In twenty-fourth-century New York City, telepaths known as Peepers have eliminated premeditated murder by reading criminal intent before any blood is spilled. Ben Reich, a tycoon facing financial ruin, decides to kill his rival, Courtneay D’Courtney, despite the omnipresence of ESP. To bypass the telepathic shield, Reich employs a persistent melodic earworm to mask his thoughts while he executes his plan. Prefect Lincoln Powell, a first-class telepath, leads the investigation, initiating a psychological pursuit where the challenge shifts from identifying the killer to obtaining subjective evidence for a brain-altering punishment called Demolition.
This book serves readers interested in the intersection of police procedurals and speculative evolution. Those who value formal experimentation will find the typographic layouts and telepathic dialogue structures technically inventive. The text provides a study of how social structures adapt to the loss of privacy and the logistical limits of law enforcement when dealing with non-physical evidence. Readers finish with a clear understanding of Freudian archetypes applied to a future setting and a look at the trade-offs between absolute security and individual mental autonomy.
Growth-minded and escapist; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1953
- Language
- EN
