"Welcome to the year 2185 where aging has been conquered and people can live forever thanks to the miracle of Gerasone! Take a dose every day and never age again. This story showcases Gramps Ford, At 182 the head of the large Ford family who are all crammed into one apartment and subject to the constant badgering and irrational demands of the oldest Ford. He controls what will happen when he dies and so controls them. Every one of the many members of his extended family yearn for the day when he will take 'that Big Trip Up Yonder'. Vonnegut is bitingly funny and scary at the same time in this story so buckle up and have fun!"
"These two stories by Kurt Vonnegut were written almost a decade apart but they are definitely connected. The Big Trip Up Yonder, published in Galaxy Science Fiction January 1954 is a comical yet scary description of what over population was going to do to society after aging was conquered and a simple daily dose of 'anti-gerosone' would keep you forever the same age. Would Gramps EVER take 'That Big Trip Up Yonder', or would his hordes of descendants be stuck with him forever in a tiny apartment!?
2 B R 0 2 B, published in Worlds of If, January 1962 takes this basic situation many years into the future and a solution has been found. The population of the US has dropped from 40 billion to 40 million. Not what everyone would call a pretty solution, but nevertheless a solution to the population problem. I believe this is the type of story it is best to listen to, not describe, so enjoy."
"Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a prolific and genre-bending American novelist known for works blending satire, black comedy, and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat's Cradle, and Breakfast of Champions. 2 B R 0 2 B is a satiric short story that imagines life (and death) in a future world where aging has been "cured" and population control is mandated and administered by the government. (Summary by Wikipedia and Laurie Anne Walden)"
