Brain Wave

Brain Wave (1954) is a standalone SF novel. It takes place in the era shortly after World War II. In this novel, Archie Brooks is a retarded man who works on the Rossman farm. One day, he is out pulling stumps in the northwest forty and thinks idly about various things. He begins to notice that he is thinking differently. Some of his new thoughts frighten him. Peter Corinth is a senior scientist at the Rossman Institute. He notices that his thinking is unusually clear this day, but is more concerned with the new approach that he has conceived in his sleep. Maybe the old subconscious has come through once again. On his way to work, Peter notices that others seem to be thinking more clearly. His two assistants have come up with the same basic idea for the new project. Even the elevator operator has new ideas. Shiela Corinth is Peter's wife. She too is having new thoughts. Rather than her usual detective story, she starts to read Conrad's Lord Jim and loses track of the time. Nat Lewis has noticed a small but significant shift in the speed of neuron transmission and recovery among his specimens. When he brings up the differences during lunch, Peter mentions his own observations. Then Peter has an inspiration and the two of them start calling specialists in certain fields. They discover that some basic physical constants have changed throughout the Solar System and conclude that Terra has just exited from a field that, among other things, retards mental functions. Anything with a brain has just become smarter and the change is increasing exponentially. Animals are escaping from traps and horses are refusing to plow the fields. Some of the dangerous animals are even more so and the pigs are revolting. In this story, mankind builds new devices to reach for the stars and to take over the more menial jobs. Less intelligent persons become more capable of performing ordinary functions, releasing more intelligent people to work on more important projects. Still, higher intelligence doesn't change basic personality patterns. The criminal class has become more capable of committing crimes, but their new competency is offset by the greater capabilities of the police forces. Dictators find new ways to dominate their peons, but those peons discover new reasons and ways to revolt against their masters. Humans are changing, but the transition period is going to be very interesting. This story addresses some of the new capabilities of Homo Sapiens Sapiens, but also follows the expanding consciousness of those with lesser intelligence as they reach normal levels. Archie Brooks is one example of such mental expansion. And then there are the animals. This tale is one of the earliest of the author's SF novels. He had been writing SF (and fantasy) stories for over a decade, but paper shortages and other impediments severely limited publication of novel length works prior to the early fifties. This was one of the first of the new works.

This is a fabulous novel. The premise is fascinating. Earth moves into a portion of the galaxy which is absent a form of energy field which our world had previously been surrounded by for perhaps a billion years. The effect of the absence of this "inhibitor field" is that all animal life on Earth experiences a huge increase in nervous system efficiency, mainly resulting in a quantum leap in intelligence. The rest would be telling, but this is a very well-written and fascinating story even if some of the political backdrop is now anachronistic. What would happen if human intelligence quadrupled or more, such that human morons became geniuses, and average humans became something we can perhaps not even imagine? That is the premise of this throught-provoking story. Anderson at his best is hard to beat, and this is among his best works. Every lover of Science Fiction should read and own this novel, as should anyone who loves a good yarn that stretches the reader's imagination.

I've read this novel when I was a teenager in the mythical Argentinean sci-fi magazine "Más Allá". It was published in the last two volumes edited. I've treasured my collection for more than 40 years. Time and again I reread the most outstanding novels and short stories kept there as in a time shell. "Brain Wave" is one of the best novels written by Poul Anderson. The argument is great: suddenly all sentient beings start to change. Everybody is more intelligent each day. Cattle start to avoid slaughter. Horses refuse to be saddled. Brock, a moron peasant, start to have lucid insights and want to read. The rest of humankind tries to cope with emotional disturbance, weird dreams, creativity shocks, religious surges and many more strange "symptoms". Anderson analyzes this impossible situation and shows the reader a kaleidoscopic maddening universe. Little by little things began to fall in place and a new civilization emerges from chaos. The follow up of the story is done by some key characters ranging from the retarded Brock, thru the ordinary housewife distressed by the new unsolicited abilities till her scientific husband and his neighbors. The novel has an optimistic conclusion as was styled in the blessed `50s sci-fi. Take a romp thru it, you won't be disappointed! Reviewed by Max Yofre.

This is a great classic by one of the very greatest masters of science-fiction. I have just re-read it and am again awe-struck by just how good a writer Anderson was. The premise of the story is that the intelligence of everyone on Earth - humans and animals - trebles. There is chaos at first - no one wants to do dull but necessary jobs any more, animals rebel against being slaughtered, monkeys learn to use guns. There is a tragic love-story but the end is deeply satisfying. Anderson not only keeps the story pacing along, but, as always, can evoke awe and wonder, with some very pointed and poignant comments on the human condition. The book was written quite a while ago but is as fresh as ever. If you read no other science-fiction, read this!

I do'nt usually read Poul Anderson's books. He's just not one of my favorite writers. This book , though , IS one of my favorites.The basic premise is that for unknown millions of years the world and it's surroundings have been in a kind of force-field - one that slows down electricity.Since we've been under it's influence before we became intelligent , when it's influence is lifted from our brains , all the living beings on earth becomes three or four times as intelligent as before.One cute point : It is possible that earth entry into this force-field is what killed the dinosaurs.Some die , some are not able to deal with their new abilities and become insane and some , as always , carry on.The way Anderson developes that basic brilliant premise is remarkeble. It is well written and very interesting. The book has not one but a couple of heroes , and it's following them in their dealing with the change and their activities as super-geniuses. Very recommended.