The K-Factor

Harry Harrison's The K-Factor presents a fascinating exploration of humanity's future across the stars, where scientific advancement has paradoxically created peace through an unexpected mechanism. Centuries have passed without war among hundreds colonized planets, yet the fundamental nature of human ambition, honor, and conflict remains unchanged. When a planet mysteriously vanishes despite precise calculations and advanced sociological science, a young researcher named Neel confronts a troubling reality: the equations that supposedly govern human behavior and prevent catastrophe may be far less reliable than anyone believed. This thought-provoking science fiction novel examines the tension between technological progress and human nature. Harrison challenges readers to consider whether peace imposed by scientific methodology represents genuine advancement or merely a fragile illusion—and what happens when that illusion cracks. Through Neel's growing realization that Societics, despite its claims to exactitude, cannot account for the unpredictable variables of human choice, the narrative raises profound questions about control, freedom, and the limits of prediction in complex systems. The K-Factor is ideal for readers who enjoy speculative fiction that grapples with sociological and philosophical themes. If you're drawn to stories where humanity's relationship with science becomes the central conflict, or if you appreciate Harrison's sharp storytelling and cerebral approach to classic science fiction concepts, this audiobook delivers compelling intellectual engagement wrapped in an engaging narrative framework.