A scientist based in the USSR discovers a method of extending the human lifespan to 150 years and flees the Soviet Union on the last flight out to Venice after discovering they wish to seize his work for themselves.

What follows is a escape and evade tale through the streets and canals of Venice whilst the scientist and helpers attempt to flee the city which has been shut off from Europe by the communists in an attempt to catch the scientist.

Pretty decent tale, plenty of Venetian atmosphere and interesting characters. ( )

A fairly intriguing potboiler by Irving Wallace in which a renowned gerontologist, doing research on a long-lived community in a remote part of the Soviet Union, discovers the secret of prolonged youth and health, effectively doubling a human's life-span and productivity. The KGB becomes aware of his discovery and attempts to keep it (and the gerontologist) for Mother Russia only, but Professor MacDonald flees to Venice, which has recently elected a Communist mayor. The Soviets request that the mayor quarantine Venice while they attempt to find the Professor, who has gone into hiding with the help of Tim Jordan, an American engineer and Alison Edwards, a beautiful young scientist who has worked with Professor MacDonald. The escapes are many and narrow, the sex scenes are turgid, and the prose a bit leaden, but this is an interesting mild thriller that only at the conclusion explores the implications of what protracted youth would mean for the human race. ( )