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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76740.The_Demolished_Man?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Demolished Man" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170899658m/76740.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76740.The_Demolished_Man?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Demolished Man</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10992.Alfred_Bester">Alfred Bester</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13483349?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 5 of 5 stars 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.
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/284562?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Lasairfiona's review
rating:
bookshelves: havereadin2008, iown, rereading, scottlikes
recommended for: Everyone!

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....more 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....less

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