Faultless classic, telepathy as a concrete force in society.
Written: Jun 11 '01 (Updated Nov 24 '04)
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Pros: excellent thoughtful treatment of a world where telepathy is a concrete reality
Cons: I can't fault it. Excellent.
The Bottom Line: A splendid "what if?" book, vividly illustrating the integration of telepathy into society, and its consequences on all levels. Fans of murder-mysteries will love it too.
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| snpmurray's Full Review: Alfred Bester - The Demolished Man Books |
Winner of the first Hugo award. Besters' classic, The Demolished man, demonstrates a world where widespread telepathy has abolished murder in society, and demonstrates how this can be achieved through the story of a man determined to commit the perfect crime.
Set three centuries into our future, Bester sets out the tale of Ben Reich, powerful industrialist, and troubled soul.
Haunted by nightmare visions, the central character Reich, despite his influence and wealth, cannot decipher the terrifying imagery of his dreamlife. Armed with the best telepaths money can buy, Reich sets out to appease his spirit by removing from his horizon the only man he believes could trouble him, his business rival, a man named D'Courtney.
The book chronicles Reichs' efforts to eliminate his rival, not easy in a world where the police force is capped out by the finest telepaths humanity can find. Alfred Bester illustrates that subterfuge, manipulation, and a killer instinct can achieve many things, but providing peace of mind is never one of them. This book magnificently blends a vivid believable picture of a telepathic humanity, and the struggle of one man to understand himself, the inner pains of a tortured mind.
In this work humanity is found in the process of integrating telepathy into society. Concrete, potent telepaths of differing levels of penetrative ability work in all stratas of society. Bester cleverly illustrates how we may find such individuals employed in such a world. From the most basic mind reader, on a superficial level who is the perfect bank security guard, through to seemingly omnipotent empaths, capable of deeply penetrating the subconscious, employed at the pinnacle of society as physicians, police chiefs and high class shrinks. It is the deft manner in which Bester has crafted this society which makes this work stand out.
Against this backdrop we follow the psychodrama. Essentially a murder-mystery, the cat-and-mouse nature of the story makes for compulsive and exciting reading. Bester also provides a poetic insight into Reichs troubled consciousness. It is delightfully unclear how this book will conclude until one arrives at the end, which is poignant and satisfying.
There are scenes of physical violence, and sexual reference, but as is usual for Bester, these are discreet, and more implied, or referred to, than graphically illustrated. This is a safe read for any audience mature enough to find they might enjoy it.
I find I have no negatives at all with regard to this book. I enjoyed it immensely, and I'm going to read it again soon. The new Random House edition contains a warm and touching tribute to Bester in the form of Harry Harrisons' introduction.
Some of my other science fiction book reviews:
Rama Revealed
Prelude to Space
Stand on Zanzibar
The Demolished Man
The Stars my Destination
Cat's Cradle
The Gods Themselves
Watchmen
A Canticle for Leibowitz
The Hammer of God
The Left Hand of Darkness
Flowers for Algernon
Lord of Light
Rendevous with Rama
The Tombs of Atuan
The Dispossessed
I am Legend
The Einstein Intersection
Earth Abides
Peace on Earth
The Farthest Shore
Methuselah's Children
A Call to Arms
To your Scattered Bodies Go
The Lion of Comarre / Against the Fall of Night
To Say Nothing of the Dog
The Doomsday Book
Frankenstein Unbound
Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
Imperial Earth
A Case of Conscience
Solaris
The Sands of Mars
The Land of Laughs
Eden
His Masters Voice
Citizen of the Galaxy
King David's Spaceship
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch
Double Star
The Fabulous Riverboat
Songs of Distant Earth
Way Station
The Fountains of Paradise
The Long Tomorrow
Lincolns Dreams
Alas Babylon
More Than Human
1984
The Forever War
All the Myriad Ways
I Sing the Body Electric
Gateway
Flow my Tears, the Policeman Said
This Immortal
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Recommended:
Yes
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