The Demolished ManThe Demolished Man
Score Classic
What it's about
In the 24th century, the police are telepaths who can read a criminal's intentions before he acts, so there hasn't been a premeditated murder in seventy years. Ben Reich, the ruthless head of a vast business empire, plans one anyway, against his rival. Afterward, he must outwit Lincoln Powell, a brilliant telepathic detective, in a cat-and-mouse game played partly inside the mind.
Why it's worth reading
It won the very first Hugo Award. It's a stylish, inventive science fiction crime story, still fresh decades later.
You'll love it if you liked
Neuromancer
The Big Sleep
UbikGood to know
It's short and fast, with playful typography in places. Some of its psychology and gender attitudes are dated.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller23 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #144 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #445 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1528 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Dark, Adventurous
If you like this, read next
Ender's Game
Dune
The Lord of the Rings
Hyperion
The Dispossessed
FoundationExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Demolished Man worth reading?
Yes. It won the very first Hugo Award. It ranks #1,528 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Demolished Man about?
In the 24th century, the police are telepaths who can read a criminal's intentions before he acts, so there hasn't been a premeditated murder in seventy years. Ben Reich, the ruthless head of a vast business empire, plans one anyway, against his rival. Afterward, he must outwit Lincoln Powell, a brilliant telepathic detective, in a cat-and-mouse game played partly inside the mind.
How long does it take to read The Demolished Man?
About 5 hours (191 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Demolished Man won?
Hugo Award winner (1953).
What should I read after The Demolished Man?
If you liked it, try Neuromancer by William Gibson, The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler or Ubik by Philip K. Dick.