The First Immortal [Mass Market Paperback]

In 1988, Benjamin Smith suffers a massive heart attack. But he will not die. A pioneering advocate of the infant science of cryonics, he has arranged to have his body frozen until the day when humanity will possess the knowledge, the technology, and the courage to revive him.

Yet when Ben resumes life after a frozen interval of eighty-three years, the world is altered beyond recognition. Thanks to cutting-edge science, eternal youth is universally available and the perfection of cloning gives humanity the godlike power to re-create living beings from a single cell. As Ben and his family are resurrected in the mid-twenty-first century, they experience a complex reunion that reaches through generations--and discover that the deepest ethical dilemmas of humankind remain their greatest challenge. . . .

Critics Praise The First Immortal
"True science fiction projects logical extensions of what mankind already knows scientifically. A shining example is The First Immortal ...Layman readers can follow the scientific terminology and complex story lines without the hocus-pocus that often beclouds science fiction." --Vernon Scott, United Press International

"An entertaining read... intriguing... Keeps the reader riveted... Halperin’s characters are multidimensional, and he excellently sets up their emotional conflict and psychological motivations... A real page turner, and a most recommended read." --The California Aggie

"The first novel to capture in realistic fashion the inexorable march of spirit and technology that will almost certainly transform us in the twenty-first century from mortals to immortals." --Saul Kent, Life Extension magazine

"Halperin’s future is so detailed and plausible that you find yourself expecting to wake to it the next day." --Ernest Lilly, SF Revu

"Halperin zeroes in on issues that could make a big difference in how we and our children live in the next century. His novels combine the immediacy of realistic fiction with the verve and boldness of science fiction. Here is a writer for any reader who likes to explore big ideas." --David Brin

"The First Immortal is a thoroughly engaging story of a plausible future for humanity, firmly anchored in our current knowledge of science. (It) evolves by small and plausible changes into a startling vision of the first 125 years of the next millennium. The author gets all the important points right, and explains them succinctly and painlessly. Like many good novels, this one reflects good research. Halperin has set the stage for discussions of what future we want to build, and how to go about it." --Dr. James Lewis and Lew Phelps, Foresight Institute review

I Need Your Help!
In the first hardcover edition, I offered a bounty to each reader who was first to point out any scientific or factual inaccuracy that I subsequently corrected. The bounty, a scarce Ivy Press first edition of The Truth Machine, my first novel, was enough to attract hundreds of submissions. Fortunately for me, most were duplicates, but I did wind up awarding over two dozen books. Second-time readers will recognize changes in the text, and even a few new plot twists, some made to accommodate the science, others to improve the story. Of course the science itself is advancing daily, and if demand warrants, I'll gladly revise the story again. So I repeat my offer. If you notice any factual inaccuracies in the paperback, I hope you'll e-mail me, and possibly win a book. My goal for The First Immortal is to make it the most severely scrutinized -- and therefore, scientifically accurate -- novel ever written on our potential for biological immortality. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.