Helpful Score: 2
A classic late-70s science fiction novel about one powerful man's battle to pit his skills against a telepathic police force and get away with murder.
Helpful Score: 2
Ben Reich (that's him on the cover) is the CEO of one of the largest transnationals, in an age of enlightenment, wherein crime has been virtually abolished through the proliferation of people who can read your mind and prevent crimes long before they happen. Except he has murderous intent - and he plans to pull off the first real murder in centuries, by beating the system at its own game.
Its pretty good. Im not convinced that he alone could have gotten away with murder, but I was delighted at how completely psychopathic he was. The book fell prey to one of the worst follies of sci-fi: using cutesy future-lingo that really grates on the ears and (for me) adds nothing to realism. The mechanics of reading minds seemed very thought-through - though I could be wrong. It's worth reading the whole way through to Demolition.
Its pretty good. Im not convinced that he alone could have gotten away with murder, but I was delighted at how completely psychopathic he was. The book fell prey to one of the worst follies of sci-fi: using cutesy future-lingo that really grates on the ears and (for me) adds nothing to realism. The mechanics of reading minds seemed very thought-through - though I could be wrong. It's worth reading the whole way through to Demolition.
Helpful Score: 1
This science fiction classic was the winner of the first Hugo Award. It has an introduction by Harry Harrison.
I don't remember where I read about this book. I only remember it was a "must read". I read the entire book, but it really wasn't for me. It revolved about several levels of telepaths - mind readers - and those that weren't mind readers. It was about those that wanted power, those that didn't want it, and those stuck in the middle of the two groups.
I'm not the most fond of mind reading books. Even if I had been fond of them I had another problem with the book. If you took out everything relating to mind reading there would be very few pages left in the book. I am sure there are other people who like mind reading books better than I do.
I'm going to see if anyone in PaperBackSwap.com is interested in having the book.
I'm not the most fond of mind reading books. Even if I had been fond of them I had another problem with the book. If you took out everything relating to mind reading there would be very few pages left in the book. I am sure there are other people who like mind reading books better than I do.
I'm going to see if anyone in PaperBackSwap.com is interested in having the book.
This novel was originally published in 1951 and was the winner of the original Hugo Award in 1953, with good reason, the tone is very modern. The tale is set in 2301 when crime has been abolished due to Espers or telepaths who prevent crimes before the crime is attempted. The Demolished Man is written with the tone of an old fashioned detective story but the detectives are telepaths. Some of those involved in the crime, the first murder in eighty-seven years, are telepaths as well. Mr. Bester smoothly places these telepaths into the plot that would otherwise be an old time crime novel and the result is a very enjoyable and easy reading experience.
This novel was originally published in 1951 and was the winner of the original Hugo Award in 1953, with good reason, the tone is very modern. The tale is set in 2301 when crime has been abolished due to Espers or telepaths who prevent crimes before the crime is attempted. The Demolished Man is written with the tone of an old fashioned detective story but the detectives are telepaths. Some of those involved in the crime, the first murder in eighty-seven years, are telepaths as well. Mr. Bester smoothly places these telepaths into the plot that would otherwise be an old time crime novel and the result is a very enjoyable and easy reading experience.
