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The First Immortal: A Novel Of The Future Mass Market Paperback – October 31, 1998

by James L. Halperin (Author)

121 customer reviews

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“[James Halperin] plots the book with thoroughness and imagination. . . . Innovative.”—Publishers Weekly

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. . . .

“[A] gripping story.”—United Press International

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“[James Halperin] plots the book with thoroughness and imagination. . . . Innovative.”—Publishers Weekly

“[A] gripping story.”—United Press International

From the Inside Flap

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. . . .

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Product details

Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Del Rey; Reissue edition (October 31, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345421825
ISBN-13: 978-0345421821
Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 9.9 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 121 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #788,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3090 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Hard Science Fiction
- #3119 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Genetic Engineering

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Customer reviews

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Another amazing view of the Future

March 30, 1998

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

After I had finished reading "The Truth Machine", I told everyone I knew to run out and get a copy. My copy of the book was constantly being loaned out to friends, family and co-workers. I was being selfish: I wanted the people in my life to read this wonderful, fascinating book so that I could discuss Mr. Halperin's optimistic and unique vision of tomorrow. When I saw "The First Immortal" on my local bookstore's shelf, I realized my friends and family had more reading to do. Like his first book, The First Immortal is basically a future history lesson in the guise of a novel. Be warned: The characters are far from fully fleshed-out. The Ben Smith and his family are not the most memoriable characters ever committed to the page, but they are servicable as devices through which Mr. Halperin explores his thoughts, ideas, theories and ideologies. Mr. Halperin's future is truly an optimisitic one: think of "Star Trek" with a brain. "The First Immortal", like "The Truth Machine", takes us through the future one step at a time. This is Halperin's best and most useful device. These smaller steps allow the reader to digest the author's ideas at a pace that seems logical and, to a point, inevitable. Many people have stated that Mr. Halperin's books read as if he's looked into the future and is reporting back what he has seen. I believe he has done more: I think he's looked into the best and brightest of all of us, and reported back what we most want: a future with challenges and heroes, advances and set-backs, science without poltical agenda and technology with humanism.

5 people found this helpful6 people found this helpful

Jennifer J. Landsberger

Amazing, thoughtful, hopeful

April 20, 2016

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is one of the best books I have ever read.
The material was great, but the REAL suprise was the *hopeful* outlook for humanities future. It was the first thing I read- that really struck home anyway- that saw the possibilities of what technology could do rather than assuming humanities future was extinction or slavery.
P.s. I actually am following up on the main idea of the book, which is cryonics.

One person found this helpful

If you would like to live again

February 10, 2018

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

I have read this book before and got it to re-read. It is a goods story and a hopeful way to look at the future. I hope this is the way things work out.

One person found this helpful

Why isn't this a movie?

December 8, 2017

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

this is like a cult following book to read - Halperin does a great job of thinking outside of the box - every few years I pick this up and read it again. now I find myself giving it to others a a present. Why isn't this a movie??????

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Wooden, uninteresting Sci Fi

October 26, 1999

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

My dilemma in writing this review is that, in principle, I agree with many of Halperin's scientific views as presented through the characters of the book. Unfortunately I ended up not caring in the slightest whether any of the characters achieved immortality or not. Who cares if someone else is immortal if you don't particularly like him/her? Halperin's ability to create a realistic and caring prose portrait of a human being is lacking as far as I'm concerned.
The tone of the book is polemical - for never a moment is there a doubt that this is a diatribe against religion and superstition. I have a low tolerance for superstition and less for religion, but the constant harangue is tedious - I end up feeling like I'm being lectured.
The book did not entertain or educate me. I found it depressing that such inconsequential and unsympathetic characters should be rewarded with the gift of a longer life.

14 people found this helpful15 people found this helpful

March 28, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I'm an avid reader, love sci-fy. This is one of my favorite books of all time. Border line sci-fy, a lot has come true. Con: a little political. READ THIS BOOK

One person found this helpful2 people found this helpful

Fascinating Topic but Not Well Written

October 23, 2009

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

I bought this book because I am fascinated with the concept of cryonics. The author does a great job of outlining and imagining the possibilities but a poor job of writing a book. This could have been awesome if the author had teamed up with a good solid writer.

So, what did I like?

-very good exploration of likely possibilities
-nice consideration of the technical as well as the human side of the implications
-accurate representation of technology (at least as of 1998!)
-very accurate representation on the mythology (religion) of the day and how it restricts human potential

What did I not like?

-there is WAY TOO MUCH back story; you spend the first 3rd or so of the book before anybody gets frozen! I might care about the main character's WW2 experiences if this was a different sort of story but here it just makes it tedious!
-then you have to wait until the last 3rd of the book before anyone gets thawed
-the author has a very simplistic writing style; dialog is predictable and stilted; reads like a "young adult" novel
-the interactions between the characters are just painful

My bottom line...

-if you are fascinated with cryonics then you should plod through this as it explores the topic nicely
-if you are just looking for a good sci-fi novel skip it

3 people found this helpful4 people found this helpful

The worst must-read I've ever read...

July 28, 1999

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

The First Immortal is rife with two-dimensional characters, bland descriptions, unengaging plots and subplots, and uninspiring dialog. Yet for all that it is a mostly conservative yet fantastic vision of a very possible future, one that most people have not internalized, have not prepared for, but will very likely see. It puts the gray haze of future technology into a clearer picture. As such, I would characterize this book as an important read for almost anyone, despite its myriad faults. My rating reflects the sum of its vision pros and its writing cons.

3 people found this helpful4 people found this helpful

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