Apatt’s review of The Demolished Man > Likes and Comments

This book is our 100th common books. And with 78% compatibility. Not bad.

Jokoloyo wrote: "This book is our 100th common books. And with 78% compatibility. Not bad."

It means you have good taste Jokoloyo ;)

LOL! so, if we have 90%+ compatibility, it means I have excellent taste, doesn't it?

Need to read more from him, great review

Lyn wrote: "Need to read more from him, great review"

Thanks Lyn! I think Bester is only famous for the two novels I mentioned, perhaps some short stories also,. I never heard of anyone talk about his other novels.


Jokoloyo wrote: "LOL! so, if we have 90%+ compatibility, it means I have excellent taste, doesn't it?"

Combined we have in excess of 100% nobody can stop us now! :D

Great review, Apatt! As I said before, The Stars My Destination is one of my favorite science fiction books (since I'm new to the genre, that doesn't mean much, I guess), so I have high expectation for this one.

Let me ask you something, did this novel had some formatting quirks? Like The Stars My Destination synesthesia part? I ask because I intend to read on kindle, and that wordplay doesn't translate digitally.

Leonardo wrote: "Great review, Apatt! As I said before, The Stars My Destination is one of my favorite science fiction books (since I'm new to the genre, that doesn't mean much, I guess), so I have high expectation..."

Thanks Leonardo! Well, as far I know there is no official e-book of The Demolished Man, I don't want to encourage piracy so I didn't mention it in the review. I did buy a paper version sometime ago (hope that makes it OK!).

As to your question, yes, a few "typos" or scanner/OCR errors in the book, not too bad really.

Apatt wrote: "Leonardo wrote: "Great review, Apatt! As I said before, The Stars My Destination is one of my favorite science fiction books (since I'm new to the genre, that doesn't mean much, I guess), so I have..."

I assumed it had one like The Stars My Destination. Silly of me. I'll track down a dead tree copy of this one.

Do you have any plans to read his other novels? They don't seem to praised by many, but they seem worth a shot.

Leonardo wrote: "Do you have any plans to read his other novels? They don't seem to praised by many, but they seem worth a shot. e..."

Not really! Too many TBRs, I intend to reread Heinlein's books soon, I haven't read Heinlein in ages. Not to mention numerous new books I never read yet.

I'm gonna be reviewing Madame Bovary tomorrow I think, LOL! (but it's true!).
As for sf I got Stephen Baxter's The Time Ships lined up!

Apatt wrote: "Leonardo wrote: "Do you have any plans to read his other novels? They don't seem to praised by many, but they seem worth a shot. e..."

Not really! Too many TBRs, I intend to reread Heinlein's book..."

Madame Bovary is another classic in my TBR pile. I'll get to it. Eventually. Let's see if your review makes me skip it ahead, or just skip it. Are you listening to this one?

The Time Ships I never heard about. But it feels like one of those books that you probably have to read what came before to fully appreciate it. Maybe after I catch up with H.G. Wells it will be more tempting.

I plan to read The Dream Master after I finish The Catcher in the Rye. After that I want to read another Robert Silverberg novel. Probably Dying Inside. But that can change anytime. :)

Funny how you keep running into my old favorites. I read this first as a teenager many years ago, and I was deeply fascinated with the way that the telepathic abilities were described, which felt very real.

I have reread the book a couple of times since then, which is one of the reasons for the five star rating -- only few books can be read again with pleasure even though one knows the plot. Its something with the ideas, interaction between believable characters and general ambience of the universe created by the author.

There are, by the way, not many books that describe realistically how telepathic abilities might work. I once recommended Julian May's books to you. The first was to come out was "The Many-Coloured Land (Saga of the Pliocene Exile #1)", but I think that you might like "Intervention (Intervention #1-2)" better. Its in the same universe, but at a different time and it is a very good entry point. It is my favorite amongst her books that I also have read more than once.

You make an excellent point which I totally agree with, vehemently opposed to Richard's comment above to the contrary. One SUBLIME example, at least to me, is Arthur C. Clarke's 'CITY AND THE STARS' which I THINK was a 195x update of an even earlier book. The 'Science' that he brilliantly uses in this book is so absolutely AWESOME to me, because they way he did it, it truly remains totally timeless! The way the City's computers store information, the technology used in the city and the transportation were done in such a clever, general style, that even though the book is also well over 60 years old, he has avoided any sense of being 'Dated' at all. That one book genuinely has me in awe because of this.

Sorry, I meant to add that I've read that book like 20 times, and I can fully say that EACH and every time there is the same sense of wonder and amazement...

I own a bunch of Alfred Besters stuff: The Stars My Destination, The Demolished Man, The Computer Connection, Psychoshop, and a first edition short story collection "Starlight" I got for I believe 50 cents. I've read The Stars My Destination and The Demolished Man and I must agree. Amazing books!! It's a shame he only wrote a handful of things.

Sabah wrote: "Apatt what never ceases to amaze me is that people fail to realise the significance of Sci fi of the 50s and 60s to the technological advancements of today. These advancements are based wholly upon..."

What's a tricorder? Is that like a Spock thing? Similar to sonic screwdriver?

The likelihood of the science being "wrong" is part of the fun of old sci-fi, surely?

Cecily wrote: "The likelihood of the science being "wrong" is part of the fun of old sci-fi, surely?"

Like the moon is an egg or monsters from eye mucus or whatever you call that stuff.

Ha ha. Yes, that scary "sleep" of last week.

This one sounds very interesting. Why did I never hear of it before? *ponders*

Councillor wrote: "This one sounds very interesting. Why did I never hear of it before? *ponders*"

Perhaps you've been hanging out at the wrong places Councillor ;)

Sabah wrote: "Hi Apatt,wondering can you rec a sci -fi book but caveat is not more than 10 yrs old? Thanks ! Lol Your telepathic swear words are coming across to me as you read. Really, you think I'm fab! You're..."

Ooh I was gonna recommend The Lathe of Heaven but I just noticed your caveat, Lathe is from the 80s I think, it's beautifully written and has a great storyline. For something more recent I'll have to check my shelf. The best sci-fis are pre-2000s I think.

Ok, the nearest I can find is Oryx and Crake from 2003. Cecily's favorite too! Have a look at her review (and mine too if you want!).

I like O&C, but I'm not sure it's a favourite.

I'm nowhere near as much of a sci-fi buff as you, Apatt, but of books in the last decade, there's The Martian (which I know you didn't like), China Mieville's The City & the City and Embassytown, and I can't believe you haven't suggested an Alastair Reynolds: Century Rain was 2005, and more safely within the time period is the one you keep nagging me to read, House of Suns.

Cecily wrote: "I like O&C, but I'm not sure it's a favourite.

I'm nowhere near as much of a sci-fi buff as you, Apatt, but of books in the last decade, there's The Martian (which I know you didn'..."

I think House of Suns is too long and techy for readers who seldom read sci-fi, The Martian, ha! Embassytown is too outré for non-sci-fi readers I suspect, ditto The City & the City.

For "new readers" of the genre I would sooner recommend Arthur "Always a Bridesmaid" C. Clarke's Childhood's End. The only snag is, it's not "beautifully written" in the literary sense, and there is little emphasis on characterization. Probably not readers of literary fic are looking for.

So Century Rain is still a contender - as long as Sabah starts it before the year is out? It's not too sci-fi, either. Good cross-over, and not too long.

I guess you really need more guidance from Sabah as to quite what and why she's wanting (other than genre and recency).

Cecily wrote: "So Century Rain is still a contender - as long as Sabah starts it before the year is out? It's not too sci-fi, either. Good cross-over, and not too long.

I guess you really need more guidance from..."

I know what, here's a definitive list: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... ;)

Apatt wrote: "Sabah wrote: "Hi Apatt,wondering can you rec a sci -fi book but caveat is not more than 10 yrs old? Thanks ! Lol Your telepathic swear words are coming across to me as you read. Really, you think I..."

Nice recommendation... : )

"book being recommended must not be more than 10 years old. The reason given for this clause is usually because the science is “wrong”, there is no internet or history did not turn out the way the author depicted in the book. WUT?" Thank you! This drives me crazy as well.

Lize wrote: ""book being recommended must not be more than 10 years old. The reason given for this clause is usually because the science is “wrong”, there is no internet or history did not turn out the way the ..."

Thank you, Lize. Definitely a bee in my bonnet! :D

Funny thing, a lot of science fiction is based on things that don't exist, probably can't, or will never exist. So I find the argument "the science is wrong" a bad reason not to read older SF. I love old SF. In fact I love it more than new stuff thus far. Books like: The Stars my Destination, The Demolished Man, AE Van Vogt's novel Slan, Stranger in a Strange Land, Mind Killer, Ringworld, Asimov's Foundation series... etc... are examples of amazing old SF, with concepts which are not entirely feasible or possible in one way or another, yet incredibly entertaining no less.

omg, using the staying and frustrating power of a jinggle to avoid one's mind being read by a telepath policeman? that is quite sharp..and if it wasn't done by a murderor, one could admire it:)

it does sound like an interesting read...I like all that inverted decetive story idea.

Ivana wrote: "omg, using the staying and frustrating power of a jinggle to avoid one's mind being read by a telepath policeman? that is quite sharp..and if it wasn't done by a murderor, one could admire it:)
i..."

It's a sci-fi classic Ivana, I really recommend it!

JonSnow wrote: "Funny thing, a lot of science fiction is based on things that don't exist, probably can't, or will never exist. So I find the argument "the science is wrong" a bad reason not to read older SF. I lo..."

Jon! I'm with you on this subject, bro.
I hope you like my new sci-fi review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Ivana wrote: "omg, using the staying and frustrating power of a jinggle to avoid one's mind being read by a telepath policeman? that is quite sharp..and if it wasn't done by a murderor, one could admire it:)

i..."

hahaha. the amazing SF show Babylon 5 has that too. It's a way to create a mental block. Silly, but a lot of stuff is pretty silly. Very fun book no less :)

Really appreciated your comments about "speculative" fiction and the great reads from the 50's/60's and more. Just read this one and have read a whole lot from that era, thanks for sharing. Good review.

Tim wrote: "Really appreciated your comments about "speculative" fiction and the great reads from the 50's/60's and more. Just read this one and have read a whole lot from that era, thanks for sharing. Good re..."

Thank you, Tim. I'm glad you found it interesting 😊

Bizarre and unfair request, since older sci-fi tends to be so much more readable than other kinds of older genre fiction.