| The Demolished Man | ||||||||||||
| Alfred Bester | ||||||||||||
| Orion Millennium Books, 250 pages | ||||||||||||
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A review by Todd Richmond
The Demolished Man takes place in a future where a small percentage of the population has developed telepathic
powers. Called peepers, they have revolutionized business, government, and, most importantly, law enforcement. In fact,
peepers have been so effective that no one has successfully committed an act of premeditated murder in more than 70
years. So Lincoln Polwell, Prefect of the Psychotic Division, is somewhat astonished to be summoned to a popular
socialite's home to investigate both a murder and a disappearance.
One of Madame Beaumont's guests, an important
businessman named Craye D'Courtney, has been murdered, and his daughter is missing. While there is no hard evidence,
Polwell's principal suspect is Ben Reich, D'Courtney's chief competitor. His hunch is based on a slip of the tongue made
by Reich, and an illicit peek into Reich's thoughts. For Polwell is a peeper, and while he can use his abilities to
gain special insights into cases, he still needs to gather evidence to make a case.
What ensues is a complicated game
of manoeuvring, evasion, and deception, as Reich and Polwell square off against one another. The game is a very
interesting one, because while Reich is a very rich man and has considerable resources, Polwell has an entire network
of peepers to help him gather information and obtain evidence. If Polwell wins their cat-and-mouse game, Reich is headed
for Demolition, the most serious punishment society can inflict. If Reich wins, he gets away with the impossible.
The best part of Bester's story is its timelessness. The Demolished Man is essentially a murder mystery, with a
cunning villain and a relentless detective in pursuit. There are few references to outlandish or dated technology (with
the exception of a punch card computer!) or outrageous social practices or fashions. While Bester's future isn't utopia,
neither is it a post-apocalyptic nightmare. Too often science fiction tends to paint the future either too bright or
too bleak. Bester extrapolates his view of the 50s forward in time, recognizing that while things like technology
will change, basic human nature will not. The story is mostly about ESPers and their effect on a modern society.
Bester's vision is one where ESPers have a code of ethics and responsibility, much like doctors or lawyers. Even though
his peepers can read the minds of unwilling individuals, they are forbidden to do so outside of a court of law. It's
comforting to see that Bester's vision of the future includes the same series of checks and balances as our modern system
of justice.
The Demolished Man is a welcome change for those tired of modern trilogies and series. It's a simple, refreshing
book that's worth a look while you're waiting for your favourite author to finish off the final chapter in their
latest series. Enjoy!
Todd is a plant molecular developmental biologist who has finally finished 23 years of formal education. He recently fled Madison, WI for the warmer but damper San Francisco Bay Area and likes bad movies, good science fiction, and role-playing games. He began reading science fiction at the age of eight, starting with Heinlein, Silverberg, and Tom Swift books, and has a great fondness for tongue-in-cheek fantasy àla Terry Pratchett, Craig Shaw Gardner and Robert Asprin. | |||||||||||
 
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