The K-Factor

by Harry Harrison, Phil Chenevert (Narrator)

The human race has reached the stars, colonized many planets and done amazing things in all areas of scientific progress. But humans are still humans and remain both honorable and not so honorable; some with high ideals and others with very low ones indeed. So why hasn't war occurred in several centuries among the hundreds of planets? Has man really changed? Not on your life it hasn't! Read how science has given man peace but at what cost?

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Short Stories, Fiction, Speculative Fiction

1 pages, Audiobook

First published December 1, 1960

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Jim]

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?"

[Dianne Owens]

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.

[Jenna]

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.

[Ralph McEwen]

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.

[Akrabar]

Brilliant short story. Early precursor to Isaac Asimov's psychohistory.

Available from

https://ia802905.us.archive.org/11/it...

[Zen]

This Fun little story is another Great Harry Harrison Classic. For all Its "Let Me Explain..." Stuff going on, it is still Fast Paced and a Quick, Enjoyable Read.

Two UN Societics Agents, Neel Sidorak the Nerd and Adao Costa the Action Hero, are sent to the Planet Himmel to investigate the increasingly unstable conditions on the planet, where a positive "K-Factor" indicates an impending war.

A simple plot but one that works if You like your Sci-Fi with a Simple Mystery to be Solved, and with a lot of Scientific Explaining going on. The story Focusses on Neel Sidorak's Viewpoint, as He Analyzes and Studies all His Societics Data, and tries to solve the Problem of why there is Unrest On Himmel.

Adao Costa and His Action Hero Stuff goes on Off Screen although, just to keep Readers Happy, the story does End with some Action Hero Stuff.

It's Not Something every Reader can get into but, being an Anthropologist and a Historian et al, I found it to be a lot of Fun. And Interesting to boot.

And if You're wondering what Societics is, it's basically the same kind of thing as Isaac Asimov's "Psychohistory". Just on a smaller scale and with a More Specific Purpose in mind.

A Recommended Read.

[Chris]

"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]

[William]

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 😁

[Anne Patkau]

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.

[Dan]

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.

[Killian]

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."

[Adhoc]

Good solid scifi except for the part about computers using tape.

[Hassan Mallah]

I really tried finishing it, but i couldn't. Too much talkin and noting else!

[Kat King]

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.

[Tony Ciak]

solid science fiction story.

[charles hudson]

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.

[حسين ابن أبي صفوان]

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?"