The ultimate price of peace is the loss of what makes us human.
In a future sculpted by the “unworry” drug, life is a seamless, painless dream. For seventeen years, Larry has lived in a state of synthetic bliss—protected, pampered, and entirely irresponsible. But today, the dream ends.
At seventeen, every child faces the ultimate crossroads: retreat into the permanent, mindless comfort of the “unworry” to become a Permanent, or undergo the grueling withdrawal required to enter the City—a world of grime, chaos, and crushing responsibility.
As Larry navigates the terrifying transition, he finds himself caught between two extremes: the eerie, stagnant stillness of the Playground and the overwhelming, hypertense madness of the City. Faced with the prospect of a life defined by ulcers, fear, and doubt, Larry must confront a haunting question: Is the ability to suffer actually the greatest gift of all?
A profound and poignant short story from the legendary Robert Silverberg, Age of Anxiety is a masterful exploration of identity, growth, and the essential necessity of struggle.