"Report on the Barnhouse Effect" is the first
short story
A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...
written and published by American writer
Kurt Vonnegut. It originally appeared in the February 11, 1950 issue of ''
Collier's Weekly''. In 1952, the story was included in the science fiction anthology ''
Tomorrow, the Stars ''Tomorrow, the Stars'' is an anthology of speculative fiction short stories, presented as edited by American author Robert A. Heinlein and published in 1952.
Heinlein wrote a six-page introduction in which he discussed the nature of science fictio ...
'', edited by
Robert A. Heinlein. It is also part of the collection ''
Welcome to the Monkey House'', published in 1968.
The story was adapted for broadcast on
NBC's ''
Dimension X'' radio program. The episode first aired on April 8, 1950.
Report on the Barnhouse Effect
www.mevio.com. Retrieved on 2014-03-29.
Plot summary
The story takes the form of a report written by an ex-student of the story's protagonist, Professor Arthur Barnhouse. A year and a half before the writing of the report the professor develops the ability to affect physical objects and events through the force of his mind; he comes to call this power "dynamopsychism", while the press adopts the term "the Barnhouse effect". When Barnhouse makes the mistake of informing the US government of his newfound abilities, they try to turn him into a weapon. The program is successful, but Barnhouse, declaring himself the world's 'first weapon with a conscience', flees and goes into hiding. While in this reclusive state Barnhouse uses his dynamopsychic powers to destroy all nuclear and conventional weapon stockpiles, along with other military technologies. However, he realizes that because he is mortal, the world will revert to its warlike tendencies after he dies. Barnhouse passes on the secret of his abilities to his ex-student, who goes into hiding after he begins to manifest them as well.
Notes
References
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External links
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Radio version of "Report on the Barnhouse Effect"
(Internet Archive)
Short stories by Kurt Vonnegut
1950 short stories
Works originally published in Collier's
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