The Barons of Behaviour

by Tom Purdom

British hardcover reprint of the 1972 Ace paperback original novel. A psychotherapist sets out to defeat a corrupt political machine that's using psych techniques to control the population.

Genres: Science Fiction

189 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Also publishes as Thomas Edward Purdom.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a now somewhat obscure novel, but it's an impressive story about mind-control and politics with interesting psychological speculations. It's an intriguing and suspenseful read, with a striking Karel Thole cover. Tom Purdom was never a very prolific writer, but I've always enjoyed his short stories when I found them.

[Erik Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just went over the books read while in Norway from 8/6 to 9/18/78. Sixteen were science fiction, five were general fiction, one was non-fiction. Egad! I must have been really sick of serious reading.

One of the science fiction novels, The Barons of Behaviour, was justified because it was about the science of psychology used as a political instrument for the manipulation of citizens. Unfortunately, it wasn't very good.

[Victory M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great idea