What happens when demand for a product exceeds supply? What if demand is so high that the supply can never keep up? These are the questions at the heart of Ernesto Robles' first book "The Malthusian Catastrophe". The population of Earth is growing but will we have enough resources to keep up? According to Thomas Malthus, whose theory the title is borrowed from, we will not. Eventually, possibly centuries later, we will run out of land to grow the food needed to sustain the population. But, what if something happens to speed up the process? What if, because of the demand for a new, miracle product, the "Malthusian Catastrophe" occurs within the next 10 years?

Aseso Nutraceuticles has begun producing a new product, Sinsen, an herbal supplement rumored to inhibit the aging process. Sinsen is already in demand when a scientific study is released stating that it does, in fact, stop aging and prolongs life for an indefinite period of time. When word gets out, everyone in the world wants to take it but only those with money can afford it, the rest remain on a waiting list hoping that, someday, the price will come down and they too will be able to live forever. As farmland is converted to growing the plants needed to make Sinsen and the population continues to multiply while no one is dying of old age, it becomes obvious that a real "Malthusian Catastrophe" could be in the making.

I found this book to be fascinating. It brings real world issues, such as the recession and the ramifications of continued population growth, together, with the fictional finding of the "fountain of youth" to make the reader think, without beating them over the head to make a point. It is an expertly crafted cautionary tale that is not only intriguing, but extremely compelling, with well developed characters that have to explore their own moral code as they venture down a road that could have serious consequences for all mankind.

I had a hard time putting this book down and I truly look forward to reading more fiction by this incredibly talented author.