Callahan's Saloon
Email
Staff
Message
Board
Chat
Directory
Welcome to
Callahan's

Mindkiller

ISBN 0-425-06288-0
A Review by Balthasar von Weymarn


Mindkiller... is one of the very best books Spider Robinson has ever written (so far.) This 1982 novel was based on the short story "God Is An Iron" which, according to Spider, was "too good to get lost after its first Omni publication."

Indeed, it was. As with most books with a clever plot, the reading enjoyment of "Mindkiller" would suffer from my re-telling the story here. Its chapters are alternately following the adventures of Norman Kent (university teacher) and Joe Templeton (burglar), who, several years apart from each other, seem to trace the same mystery that had taken away the sister of the one and the identity of the other.

The mystery is closely connected to the invention of "Mindwipe" and the "Wire", the latter of which is an addictive procedure stimulating the pleasure center of the brain through weak electric currents - the drug of the new millennium.

Highly imaginative, clever and thrilling up to the very last page, this is the book that inspired the New York Times to nominate "Robinson as the new Heinlein." I have re-read this book at least five times and enjoyed every minute of it.

In 1996, "Mindkiller" was re-packaged together with its prequel, "Time Pressure" (ISBN 0-441-80933-2), into a book called "Deathkiller" ISBN 0-671-87722-4), which is the only form in which you can buy it now, not counting used-book stores.

A very good read for all those who want to venture into Robinson territory not occupied by a well-known Irish tavern in Long Island.


Book Reviews - Spider Bytes - Callahan's Saloon