The Old Ones: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Old Ones: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Old Ones is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Curtis, Betsy (1917–2002).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Old Ones" by Betsy Curtis is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The narrative revolves around the elderly subjects of Block Nineteen in a hospital that studies aging, who are facing existential crises as they grapple with their prolonged lifespans and feelings of uselessness. Key characters include Dr. Jules Farrar, who oversees their care, and Tim Daneshaw, a professor who reflects on their deteriorating mental states amidst rising incidents of suicide among the residents. At the start of the story, the tension mounts when two residents are discovered dead, leading Dr. Farrar and his staff to confront the underlying issues affecting the elderly community. The opening unfolds as Dr. Warner bursts into Farrar’s office with distressing news, propelling the narrative into discussions about the future of the inhabitants. Themes of mortality, usefulness, and societal neglect emerge as the staff respond to these tragedies, grappling with both external pressures and the emotional well-being of the aging individuals. As dissent grows, ideas about seeking a new life, possibly on a colony in Venus, begin to take form, suggesting a potential escape from their stifling environment.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Old Ones
- Author credits: Curtis, Betsy (1917–2002)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Longevity -- Fiction
- Older people -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Space flight -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


