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Brain Wave
Brain Wave | Poul Anderson
3 posts | 5 read | 2 to read
What if we were all designed to be smarter than we actually are? That is the premise of master science fiction novelist Poul Anderson's 1954 debut work, Brain Wave. Unbeknown to its inhabitants, the solar system has for millions of years been caught in a force field that has had the effect of supressing intelligence. When in the course of normal galactic movement the solar system breaks free of the force field that has held it in its sway for so long, gone are the inhibiting effects and a remarkable change begins to sweep across the earth. In fact, the entire world is turned upside-down and Anderson's novel is devoted to detailing the sometimes surprising, sometimes chilling aftereffects of this watershed event. In one of the novel's opening scenes, Archie Brock, a mentally disabled man, finds himself suddenly awash in new kinds of thought as he ponders the night sky. In another scene, a young boy on a summer break works out the basic fundamental foundations of calculus before breakfast. Human life is dramatically transformed, as people with IQs of 400 find themselves living within social structures and institutions designed for people of considerably lower intelligence. There are others who refuse to accept what has happened and instead band together in a rebellion against the new order. Brain Wave is a fascinating "what if" novel and an exploration into the ways in which human society is organized and the assumptions that are made about how we value life. It is also a novel about equality and what happens when the hierarchical structures that we know and arrange our lives by finally disappear.
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review
RamsFan1963
Brain Wave | Poul Anderson
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Mehso-so

119/150 What if mankind was supposed to be smarter? What if suddenly every person, and animals, found their IQ tripled or quadrupled? How would society react or change?Its an interesting premise, but told in a kind of distant, passionless manner. I felt I was listening to a news report instead of a novel, all the characters were rather flat and uninteresting, even after they all became geniuses. 3 ⭐.25

Bookwomble Flat characters, maybe because they were super intelligent? Intelligence roll 18; Wisdom roll 3? 😏🎲🎲🎲 2y
swynn Yeah, I remember this one as not awful but to much idea and not enough story. 2y
50 likes2 comments
blurb
Divinenanny
Brain Wave | Poul Anderson
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After reading loads on my eReader I have now picked up a "real" book: Brain Wave by Poul Anderson (first published in 1954, my edition from 1965). It was recommended to me by one of the guys from the NCSF, the Dutch contact centre for science fiction. They ran this amazing second-hand SF bookstall at an event a couple of months ago and I bought a lot. Anyway, enjoying this old SF classic!

blurb
bmsddk
Brain Wave | Poul Anderson
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The strong Archie Brock challenges the notion of intelligence and lack of intelligence. Throughout the book, though his IQ isn't considered high, he constantly forces us to question the label of dumb society forced onto him. My personal non-spoilery bottom line: be proud to be you, and ignore others putting you down! You are uniquely beautiful and intelligent ☺ ~ #Day23 #DumbAndBeautiful #octphotochallenge #bookphotochallenge ~ @LibrarianRyan

Texreader Very nice pick 8y
bmsddk @Texreader Thanks 😊 8y
29 likes1 stack add2 comments