do the problems never end??), and in the end everyone must realize that it will never be completely safe and *that* is what matters. **Another interesting idea:** the *Everhungry*. A group of people---or fantasy beasts---that are simply never satiated. They continue working and eating, until they fall down from exhaustion and *must* sleep and rest and heal. It's not a matter of stupidity, or an external force enslaving them, it's just *who they are*. > This is a metaphor for the people, the artist, always working on something new. Trying to fix new problems. Never being satisfied, or content, or fully safe. **Another interesting idea:** the past few years, they've barely admitted anyone into Safe Haven. Rumors have appeared that they don't "need us anymore". They are completely safe, everything works, everyone is happy, they've stopped the whole system. > Of course, there are still demonstrations and challenges, but these are "for show" (as per the rumors). In reality, the problem they're facing is just too big? Or is this one of those never-ending questions? **Another interesting idea:** the title also refers to the idea of "your loved ones dying/being in danger". One person can never live with the fact that their children might die at any given moment, or that their partner might die before them. How to solve? "The trick is to die first" **Another interesting idea:** in a "perfect" society, with no problems, nothing that can go wrong, etc. \... how do you deal with *criminality?* You don't? Prisons are extremely nice, or extremely barbaric? You just ignore it and pretend it doesn't exist? (In that case, it's interesting to find a reason why they would *execute* that poet at the start.) **Nice sentence:** "Someday, you'll make some very powerful people very mad. And I couldn't be more proud." ## Opening Lines Nobody wants to do it, yet everyone does. They throw it away in disgust, turn aside, empty the trash, only to find themselves crying out in their sleep, waking in sweat-covered covers, reaching for that which they cannot have. They should not have. Nobody wants to be enslaved, yet everyone allows it. Their brains hysterically jumping up and down, sucking the sweet dopamine from the air, nevertheless desperately keeping and guarding the responsibility of explaining their behavior. Confirming their behavior. Nobody wants it to end, yet everyone needs it to. ## Here's a Continuation "*Seriously?* That's the reason? A stupid poem?" When the news of Jerno's execution reached her, she had trouble functioning for days. She imagined a secret resistance, a war waged by Jerno for years leading up to a spectacular death. Maybe even a smuggling route by his invention, so effective and useful that it just couldn't stay hidden. Hearing the true reason for his demise could only make her question if this wasn't all just a silly dream. "They barely need a reason. But *why?*" His whispers transformed into a loud roar, but only for the brief second it took him to contain his confusion. "He had everything! A perfect life, free from care. Food, pleasure, supplies -- all those things he fought for. He had it. And he threw it away. *Why did he keep writing?*" (**What's this about?** The poem above is actually the last message from Jerno, which immediately led to his swift arrest and execution. They intercepted it by ... somewhat illegal means a few days later. Jerno actually tried to give people the *codes* into safe haven, by means of secret messages in his poems and messages. But it takes a while before the reader discovers it.)