There's so much wrong with this book, but it wins points by keeping its head down and plugging along. It's primarily about the emergence of a telepathic society at the stage where they're numerous and powerful enough to be oppressed but probably past the point of no-return evolutionarily. Life is not fun as a telepath. It's like being at a loud party where there's no inhibition on what is said and what is said is often sociopathic.

That set up is the strength of the book. The downsides are a 1960's James Bond plot with a 1930's future where Venusians and Martians mingle freely with Earthlings, and there are news reports of alien attacks on our spaceships. There is never any detail about any of this. It's just scenery.

This is an easy book to throw against the wall by page 50. I wouldn't say it's essential to continue to the end, but it does grow on you.

Recommended, sort of. ( )

First book by this author. I had never heard of him but I'm impressed. This book may not have done well in the 1960s but it aged well. The author does a good job with world building and designing future societies. The story kept me interested. ( )