The First Immortal

The First Immortal is a 1998 novel written by James L. Halperin. The main character is Benjamin Smith who signs up to be cryopreserved. The First Immortal is Halperin's second novel, after The Truth Machine (1996).

The First Immortal was published originally by Del Rey Books (of Random House) in January 1998. In the author's note, Halperin asks readers to notify him about any scientific or factual inaccuracies they find in the book. Because of the feedback, Halperin made some changes to the text, and added a few new plot twists.

The novel was optioned as a Hallmark Hall of Fame miniseries, but the miniseries was never produced.

About the author
James "Jim" L. Halperin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 31, 1952. He attended Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts in 1966–1970, and formed a rare-coin (numismatic) business, part-time, in 1968 at age 15. He received early acceptance to Harvard College and attended it in 1970–1971. He took a permanent leave of absence after three semesters to pursue a full-time numismatic career.

Halperin moved to Dallas in 1982 to form a 50/50 partnership with Steve Ivy, a former rival. The company, Heritage Rare Coin Galleries, became the world’s largest and most successful numismatic company.

In the course of researching for and writing The First Immortal, Harperin signed up to be cryopreserved.