The Survivor Wants to Die at the End

In the world of the novel, Death-Cast has changed everyone’s attitude toward death and thus toward life. If the date of everyone’s death can be predicted with inescapable certainty, then the existence of free will is in question. The determinism that arises from Death-Cast’s cultural hegemony has severe psychological consequences at both the individual and societal levels. Joaquin sees himself as a benefactor whose creation has eliminated uncertainty from life. He believes that, because of his technology, people can now live fearlessly until they are contacted by a herald to inform them that their End Day has arrived. The technology to predict mortality irrevocably alters how people live, and not everyone regards this as a blessing.

The novel constructs a polarity between those who see Death-Cast in a positive light and those who condemn it as an unnatural abrogation of free will. The latter are called Death Guarders. Since the story unfolds during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the author draws a veiled parallel between Death Guarders and anti-vaxxers in the real world. In both cases, individuals who oppose government mandates intended to protect them are expressing a desire for personal freedom to make their own decisions. In a larger sense, the conflict represents the struggle between determinism and free will.