The Demolished Man in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Jan 12, 2009 Erich Franz Linner-Guzmann rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: meisterwerk, science-fiction, klassiker, fiktion, 1950s, politik, hugo-award, libere, favourite, mystery

Eight, sir; seven, sir;
Six, sir; five, sir;
Four, sir; Three, sir;
Two, sir; one!
Tenser, said the Tensor.
Tenser, said the Tensor.
Tension, apprehension,
And dissension have begun.

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Jan 25, 2008 Lasairfiona rated it it was amazing

Shelves: iown, scottlikes, havereadin2008, rereading

First of all, the description above does not do this book justice nor does it accurately describe the plot. I might write the teaser like this:
In the future, the newly emerged Espers can read minds. They help out the "normals" by anticipating what they need and what a person wants to do next. Murder is nearly impossible because of these "peepers". But Ben Reich, and powerful and rich normal, wants to get rid of his rival. Reich is driven to get away with murder. What follows is an intense cat an First of all, the description above does not do this book justice nor does it accurately describe the plot. I might write the teaser like this:
In the future, the newly emerged Espers can read minds. They help out the "normals" by anticipating what they need and what a person wants to do next. Murder is nearly impossible because of these "peepers". But Ben Reich, and powerful and rich normal, wants to get rid of his rival. Reich is driven to get away with murder. What follows is an intense cat and mouse game between Reich and the talented peeper cop, Powell. But the game turns into more than detective vs murderer when Reich's dreams won't let him go and the universe may pay the price.

I am no writer but I think that implies more about the revolutionary story than the blurb above. This isn't just a game to Reich, it is an all consuming passion and Powell _must_ stop him. Most of the book is Powell trying to legally corner Reich and it is so well written. Every move on that chess board is thought out and I was holding my breath to find out who would outmaneuver who. The ending is so much more than that though.

Science fiction is at its best when it is paired with a masterful writer and Bester is that. The writing is economical when it needs to be (almost feels minimalist, like 50s chrome sparseness) and lush when it must describe emotions, images, and sensations that are so human and when it goes into the telepathic abilities that are (as yet) foreign. Bester does a wonderful job of forming and expressing a new form of communication and showing the word games that are played. And that is only a background to the story!

Only a few tiny complaints and neither detract from the book at all; they are just a few things I didn't like. I wish that Bester had given more clues to the true point of the book that was only really at the end. I also _hated_ the ending with Barbara. I didn't think it was fair and the wrap up was, too tidy? when it came to that point. I almost docked it a star but the story and the writing is just too good. ...more

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Apr 29, 2022 Tani rated it liked it

Shelves: male-author, scifi, 2022-novels, sff-2022, sff-awards-2022, sff-explorer-2022

Moderately enjoyed the Death Note vibe for a while, but Death Note did it better. (Yes, I am judging this by the standard of something that was written decades later. I never claimed that my reviews were fair.) The psychology was kind of lackluster, and since this has pretensions toward being psychological, that's a bit disappointing. And I'll admit, I found the romantic subplot deeply disturbing. But I still enjoyed this enough to finish, so that's saying something. Probably would have been bet ...more

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Oct 01, 2013 Harold Ogle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fantasy, classics, mind-control, psionics, mv-library

Back in 1939, a bunch of New York science fiction fanboys got together and organized a convention, to coincide with the 1939 World's Fair (usually remembered for its slogan "The World of Tomorrow" and for which Walt Disney created the "It's a Small World" attraction) which they pompously called the "World Science Fiction Convention." They considered the convention such a success (with around 200 people attending) that these fanboys started a tradition of taking a vote to determine where the next ...more

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Aug 14, 2007 Peggy rated it it was amazing

In a future where the law is staffed by telepaths, how can you plot a murder? Ben Reich thinks he’s found a way. Does he succeed? You’ll have to read the book to find out, and I envy anyone their first reading of this classic of science fiction.

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Nov 19, 2007 J. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Bester was one of the best SF writers of all time. Sadly, we'll never know what he might have been capable of. Anyone that likes great science fiction should pick up all of his work.
...more

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Feb 14, 2011 Drew Kerlee rated it really liked it

future distopia, written many years ago about a future that still hasn't come. Not based on gadgets and science, but mind reading. Really fun stuff. ...more

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Oct 07, 2007 Randy rated it it was amazing

Audio book version:

First: this is one of the great classics of science fiction. While not everything holds up (the depiction of women, etc.), it still is terrific.

But don't bother with the audio book. Bester experimented with text on the page for specific effects and that simply goes out the window on audio. In addition, this reader's Irish accent and strange depiction of female voices, computer voices, songs, etc., was distracting and not at all pleasing.

Read this one, don't listen. ...more

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