[ctj]

[ QUOTE ]
I think this would make a really good premise for a science fiction novel. In fact, I'd be less than surprised if there weren't one already with this theme.

[/ QUOTE ]

see "To Live Forever" by Jack Vance (1956).

In this novel, everyone who 'participates' is eligible for some amount of life extension. Particpants try to demonstrate achievement in their field in order to gain 'slope' to attain hight levels of life extension (and eventual immortality - granted only to a few - the rest are killed by agents of the Actuarian when their alloted span is up). The protagonist (I won't say 'hero'), once an immortal, was sentenced to death for killing a fellow immortal (even though immortals have clones which can be awakened and implanted with almost-current memories). He fakes his death and obscures his identity until he is ready to begin his ascent to immortality again, but he is soon forced to kill another immortal who recognizes his old identity. Complications ensue.