Silicon Valley’s fixation with pushing the limits of human potential is the driving force behind a gripping new novel that’s already making waves. “The Forever Factor”, co-written by Tom Hogan and Amanda Iles, plunges into the high-stakes world of biohacking, AI-driven research, and the race to conquer mortality, highlighting the perilous intersection of innovation and ethics.
At its core, “The Forever Factor” follows Petra Alexander, a brilliant bioscientist and mathematician whose personal tragedy fuels a groundbreaking discovery. After losing her sister to a rare, rapidly ageing disease, Petra devotes her life to uncovering a cure. What she finds is a previously unknown protein that sits at the heart of the ageing process, potentially offering a way to halt or even reverse time’s grip on the human body.
But scientific discovery rarely comes without resistance. In Petra’s case, that resistance is formidable. Forced into the competitive and often ruthless startup ecosystem of Silicon Valley, she and her team lean on cutting-edge AI simulations to push their work forward. As the implications of her research become clear, however, powerful opponents, ranging from pharmaceutical giants to government forces, emerge to undermine her efforts, fearing what her findings could mean for global systems already under strain.
Co-author Tom Hogan brings a unique perspective to the narrative, drawing from his own personal foray into biohacking. Having received stark warnings from doctors about his health, Hogan began exploring unconventional health strategies himself, experiences that lend authenticity to the motivations and mindset of the book’s characters.
“What begins as a showcase of biohacking breakthroughs quickly spirals into something much darker,” Hogan said. “A secretive group of Silicon Valley legends are experimenting on their own bodies to cheat death. Their motto? Live forever—or die trying.”
That narrative, set against the backdrop of Silicon Valley’s elite, complete with clandestine meetings, boardroom showdowns, and ethically fraught decision-making, offers more than just drama. It raises critical questions about mortality, science, and the cost of pushing boundaries without limits.
Tom Hogan is no stranger to complex storytelling. A former executive at Oracle, he has penned three novels: “The Empty Confessional”, “The Devil’s Breath”, and “Left for Alive”. He is also the co-author of “The Ultimate Startup Guide”. His journalism has appeared in Newsweek, The Jerusalem Post, and The Bulwark, alongside an award-winning screenwriting career.
Amanda Iles, his collaborator on this project, brings a strong scientific foundation to the novel. With a background in developmental neurobiology and science communication, she has ghostwritten for major Silicon Valley figures, including the late Steve Jobs. Her experience helps ground the book in scientific credibility while maintaining its fast-paced, dramatic momentum.
“The Forever Factor” is already gaining attention as a thought-provoking addition to the world of contemporary speculative thrillers. While the book clearly resonates with fans of authors like Michael Crichton and Blake Crouch, its core ideas feel especially timely, inviting readers to examine not just what science can do, but what it should do.
As Silicon Valley continues to chase the dream of immortality, “The Forever Factor” holds up a fictional yet thought-provoking mirror to that ambition, exploring the price of progress and the humanity that might be lost along the way.
“The Forever Factor”, by Tom Hogan and Amada Iles, is available in e-book and paperback and is published by Laughing Dog Publishing.