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The K-Factor
from the "Speed never hurt anybody-it's the sudden stop at the end. It's not how much change that signals danger, but how fast it's changing...." WE'RE losing a planet, Neel. I'm afraid that I can't ... understand it." The bald and wrinkled head wobbled a bit on the thin neck, and his eyes were moist. Abravanel was a very old man. Looking at him, Neel realized for the first time just how old and close to death he was. It was a profoundly shocking thought. "Pardon me, sir," Neel broke in, "but is it possible? To lose a planet, I mean. If the readings are done correctly, and the k-factor equations worked to the tenth decimal place, then it's really just a matter of adjustment, making the indicated corrections. After all, Societics is an exact science-" "Exact? Exact! Of course it's not! Have I taught you so little that you dare say that to me?" Anger animated the old man, driving the shadow of death back a step or two. Neel hesitated, feeling his hands quiver ever so slightly, groping for the right words. Societics was his faith, and his teacher, Abravanel, its only prophet. This man before him, carefully preserved by the age-retarding drugs, was unique in the galaxy. A living anachronism, a refugee from the history books. Abravanel had singlehandedly worked out the equations, spelled out his science of Societics. Then he had trained seven generations of students in its fundamentals. Hearing the article of his faith defamed by its creator produced a negative feedback loop in Neel so strong his hands vibrated in tune with it. It took a jarring effort to crack out of the cycle. "The laws that control Societics, as postulated by ... you, are as exact as any others in the unified-field theory universe." "No they're not. And, if any man I taught believes that nonsense, I'm retiring tomorrow and dropping dead the day after. My science-and it is really not logical to call it a science-is based on observation, experimentation, control groups and corrected observations. And though we have made observations in the millions, we are dealing in units in the billions, and the interactions of these units are multiples of that. And let us never forget that our units are people who, when they operate as individuals, do so in a completely different manner. So you cannot truthfully call my theories exact. They fit the facts well enough and produce results in practice, that has been empirically proven. So far. Some day, I am sure, we will run across a culture that doesn't fit my rules. At that time the rules will have to be revised. We may have that situation now on Himmel. There's trouble cooking there." "They have always had a high activity count, sir," Neel put in hopefully.
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First published December 1, 1960
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About the author
Harry Harrison
1,298 books1,045 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 24, 2017
A short but good SF story that discusses controlling populations through semi-scientific means using a field theory & statistics. That's hitting a little too close to comfort if you read about how Big Data is not just mining, but controlling public perception. Scary stuff that's overshadowed by the adventure surrounding the weak link in any such system. "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
October 29, 2014
The K Factor is a science fiction short story by Harry Harrison first published in 1960 and published in the compilation 50 in 50 in 2001, as well as the more recent kindle compilation "The Harry Harrison Megapack: 11 Classics of Science Fiction". This is my first time reading one of Harry Harrison's stories, but it seems to hold up well in spite of some of the references. It is an odd one, but it is a great introduction to his writing.
It is the story about a young man charged with using a field of study referred to as Sociatics to avert a war on another planet. He is assigned a former classmate to whom he has blood as an assistant in order to achieve the task at hand by the father of Sociatics. Unfortunately, he has to contend with a traitor.
Readers/listeners are offered an easy to follow explanation of K-Factor, which indicates the likelihood of war breaking out. This number is rated by way of a positive or negative number, where positive refers to war being likely without intervention. This number is derived using a complex mathematical equation by way of a task-specific computer. The variables come from various media, history of conflict and via content such as rumors.
I am a fan of Phil Chenevert's readings and have been for several years now. He's been a regular over at LibriVox, offering up his assistance by reading predominantly science fiction stories. His voice offers a humour to it that makes even darker stories palatable to listen to. His reading for The K-Factor is no exception, his voice making this story accessible to readers/listeners.
It is the story about a young man charged with using a field of study referred to as Sociatics to avert a war on another planet. He is assigned a former classmate to whom he has blood as an assistant in order to achieve the task at hand by the father of Sociatics. Unfortunately, he has to contend with a traitor.
Readers/listeners are offered an easy to follow explanation of K-Factor, which indicates the likelihood of war breaking out. This number is rated by way of a positive or negative number, where positive refers to war being likely without intervention. This number is derived using a complex mathematical equation by way of a task-specific computer. The variables come from various media, history of conflict and via content such as rumors.
I am a fan of Phil Chenevert's readings and have been for several years now. He's been a regular over at LibriVox, offering up his assistance by reading predominantly science fiction stories. His voice offers a humour to it that makes even darker stories palatable to listen to. His reading for The K-Factor is no exception, his voice making this story accessible to readers/listeners.
March 13, 2014
A K-factor is a war factor, apparently it's a name of an atomic file that can be used in two ways. Just like an atomic bomb. Neel Sidorak, and his team has to ensure Earth's safety.
Earth had settled a number of planets, and governed them.
And the most independent planet outgrew the colony stage, and bend their independent muscles.
Neel has to find the traitor in their midst that can cause a war.
Earth had settled a number of planets, and governed them.
And the most independent planet outgrew the colony stage, and bend their independent muscles.
Neel has to find the traitor in their midst that can cause a war.
May 6, 2011
Social Sciences taken to the nith degree.
Audio Book MP3 downloaded from http://librivox.org/short-science-fic...
I listen to these short stories while walking to work.
Audio Book MP3 downloaded from http://librivox.org/short-science-fic...
I listen to these short stories while walking to work.
January 13, 2019
Brilliant short story. Early precursor to Isaac Asimov's psychohistory.
Available from
https://ia802905.us.archive.org/11/it...
Available from
https://ia802905.us.archive.org/11/it...
January 27, 2025
"One man standing by himself tells us nothing. But as soon as he says something, passes on information in an altered form, or merely expresses an attitude—he becomes a reference point." [ This quote hits HARD]
This is an eerie read/listen in 2025.
An aged scientist (artificially preserved? 40k Emperor Vibes) who defined a theory of societal risk of war/control (the K Factor). When the rumbles of a shift in the balance of the K Factor on a planet emerge, Neel, a student of this mega-intelligence is sent to reassess the risk and it's operator.
The k-factor itself is a question of balance, how actions create reactions and how society escalates to anarchy or descends into a consumerist hell that burns itself and it's planet out. But not everything is as it seems, and Neel will be the one to act this time...
[Listened via audiobook - The Classic Science Fiction Podcast]
This is an eerie read/listen in 2025.
An aged scientist (artificially preserved? 40k Emperor Vibes) who defined a theory of societal risk of war/control (the K Factor). When the rumbles of a shift in the balance of the K Factor on a planet emerge, Neel, a student of this mega-intelligence is sent to reassess the risk and it's operator.
The k-factor itself is a question of balance, how actions create reactions and how society escalates to anarchy or descends into a consumerist hell that burns itself and it's planet out. But not everything is as it seems, and Neel will be the one to act this time...
[Listened via audiobook - The Classic Science Fiction Podcast]
May 27, 2021
Wonderful listening 🔰
Another will written entertaining fantasy Sci-Fi adventure thriller novella with interesting characters. The story line is about relationships on a planet where things are changing. I would recommend this novella to readers of fantasy looking for a quick read . Enjoy the adventure of reading 📚20021 😁
Another will written entertaining fantasy Sci-Fi adventure thriller novella with interesting characters. The story line is about relationships on a planet where things are changing. I would recommend this novella to readers of fantasy looking for a quick read . Enjoy the adventure of reading 📚20021 😁
December 27, 2021
K-Factor. Free at gutenberg. Neel, academic in keeping k-factor positive for peace, is sent with armed Costa by chief to Himmel, where fellow student Hengly is already placed. One sacrifice, one killer, one dead, to adjust neg k.
November 10, 2023
Interesting and well written
Interesting ideas knit into a fascinating story. Fantastic developments growing organically from a seemingly plebian setup. It was very thought-provoking.
Interesting ideas knit into a fascinating story. Fantastic developments growing organically from a seemingly plebian setup. It was very thought-provoking.
December 15, 2023
I feel like it would be more interesting if it wasn't such a short read. It hardly developed any of the world or characters in the story as much as "this thing happened here and now the next thing is happening."
January 15, 2018
Good solid scifi except for the part about computers using tape.
July 23, 2018
I really tried finishing it, but i couldn't. Too much talkin and noting else!
April 9, 2019
Not sure I understood what this was about.... Still don't know what K-Factor is. The story is well written, but not my cup of tea.
June 12, 2025
solid science fiction story.
March 21, 2017
Well, much is missing.
Every third page is missing. Never had this issue before. As a rule, all of my downloads have always been good.
Every third page is missing. Never had this issue before. As a rule, all of my downloads have always been good.
August 29, 2016
A science fiction short novel, about "Sociatics" which referred to a science discipline which related (from its name) to societies (further than earth edges to planets in the wide universe) and how are managed in the future by K-factor which is the balance situation between "war, die by guns" if it goes positively more than 1 by a part of million, or negatively less than 1 by a part of million which indicates the "frustration, die by lack of interaction".
To whom didn't get the idea of K-Factor, Harrison explained his idea perfectly as a nuclear professor on atomic pile "A minute difference of degree can you produce a marked difference of kind ... A single, impossibly tiny, neutron is the difference between an atom bomb and slowly cooling pile of inert uranium isotopes"
The conflicts of story was declared from the beginning, about an uprising in one planet, which it seems firstly to be as unknown disorder that must be corrected, finally get more complicated and turns out as a treason. As two main characters have changed their sides if we take Neel's eyes as a reference.
For me, I think its introduction was limited; has lots of seriousness, roughness and bulk informations. It could be better if he narrate all these things separately.
Moreover, it wasn't confident for me as a reader to accept doubtlessly that the world fate was laying on two normal thoughts.
Also, I believe it is one of writing holy purpose to spread knowledge between normal people, as well as joy is delivered. That what Harrison did by providing an academic science informations about atomic pile at the end of section one, and beginning of section two. And a medical description about getting an electrical shock at the end of section 4. What a beautiful thing he did.
It seems that the main idea of the tale lumped in this statement: "A human society like an atom pile."; that was proved by Neel at the end of the story as he said "We have the stars now but we have carried with us our little personal lusts and emotions." And the fairness beside the parental emotions fill Harrison voice lastly in clear words "Do we have to keep on killing? Isn't there another way?"
To whom didn't get the idea of K-Factor, Harrison explained his idea perfectly as a nuclear professor on atomic pile "A minute difference of degree can you produce a marked difference of kind ... A single, impossibly tiny, neutron is the difference between an atom bomb and slowly cooling pile of inert uranium isotopes"
The conflicts of story was declared from the beginning, about an uprising in one planet, which it seems firstly to be as unknown disorder that must be corrected, finally get more complicated and turns out as a treason. As two main characters have changed their sides if we take Neel's eyes as a reference.
For me, I think its introduction was limited; has lots of seriousness, roughness and bulk informations. It could be better if he narrate all these things separately.
Moreover, it wasn't confident for me as a reader to accept doubtlessly that the world fate was laying on two normal thoughts.
Also, I believe it is one of writing holy purpose to spread knowledge between normal people, as well as joy is delivered. That what Harrison did by providing an academic science informations about atomic pile at the end of section one, and beginning of section two. And a medical description about getting an electrical shock at the end of section 4. What a beautiful thing he did.
It seems that the main idea of the tale lumped in this statement: "A human society like an atom pile."; that was proved by Neel at the end of the story as he said "We have the stars now but we have carried with us our little personal lusts and emotions." And the fairness beside the parental emotions fill Harrison voice lastly in clear words "Do we have to keep on killing? Isn't there another way?"
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews