James Halperin - The First Immortal

Just as simple microchips can now store thousands of pages of text, isn’t it imaginable—even likely—that within the next few centuries we will learn to repair damaged cell structures molecule by molecule, either through nanotechnology or some other scientific discipline from an infinite array of possibilities?

In case the hopeful ice is an option you would consider for yourself and those you love, the following sections offer resources and advice which, of course, you should accept or reject as your own common sense dictates.

The Prospect of Immortality, by Robert C. W. Ettinger. Published by Doubleday in the early 1960s, this is the book that started it all. Although the time frame has not progressed as rapidly as predicted, the concepts are presented with accessibility, humor, and great intelligence. (Note: Hard to find, but generally available from Alcor and the Cryonics Institute, both listed below. Also recommended for adventurous readers, Ettinger’s sequel: Man into Superman.)

Engines of Creation, by Eric Drexler. An amazing book on nanotechnology. Clear, concise, easy to understand, I consider Engines of Creation one of the best books ever written on any field of science. Trade paperback published by Anchor Books, 1987.

The Demon-Haunted World, by Carl Sagan. A very readable and logical treatise on critical thinking and the differences between science and superstition. Trade paperback published by Ballantine, 1997.

Virus of the Mind , by Richard Brodie. An accessible and entertaining book about memetics, the theory that attempts to explain how people become enslaved by advertising, religion, cults, mysticism, and other “memes.” Integral Press, 1996.

Nanomedicine, by Robert A. Freitas, Jr. An impressively detailed scientific analysis of some of the medical possibilities of nanotechnology. The first of three volumes is slated to be published by Landes Bioscience in early 1999. For more information, visit www.nanomedicine.comor www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/index.html

CryoNet: A free electronic forum on cryonics. To subscribe, send an e-mail to: majordomo@cryonet.orgwith the following message in the body (not the subject line) of your e-mail: “subscribe cryonet”

Cryonics, Alcor’s excellent quarterly magazine. Subscriptions, $15 per year U.S., $20 Canada and Mexico, $25 overseas. Subscribers might also wish to receive The Alcor Phoenix, which comes out eight times per year, for an additional $20 U.S., $25 all other countries. Alcor, 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

www.extropy.org, Web site of the Extropy Institute, a nonprofit organization that delves into advanced and future technologies and their uses in overcoming human limits.

sci.cryonics: The cryonics newsgroup on Usenet.

www.alcor.org: Alcor’s Web site, with links to many other cryonics and nanotechnology sites on the World Wide Web.

www.foresight.org: The Web site of the Foresight Institute (P.O. Box 61058, Palo Alto, CA 94306) offers the latest opportunities to learn more about the field of nanotechnology. e-mail: inform@foresight.org

www.firstimmortal.com: Explore The First Immortal Web site and post your comments on the discussion forum. I visit this site myself from time to time and respond to many of the messages.

Life Extension Foundation, PO. Box 229120, Hollywood, Florida 33022-9120, telephone 800-544-4440. Publishes Life Extension magazine, offering up-to-date information and exceptionally low prices on high-quality nutritional supplements, vitamins, and other alternative medicines and books. Subscriptions $40 per annum, full membership $75. Web site: www.lef.org

The following six facilities all appear to be operated by reputable, competent, and conscientious individuals. I hasten to add that these organizations are not structured to attract customers but to facilitate freezing for the fully informed. They lose money on every “patient” they sign up, and, like universities, must depend on donations to make up the difference. Furthermore, most principals of such facilities could earn higher incomes in other fields; they’re not in cryonics for the money. They will gladly supply information and answer your questions, but unlike most “sales organizations,” they won’t court your participation. Do not expect hand-holding: You must pursue them, and not the reverse.

Alcor Life Extension Foundation Nonprofit, tax exempt. The largest cryonics facility in the world. Founded 1972. Current rates: $120,000 whole body or $50,000 neurosuspension. May be funded with a life-insurance policy. (See “quickquote” listing below.) 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916 Phone (602) 922-9013 or (800) 367-2228. FAX (602) 992-9027. e-mail: info@alcocorgfor general requests. Web site: http://www.alcor.org

American Cryonics Society P.O. Box 1509, Cupertino, CA 95105. For information on joining, and on services they provide, telephone (415) 254-2001, (800) 523-2001 or e-mail: cryonics@earthlink.net Web site: http://home.earth-link.net/~cryonics

Cyrocare Nonprofit, hires some for-profit companies to perform suspensions and storage. Not tax exempt. Current rates, under most circumstances: $125,000 full body; $58,500 neuro. May be funded with life insurance. For more information, call toll-free 1-800-TOP-CARE (1-800-867-2273). For inquiries via U.S. mail: CyroCare Foundation, Suite 3410 Northeast Hercules Plaza, 1313 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801-1151. e-mail: cryocare@cryocare.orgWeb site: http://www.cryocare.org/cryocare/

Cyronics Institute Nonprofit. Incorporated 1976. Probably your best bet if your finances are limited. Current suspension fee: only $28,000 whole body. May be funded with life insurance. Address: 24355 Sorrentino Court, Clinton Township, MI 48035. Telephone (810) 791-5961, phone/fax (810) 792-7062. e-mail: ettinger@aol.comor cryonics@msn.com

International Cryonics Foundation 1430 North El Dorado St., Stockton, CA 95202. For information, write or telephone (800) 524-4456 or (209) 463-0429.

Trans Time, Inc. (for-profit) Address: 3029 Teagarden St., San Leandro, CA 94577. For more information, telephone (510) 297-5577 or go to http://www.transtime.com

Often it is most frugal to purchase a separate, single-purpose life insurance policy, naming your cryonics organization as beneficial owner. If you are on the Internet, you can obtain competitive quotes from numerous competing companies through Quickquote, at: http://www.quickquote.comFor example: A forty-four-year-old male nonsmoker in good health can purchase a $125,000 term policy for as little as $277.50 per year, although most cryonicists prefer to buy a whole-life policy, which is more expensive upfront, but often more economical over time.

Signing up for cryonics involves a complex and highly proactive process but is not that difficult once the choice is made. Humans are barnacled with traditions; rigged with a genetic propensity to accept and succumb to cultural norms, one of which is that whatever has been inevitable is ever thus. Furthermore, our instinctive fears cause most people to avoid dwelling upon death or any of its aspects, while dealing with a cryonics organization’s paperwork—obtaining all the necessary signatures, obscure information, and documentation—requires just that. Hence the tendency to procrastinate.

Call two or more cryonics organizations and request their information packets. When they arrive, read them. Make this important decision in a careful and timely manner, as detached from emotion as possible, and if you decide in favor of cryonics, grit your teeth and see the process through.