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The Demolished Man

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In a future society where Espers, individuals with telepathic abilities, have made murder seemingly impossible, Ben Reich sets out to commit the perfect murder in 'The Demolished Man'. The book is a murder mystery with a unique twist as the protagonist navigates a world where thoughts can be read, leading to a thrilling and fast-paced narrative. Author Alfred Bester's writing style is commended for its clever storytelling, engaging characters, and imaginative world-building that explores the conflicts of a society filled with Espers and the consequences of attempting the impossible.

Characters:

The characters are primarily archetypal, with the protagonist being a ruthless businessman and the antagonist a telepathic cop, while female characters often embody outdated stereotypes.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is marked by innovative formatting that showcases the mind-reading aspect, a noir tone, and a blend of psychological depth with engaging dialogue.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a businessman seeking to commit murder in a future where telepathy complicates crime, leading to a thrilling detective story filled with deception and mind games.

Setting:

The setting is a futuristic society where telepathy is commonplace, fundamentally altering crime and policing.

Pacing:

The pacing is quick and engaging, maintaining tension throughout the narrative with minimal downtime.
Night, noon, summer, winter… without bothering to think, Reich could have rattled off the time and season for any meridian on any body in the solar system. Here in New York it was a bitter morning aft...

Notes:

The Demolished Man was the first novel to win the Hugo Award in 1953.
The story is set in a future where telepathy has made murder nearly impossible.
The main character, Ben Reich, is a wealthy businessman who plots to murder his rival.
The novel features a telepathic police commissioner named Lincoln Powell, who tries to catch Reich.
Bester uses innovative typography to represent telepathic communication between characters.
The book influences later works, including the television series Babylon 5, with its depiction of telepaths.
The concept of stopping crime before it occurs in the novel parallels ideas in Philip K. Dick's works, such as The Minority Report.
The book discusses themes of power, control, and the consequences of one's desires.
Despite being dated in some aspects, the novel's ideas about society and technology remain relevant today.
The plot includes a psychological twist involving Reich's complicated relationships, reflecting Freudian themes.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers may include themes of psychological trauma, gender stereotypes, outdated views of women, and some graphic descriptions of violence.

From The Publisher:

Winner of the First Hugo Award. #14 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series, a library of the finest science fiction ever written. "Bester's two superb books have stood the test of time. For nearly sixty years they've held their place on everybody's list of the ten greatest sf novels" -Robert Silverberg "One of the all-time classics of science fiction."-Isaac Asimov "Alfred Bester wrote with the pedal to the floor and the headlights on full beam. His work combined erudition with an unparalleled imaginative inventiveness. Bester was writing cyberpunk while William Gibson was still running around zapping the other kids at school with a toy raygun."-James Lovegrove In a world policed by telepaths, Ben Reich plans to commit a crime that hasn't been heard of in 70 years: murder. That's the only option left for Reich, whose company is losing a 10-year death struggle with rival D'Courtney Enterprises. Terrorized in his dreams by The Man With No Face and driven to the edge after D'Courtney refuses a merger offer, Reich murders his rival and bribes a high-ranking telepath to help him cover his tracks. But while police prefect Lincoln Powell knows Reich is guilty, his telepath's knowledge is a far cry from admissible evidence.

Ratings (6)

Loved It (2)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (3)

Reader Stats (14):

Read It (5)
Want To Read (7)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (1)
 
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