by John Brunner
First published 1978
Gerald Howson possesses telepathic abilities that make him both valuable and vulnerable in a world that fears what it cannot understand. When strange psychic phenomena begin manifesting around the city, Howson finds himself drawn into an investigation that tests the limits of his mental powers. He must navigate between those who would exploit his gifts and those who would destroy him for possessing them. As the telepathic disturbances intensify, Howson discovers that the source may be closer to home than he imagined. The investigation forces him to confront not only external threats but also the isolation that comes with being fundamentally different from those around him. Brunner crafts a story that examines the burden of extraordinary ability and the price of being truly alone in one's experiences.
Genres: science-fiction, thriller, paranormal, psychological-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: extraordinary-abilities, fish-out-of-water
Period: 20th-century
190 pages · Paperback · Fontana