The Demolished Man

by Alfred Bester

First published 1974

Ben Reich commands a vast commercial empire in the 24th century, but his corporation bleeds money to rival D'Courtney companies. A faceless man terrorizes his dreams and pushes him toward desperation. Reich sees only one path forward: commit murder, a crime unheard of for seven decades. His world is controlled by telepaths called Espers who can read minds and detect killers before they strike. Reich must execute his plan while evading detection in a society where thoughts betray criminals. If the Espers catch him, he faces demolition, a terrible punishment that will erase his very existence. Reich walks the razor's edge between salvation and destruction.

Genres: science-fiction, mystery, crime, thriller

Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: cat-and-mouse, high-stakes

Setting: 24th Century

Period: Future

Mass Market Paperback · Roc

Content warnings: violence

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