The Fifth Profession
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | David Morrell |
The Fifth Profession is a 1990 novel authored by Canadian-American writer David Morrell. The story centers on Savage and Akira, elite executive protectors described as "not simply bodyguards but advanced defenders," a vocation termed the "fifth profession."
Plot
Joyce Stone sends Savage to retrieve her sister Rachel, who is under Akira's protection. Their encounter reactivates fabricated memories from a previous operation in which each believed the other had perished. Working together, they expose a network of implanted false memories and ultimately take Rachel with them, accomplishing both objectives: Savage's mission to recover Rachel and Akira's duty to shield her.
Savage identifies this experience as jamais vu, a condition where familiar circumstances appear unrecognized, contrasting with déjà vu. The narrative discloses that both men were subjected to brain surgeries that involved electrode-induced scarring in the temporal lobe or amygdala hippocampal region, along with hypnosis and reenactments designed to erase authentic memories and implant artificial ones.
Title
Morrell describes the novel’s title as symbolizing the progression of human professions: hunters, farmers, prostitutes, politicians—the initial four trades—followed by protectors who defend these accomplishments, constituting the "fifth profession." He references two historical instances that exemplify this legacy: the Japanese legend of the Forty-seven rōnin, devoted retainers who remained loyal even after death, and the Anglo-Saxon poem Battle of Maldon, which portrays steadfast allegiance of a lord’s household guard. This motif of committed guardianship profoundly resonates with both Savage and Akira.