Telempathy

"Telempathy" by Vance Simonds is a science fiction novel written during the early 1960s. The story revolves around concepts of empathy and psychological influence in a marketing and political context, exploring how these ideas can be manipulated to predict and shape public reaction. The book is set against a backdrop of a fictionalized Hollywood, highlighting the intersection of advertising, politics, and human emotion. The plot follows Campbell ("Cam") Schofft, a marketing professional who becomes entangled with Everett O'Toole, a controversial figure and member of a unique group capable of experiencing others' emotions vicariously. This ability, dubbed "Telempathy," offers unprecedented insight into public sentiment, making it a powerful tool for influencing campaigns. As Cam and Everett prepare for a major rally featuring the ominous Father Sowles leading a crusade for a radical political movement, they recognize the potential for their method both to unite and to incite violence among the populace. However, when the power of their Telempathic ability causes unexpected consequences during the rally, a chaotic turn of events leads to a dramatic and introspective conclusion about the manipulation of public emotion and the ethics behind such control. (This is an automatically generated summary.)