Supermind

The Story

In 1973, FBI Director Andrew J. Burris is at his wit’s end. The United States is experiencing a bizarre, rapid-fire disintegration of order: labor unions are in disarray, the Mafia is behaving erratically, and government departments are paralyzed by administrative errors. Burris brings in Kenneth J. Malone, a talented FBI agent who has previously demonstrated uncanny—if poorly understood—abilities in telepathy and teleportation. Malone, who considers himself merely lucky rather than gifted, is tasked with finding the source of this spreading confusion. He quickly realizes that the incidents are not random; they are being driven by a force that causes people to "change their minds" at critical moments, effectively steering the course of the nation.

Malone begins his investigation by interviewing technicians and officials, only to find that his queries into "psionic" or mental manipulation are met with confusion or outright denial. He travels to Yucca Flats to consult with a scientist named O’Connor, who suggests that the events resemble a mass psychological phenomenon rather than a deliberate, organized sabotage. However, Malone remains unconvinced. He encounters a trio of suspicious individuals—Brubitsch, Borbitsch, and Garbitsch—who are posing as political refugees but seem to be at the center of the strange occurrences. When Malone interrogates them, he realizes they are as confused as everyone else, serving as pawns in a much larger, more sophisticated game.

The investigation takes a turn when Malone meets "Her Majesty," a mysterious woman who claims to be Elizabeth I but possesses clear telepathic abilities. She operates with a calm, regal authority, and she becomes an unlikely partner for Malone as he follows the trail of confusion across international borders. They travel to Russia to investigate similar patterns of societal breakdown occurring there. Malone discovers that the "confusion" is not just an American problem; it is a global phenomenon. In Moscow, he clashes with Soviet officials, including a Major Petkoff, while attempting to decode the motives of those manipulating the world's power structures.

As the pressure mounts, Malone realizes that his own mind is being monitored. He is forced to confront the idea that the "confusion" might be an intentional, large-scale social engineering project designed to prune incompetent people and failing systems from society. By creating chaos, the hidden architects are forcing a reset of various institutions, from medical societies to government bureaus. Malone, aided by his growing mental rapport with Her Majesty, finally tracks the architects of this grand design to a secluded location.

He discovers that the masterminds are a group of psionically gifted individuals, including high-ranking figures he has encountered during his investigation. They have been using their abilities to subtly influence the decision-making processes of world leaders and administrators, believing they are acting for the greater good by removing "jerks and idiots" from positions of power. Malone, rather than attempting to arrest or stop them, realizes he is part of their fold. He has been unconsciously projecting a "mind shield" that allowed him to navigate the chaos, and his own natural talents are the result of the same evolutionary leap the architects possess. The story concludes with Malone joining this clandestine circle, finding peace in the realization that the world’s constant, cyclical troubles are now, for him, part of a grander, if inscrutable, design.

The People

• Kenneth J. Malone: A seemingly ordinary, slightly frustrated FBI agent who discovers he possesses immense, untapped psionic potential. He moves from being a bewildered investigator to a member of a shadow organization that controls the flow of world events.
• Andrew J. Burris: The Director of the FBI, who represents the old-world establishment. While he is initially baffled by the "confusion" plaguing his country, he is eventually revealed to be part of the clandestine group managing these societal shifts.
• Her Majesty (Luba Garbitsch): A powerful telepath who adopts the persona of Queen Elizabeth I. She acts as a mentor and eventual romantic interest to Malone, guiding him to accept his identity and helping him navigate the complex layers of mental influence.
• Tom Boyd: A loyal FBI colleague of Malone’s who represents the "normal" perspective. He is repeatedly left in the dark, forced to accept cover-up explanations for the strange events he witnesses, serving as a foil to Malone’s evolving awareness.
• Sir Lewis Carter: A sophisticated, pipe-smoking member of the group, who provides historical context and philosophical justification for the "pruning" of society’s incompetent elements, viewing the group’s work as a necessary, if subtle, intervention.

In Its Own Voice

When the Director of the FBI tries to describe the inexplicable state of the nation, he acknowledges the magnitude of the shift:

“This time,” Burris said, “it isn’t the same old story at all. This time it’s different.”

Malone reflects on the bizarre nature of his mission, noting how the invisible hand of his superiors—and his own growing awareness—manifests in his daily life:

“It’s more like a group of men, all separated, without any apparent connections between any of the men. And they’re all working toward a common goal.”

The Queen explains the pragmatism behind her regal behavior, offering a view of how social norms function as a lubricant for power:

“I can’t help the way you think, but, as Queen, I do have some control over the way you act.”

What It's Really About

At its core, the book explores the tension between individual agency and the hidden, structural forces that shape history. It presents a world where "confusion" is not merely an accident of bureaucracy or political failure, but a tactical weapon used by an enlightened elite to refine society. The narrative suggests that institutions often become monolithic and stagnant, and that when they cease to serve their purpose, they must be broken down. The central question is whether it is moral for a small, gifted group to manipulate the masses for their own benefit, even if the stated goal is the improvement of society.

The book delves into the nature of power and the "handy fiction" of social roles. By having characters adopt historical personas—like a telepath acting as Elizabeth I—the text examines how we use archetypes to command authority and maintain social order. The characters argue that by "pruning" the incompetent from roles in medicine, law, and government, they are actually facilitating a more efficient, meritocratic future. The chaos in the streets is framed as a form of social sanitation; the "jerks and idiots" are being removed so that more capable individuals can rise.

Furthermore, the book is deeply concerned with the limitations of the human mind. The protagonists operate in a reality where telepathy and teleportation are not mystical, but practical tools. They treat these abilities with a detached, professional air, reflecting a mid-century fascination with the potential for human evolution. The argument is made that there have always been "witches" or "demons" in every century, and that psionics are simply the modern iteration of these age-old, poorly understood forces. The book positions the "Supermind" not as an external god, but as an internal, human capability that is finally being harnessed. It questions the stability of reality itself, suggesting that if a few minds can change the course of a nation by simply altering a few thoughts, then history is far more fragile and malleable than the average person realizes. It is a cynical yet optimistic take on the "Great Man" theory of history, updated for a Cold War era where the real battles are fought in the unseen corridors of the human subconscious.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy mid-century science fiction with a dry, bureaucratic wit will find this book particularly engaging. It shares the brisk, procedural pacing of a standard detective novel, but constantly subverts those expectations with surreal developments. It feels like a cross between a classic noir mystery and a psychic thriller, set against the backdrop of 1970s paranoia. The prose is lean and conversational, capturing the frustrated energy of federal agents who find themselves chasing ghosts in a machine that refuses to break down in a conventional way.

The book’s greatest difficulty for a modern reader may be its specific period markers—the "telephone exchanges," the Cold War anxieties regarding the Soviet Union, and the casual, often dismissive attitude toward the "confusion" of the masses. These elements are firmly rooted in their time. The dialogue, which frequently dips into the banter of "Sir Kenneth" and his royal companion, can feel eccentric and occasionally jarring. It is not a book that takes itself with grave seriousness, despite the global stakes of the plot; it prefers a light, almost flippant tone that may frustrate readers looking for deep psychological realism or a dark, gritty tone.

However, the experience of reading it is rewarding for those who enjoy "competence porn"—the satisfaction of seeing a character slowly piece together a massive, complex puzzle. The way the narrative shifts from the mundane details of FBI reports to the high-concept possibilities of psionic manipulation creates a compelling momentum. What stays with you is the book's unsettling premise: the idea that the headlines we see today might not be the result of political maneuvering, but the byproduct of a few invisible, powerful individuals "adjusting" the world to suit their design. It leaves the reader looking at everyday news with a newfound, slightly suspicious eye, wondering if the next "goof up" in the papers is actually part of a deliberate, unseen process of improvement. It is a sharp, strange, and highly readable look at the fragility of our consensus reality.