The Fixed Period

The Fixed Period is a satirical dystopian novel by Anthony Trollope, published in 1882. Set in the fictional colony of Britannula in the 1980s, it explores a radical system that mandates euthanasia for the elderly to relieve societal burdens. The story follows John Neverbend, a proponent of this system, and Gabriel Crasweller, the first scheduled for this fate, raising profound moral questions about aging and dignity. This work is notable for its Swiftian irony and departure from Trollope's typical themes, making it one of his most chilling narratives.