Review

"Mr. Ward combines thorough reporting and lucid scientific explanations in a fluent and balanced account of a diverse movement. From the tragicomedies of cryonics' early years, to tales of scam artists and reckless zealots, he is a vivid storyteller" -- The Economist 

"The writing is vivid  ... A great intro to the topic ... Those looking to get started on living forever would do well to begin here." - Publishers Weekly

"The Price of Immortality... evaluates with a journalist's eye our best attempts at life extension, the drama and personalities of the people who surround them, and whether immortality is something humankind should be striving for at all...The tumultuous history of the cryonics movement is fascinating." -- Undark

"An intriguing investigation into a subculture perfectly suited to these end times." -- Sylvia Nasar, author, A Beautiful Mind

"Transhumanism might seem like a fringe movement, but it sheds an unexpected light on hopes, fears, and longings at the very center of our culture. With its engaging mixture of history and firsthand reportage, this fascinating book--informative, melancholy, and darkly funny--is hugely relevant to our current moment, and its insights into the cost of enacting science fiction in real life couldn't have come at a better time."  —Alec Nevala-Lee, author of Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and The Golden Age of Science Fiction

Praise for Peter Ward's The Consequential Frontier...
"Ward's fascinating exploration of the possibilities of privatizing interplanetary activities comes at the perfect moment. . . . This savvy work gives readers valuable insight into the ramifications, good and bad, of allowing business into space."—Publishers Weekly

"Ward's research is impressive, as in the breadth of his detailed resources, and readers fascinated by the exploits of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos will be particularly intrigued by his findings."—Booklist
 
"A lucid, bright and essential work of reporting, analysis and genuine care. Peter Ward has given us a new way to think about private endeavors in space. Superb." —Rivka Galchen, author of Little Labors

"A deeply-reported and endlessly entertaining journey through the cosmic gold rush that will, one way or another, define commerce—and life—on Earth for generations to come."—Atossa Araxia Abrahamian, author of The Cosmopolites: The Coming of the Global Citizen

Review Quote

"The writing is vivid ... A great intro to the topic ... Those looking to get started on living forever would do well to begin here." - Publishers Weekly Praise for Peter Ward's The Consequential Frontier ... "Ward's fascinating exploration of the possibilities of privatizing interplanetary activities comes at the perfect moment. . . . This savvy work gives readers valuable insight into the ramifications, good and bad, of allowing business into space." --Publishers Weekly "Ward's research is impressive, as in the breadth of his detailed resources, and readers fascinated by the exploits of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos will be particularly intrigued by his findings." --Booklist "A lucid, bright and essential work of reporting, analysis and genuine care. Peter Ward has given us a new way to think about private endeavors in space. Superb."-- Rivka Galchen, author of Little Labors " A deeply-reported and endlessly entertaining journey through the cosmic gold rush that will, one way or another, define commerce--and life--on Earth for generations to come. " -- Atossa Araxia Abrahamian, author of The Cosmopolites: The Coming of the Global Citizen

Excerpt from Book

In Ancient Greek mythology, Orpheus was one of the first men to challenge the concept of death. When his wife Eurydice died, he was overcome with grief. Refusing to accept her fate, the hero traveled to the underworld in an attempt to bring her back to life. There, he charmed the guardians of the River Styx, ferryman Charon and the many-headed dog Cerberus, with his musical talents. The depth of his suffering moved Hades, the king of the underworld, who allowed him to take Eurydice back to the land of the living on one condition: As they left the underworld, neither of them could look back. When Orpheus approached the surface, he panicked and wanted to make sure he wasn''t leaving alone. Without thinking, he turned to check that his wife was there, and just like that, she was gone. The tale of Orpheus was among the first to emphasize the dangers of rejecting death, and cautioned the reader about the perils of looking back instead of forward. But neither the legend of Orpheus nor the thousands of stories that followed managed to deter people from seeking a cure for mortality. For centuries, wide-eyed optimists from all over the globe have sought magical potions, traveled to obscure and mythical destinations, and made deals with devils and demons to try to ward off death. None of them succeeded, and yet the attempts keep coming. The potions and elixirs may have new names, but they still appeal to one of humanity''s strongest instincts: survival, no matter the cost. The race to immortality has various definitions. To some, eternal life is a spiritual pursuit, and for others it can refer to leaving a lasting impact through their acts or work. But this book is about the most literal take on immortality--to live forever physically in the world as we know it now. Those who chase such a lofty goal call themselves immortalists. There are enough immortalists in the world to warrant annual events on different continents, and there are several groups, communities, and even religions that bring together people who believe a never-ending life is possible. I first encountered this way of thinking while working on my first book The Consequential Frontier , about the privatization of space. Space enthusiasts, particularly those looking forward to settling on other planets in the solar system and beyond, often see life extension and immortality as a key part of that process. Prolonging life by putting people in stasis would allow humans to travel much farther distances. Sending humans off to live on other planets is also frequently cited as a solution to the potential overpopulation that could arise from ending death. The modern interpretation of immortalism emerged in the postatomic world of the United States, where science fiction merged into reality. (Isaac Asimov said, "The dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945 made science fiction respectable.") After World War II, the planet was gripped by apocalyptic anxiety, but was also inspired by the endless possibilities of science. Against this uncertain backdrop, enthusiasts launched new and technology-driven projects to cheat death. Despite attracting cult followings, these movements made little tangible progress. Most of their hope was poured into cryonics, the practice of freezing the dead so they could be reanimated in the future, a technique that remains unproven today. But at the turn of the millennium, cause for optimism emerged. New thinkers in the field made startling declarations about the prospect of immortality. Hope was placed in the emerging field of biotechnology, where huge breakthroughs were being made. One of the major thinkers in this domain, Dr. Aubrey de Grey, captured the burgeoning enthusiasm with his theory of "escape velocity," which told immortalists they only had to stay alive for a few more decades and they would reach the point

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