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Summary: Critics Praise The First Immortal
Review: "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
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Summary: Excellent book of real hope not religious fantasies.
Review: This book both a great read and a real motivator to live a healthy life (we may only be a few decades from immortality who knows). I picked this book up at 10pm and finished it at 5.30am the next morning I loved it. I have one question for the author, James will you be reserving a spot for yourself in cryonic storage?
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Summary: I skipped the last 100 pages...
Review: The idea of cryonics is a fascinating one, but the fiction writing seemed very weak to me. It combines the cartoonish, one-dimensional characters of Heinlein with the hectoring of Ayn Rand. Lazarus Long rides again in the character of Benjamin Franklin Smith. I don't know, when I was 15 I could read this stuff, but not now. The future described as a utopia seemed more like a Big Brother-ish dystopia to me. Anyway, Halperin does include an excellent but brief appendix about cryonics - clear, well organized and to the point.
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Summary: Another Masterpiece.
Review: Again James Halperin writes another story that in most likely hood at becoming a reality. I would also like to congratulate him on his success with "The Truth Machine".
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Summary: a journey into the fundamental building blocks of humanity
Review: I must say that I really was very interested in the way that Halperin was able to examine many of the fundamental truths that we all take for granted. I think that here is an example where Halperin was really able to show his true genius in examining ideas and philosophical positions. I was especially impressed with the view on religion that Halperin puts forward to be examined by his readers. The idea that religion is really just an excuse for people to avoid the thought of death is really very astounding. And I think I like it. END
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Summary: Great epic, truer than most SF to our future technology
Review: Years ago I was a keyholder in the MIT Science Fiction Society, and read tons of SF. Then, I heard Eric Drexler give a talk about nanotechnology, read Engines of Creation, and started studying the field. I was ruined. Very little SF stands up to even a minimal understanding of future technology. That, plus work, cut my SF reading to just a couple books a year. I now rely very strongly on recommendations so I don't waste my few "slots." One of the few exceptional books that does have some grasp on the technological future is Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age, a great SF novel that also gets the future of technology accurate enough that one can criticize it. There is now another equally nano-savvy novel, The First Immortal, by James Halperin. I understand he set out to write this book to force himself to research cryonics, and decide whether or not it is worth signing up. Cryonics makes sense only if we have technology in the future we do not have today. That look forced Halperin to come to grips with nanotechnology, and in The First Immortal we have a technologically literate view of future society. If you want to understand the future, this book is a great glimpse, showing much of what nanotechnology will bring. It is also a great yarn. The main weakness of The First Immortal is that it relies heavily on getting characters to "lecture" each other, and thus the reader. This sets out a lot of material that is important to understand, but the lecturing gets obvious after a while. Also the book starts out slow, but it's worth going through the beginning to get to the middle and end. If you can only read one SF book a year, or if you don't read SF but do care what the world will be like more than a decade or two hence, then this should be your book for 1998. {One caveat: If you read lots of science fiction, then read Halperin's The Truth Machine first. It's not necessary to read Truth before Immortal, but if you're going to read them both anyway, you should rea! d Truth first.}
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Summary: Halperin's at the top of my favorite authors list.
Review: Fabulous book. I tend to read slowly and savor every word, which means a good book might take a week or two of bedtime reading to be finished. I read 3/4 of The Truth Machine in one sitting 8pm-2am, and finished it the next morning, 20 minutes before writing this. I like the world the Truth Machine brings about. I had heard about the internet birth of this book, but didn't pay much attention until Amazon.com recommended The First Immortal, which I devoured a couple of months ago, and which has remained on my mind ever since. So it was Mr. Halperin's second novel which prompted me to read his first. I can't recommend books any more highly than these two companion works.
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Summary: Technology Brings a Utopian Future
Review: I only hope our future is as rosy as The First Immortal describes. In a story lauding anti-smoking, disease eradication, a much much shorter work week, perfect bodies, mind enhancement, honesty, family loyalty and, of course, immortality, The First Immortal is a fun and inspiring read. I can't wait til it's made into the mini-series it's scheduled for. I usually prefer nonfiction to traditional far-out sci-fi. This book is as satisfying as an exciting nonfiction read, because you want it to come true very soon.
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Summary: I couldn't put it down.
Review: "The First Immortal" is well organized, excellently researched, and just a fantastic novel. This is James Halperin's second; the first one, "The Truth Machine" was also outstanding, but "The First Immortal" is even better. It starts out telling you about Benjamin Smith, and his family throughout the years. Ben is a World War II veteran, and accomplished physician, who decides to use Cryonics in hope of being revived after he dies. The book is an inventive story of how a world, and the human race, can change. James Halperin gives a quite hopeful outlook for our future, and I am excited to see his next novel. I warn you now, that you will not be able to put this book down once you pick it up! Be prepared to get SUCKED IN! -- Jason "The J-Dog" Hardy
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Summary: Excellent Intro to the Idea of Cryonics
Review: There are plenty of reviews already posted on this work but as a medical professional who has followed the cryonics field for a decade I wanted to comment and told Mr. Halperin I would. I find many of these ideas stimulating and my hope is that this sort of popularization of the topic will bring more people to a serious consideration of cryonic suspension for themselves and their families. Mr. Halperin's world view seems to be derived from Carl Sagan's "Demon Haunted World" which is an excellent source of ideas. I take the potentialities of cryonics seriously and I hope this novel helps legitimize this concept in a superstition laden society. I want to thank Mr. Halperin for a well thought-out and optimistic view of the future. One of the excellent reviews above refered to our present as "dystopic" but our present dystopia would be a utopia to those living in the 1500's. I can only hope that a future full of progress, similar to the optimistic view of Mr. Halperin, awaits us!
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