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pomegranatepanacea's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alfred bester is clever but sometimes he is so obsessed with his own cleverness that it's outright annoying. the romantic subplot was unnecessarily uncomfortable. (he didn't have to make barbara age regress, did he? that whole plot line was uncomfortable.) it's a shame because it's such a compelling story and it's creatively executed, but parts of the novel were just unenjoyable. i was hoping for more from the winner of the first hugo award.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Sexism, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abandonment
lilli_w12's review against another edition
2.0
HUGO AWARD WINNER 1953
The first book in my quest to read all the Hugo Award winners.
2.5.
Far and away the best part of this novel is how telepathy is implemented/shown. From how it impacts society as a whole to how Espers communicate with each other. This was a very interesting book, especially for its time. The actual crime stuff was okay, but the romance made me want to throw up.
The first book in my quest to read all the Hugo Award winners.
2.5.
Far and away the best part of this novel is how telepathy is implemented/shown. From how it impacts society as a whole to how Espers communicate with each other. This was a very interesting book, especially for its time. The actual crime stuff was okay, but the romance made me want to throw up.
wintzyy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
novabird's review against another edition
4.0
Written almost 70 years ago and first recipient of the Hugo award, “Demolished Man,’ is a fervidly paced, “jetted,” read that is a hybrid sci-fi combined with crime and psychology. It is superior to the plot for, ‘Minority Report,’ in the depth of characterization and its philosophical/sociological take on what to do with the murderous individual.
It’ll make you spin on your axis in wonder at the author’s ingenuity and creativity for the date of its publication in 1953. And just as we look at a series like, Mad Men and understand that this time period treated women differently and we can also overlook the sexist content.
It’ll make you spin on your axis in wonder at the author’s ingenuity and creativity for the date of its publication in 1953. And just as we look at a series like, Mad Men and understand that this time period treated women differently and we can also overlook the sexist content.
acejolras's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The world building was excellent, especially since it wasn’t info-dumpy. I was very engaged with the whole Esper system and the political machinations. I picked this up to read a “howdunit” from a Book Riot list, and I really enjoyed the tension deriving from how Reich would or would not get away with his plan.
I think my reading experience suffered from Twilight Zone Syndrome - I imagine this was completely ground-breaking at the time, but since I’ve read so much material in the same vein first, it’s hard to judge this as contemporary readers would have. It has held up very well except for a lot of misogyny.
I think my reading experience suffered from Twilight Zone Syndrome - I imagine this was completely ground-breaking at the time, but since I’ve read so much material in the same vein first, it’s hard to judge this as contemporary readers would have. It has held up very well except for a lot of misogyny.
nianyigexiaodu's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
badseedgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I read this novel for the 1050's challenge found over at Worldswithoutend.com. It was my 1953 choice.
As soon as I started to read the introduction by Harry Harrison, I had this niggling in the back of my brain "Man this sounds so familiar. Have I read this before?' But as I started reading it, I was saying to myself "No, you have not read this, you would remember this book if you had." Still, I was not able to get rid of the feeling of deja vu. And then I read the scene where Powell finds Barbara in the psychics house and I realized, I had read this novel before. It was many years ago. I was in 7th grade and I read it in a history of American authors. I HAD, read this novel. Well that was one mystery solved.
But what did I think of the novel? Well, clearly as an 11-year-old, it did not make an impression on me. I loved the concept and even though the novel is 63 years old, it still felt fresh. This was not your average pulp as so much of the novels from this time were. The characters were fully developed and could have easily been written in the last 5 years.
You know you are reading a good novel when it can stand the test of time as this novel has.
As soon as I started to read the introduction by Harry Harrison, I had this niggling in the back of my brain "Man this sounds so familiar. Have I read this before?' But as I started reading it, I was saying to myself "No, you have not read this, you would remember this book if you had." Still, I was not able to get rid of the feeling of deja vu. And then I read the scene where Powell finds Barbara in the psychics house and I realized, I had read this novel before. It was many years ago. I was in 7th grade and I read it in a history of American authors. I HAD, read this novel. Well that was one mystery solved.
But what did I think of the novel? Well, clearly as an 11-year-old, it did not make an impression on me. I loved the concept and even though the novel is 63 years old, it still felt fresh. This was not your average pulp as so much of the novels from this time were. The characters were fully developed and could have easily been written in the last 5 years.
You know you are reading a good novel when it can stand the test of time as this novel has.