Seeking 70s or earlier Novel - Psionic society wearing numbered shirts
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1beichst
Recently started looking for a novel I remember reading in the 1970s (probably published from late 1950s to early 1970s) about a psionic society. Humanoid but with the ability to control other's minds. Rank in society was based on how "strong" each person was and how many other people he/she could control. Each person wore a "number" on his or her shirt denoting how many "others" he or she could command. From a lowly "2" to a high of "80". As people walked around they were constantly on the lookout for mental "challenges" by others. Mental "duels" were common. Wining them allowed one to advance in society.
Some other points I believe I am remembering correctly:
1. In an interesting social arrangement children were typically raised by their uncles not their direct parents. They are also "shielded" and usually not brought out into public until they have reached mental and psionic maturity.
2. I think color of clothing played a role in which red was the typical color for higher levels in society. I believe "greens" were non-psionic members of the society. In an interesting twist, rather than being oppressed I seem to remember the greens were considered "neutral" because they were not involved in the power struggles of the others. Hence they were sought out as arbitrers, etc. Too, it was considered taboo to try to control them.
3. Punishment was achieved by submitting those convicted to a sort of mental "prison" in which fears and anxiety were magnified in a horrifying way. Something like Azkabahn, but with a more horror/fear level in place.
The protagonist is a human who visits the planet I think to investigate a crime/murder. He is partnered with an alien investigator who is a "40" level. But, during the course of book mentally duels his way to become a "50". In addition to his family, the alien investigator has his sister and newphew living with him. While his sister is a lowly 2, the nephew shows early signs of becoming an extremely powerful telepath.
In one scene the nephew starts to throw the human investigator into the mental "prison". The investigator thinks it was just bad dreams. But the nephew is punished by being mentally put in the same place for 15 minutes screaming in terror.
Some other points I believe I am remembering correctly:
1. In an interesting social arrangement children were typically raised by their uncles not their direct parents. They are also "shielded" and usually not brought out into public until they have reached mental and psionic maturity.
2. I think color of clothing played a role in which red was the typical color for higher levels in society. I believe "greens" were non-psionic members of the society. In an interesting twist, rather than being oppressed I seem to remember the greens were considered "neutral" because they were not involved in the power struggles of the others. Hence they were sought out as arbitrers, etc. Too, it was considered taboo to try to control them.
3. Punishment was achieved by submitting those convicted to a sort of mental "prison" in which fears and anxiety were magnified in a horrifying way. Something like Azkabahn, but with a more horror/fear level in place.
The protagonist is a human who visits the planet I think to investigate a crime/murder. He is partnered with an alien investigator who is a "40" level. But, during the course of book mentally duels his way to become a "50". In addition to his family, the alien investigator has his sister and newphew living with him. While his sister is a lowly 2, the nephew shows early signs of becoming an extremely powerful telepath.
In one scene the nephew starts to throw the human investigator into the mental "prison". The investigator thinks it was just bad dreams. But the nephew is punished by being mentally put in the same place for 15 minutes screaming in terror.
2beichst
Fount it. The Mind Traders by J. Hunter
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6052142-the-mind-traders
Some minor differences from what I remember. But what clinched it was The mental prison was called "The Black".
"A place of crawling spiders and poisonous snakes where nightmares came true
...that was 'The Black,' where men were punished for challenging minds more powerful than their own.
The detective from Earth feared The Black more than any torture his own planet could conceive. But he had to uncover the sinister plot that threatened Earth and all its people."
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6052142-the-mind-traders
Some minor differences from what I remember. But what clinched it was The mental prison was called "The Black".
"A place of crawling spiders and poisonous snakes where nightmares came true
...that was 'The Black,' where men were punished for challenging minds more powerful than their own.
The detective from Earth feared The Black more than any torture his own planet could conceive. But he had to uncover the sinister plot that threatened Earth and all its people."
