Search - The Book of Skulls

I got this based solely on the premise: Four college students discover a manuscript in their library archives that tell of a cult in the Southwest desert whose members have discovered the secret of immortality. The manuscript tells them that if they can find the cult, and participate in the cult's initiation ritual as a group of four, they will also gain the secret of immortality. However, to make it to the end of the ritual, two of the four must die.

Great premise, however the execution of this premise is less than stellar. The writing is good, but muddled. And the ending is open ended. While this is considered a classic, I thought it was not as good as the premise promised.

Reissue of early Silverberg - originally out in 1972. If you know the guy's work and like it, you really should read this one; it's excellent and although dated, a fine example of the work of a master.