More Than Human
by Theodore Sturgeon (1953)

Six psionically gifted social misfits wander the backwoods of America and eventually morph into a single being - a symbiotic Homo gestalt superman. This proves to be an effective cure for loneliness and the need for love, although the creature's road to maturity contains its fair share of stuggles. Unsurpassed sensitivity and compassion.

The Stars My Destination
by Alfred Bester (1956)

Energetic 24th century tale of the motivational power of revenge, loosely based on The Count of Monte Cristo. Central character Gully Foyle is left to die in space when a passing ship refuses to render aid. He taps the under-utilised resources of his mind to wreak revenge - becoming a psionic superman in the process. True classic from a genuine master.

A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess (1962)

Jailed for delinquent excesses, an ultra-violent youth is subjected to an experimental form of aversion therapy. Complications arise when his sense of humanity and love of classical music are destroyed. His confessions are told in a Russified near-future teenage jargon. Stanley Kubrick directed the disturbing 1971 feature film.

Dream Master
by Roger Zelazny (1966)

A brilliant psychoanalyst "Shaper" uses a neuroparticipation device to get inside people's minds and influence their dreams. He takes on the challenge of treating a beautiful blind woman who is a resident in psychiatry that wants to become a Shaper. Novel based on the Nebula award winner in its magazine serial version as 'He Who Shapes'.

Flowers for Algernon
by Daniel Keyes (1966)

Moving story of a subnormal floor sweeper named Charly who has his intelligence raised by artificial means. When the lab mouse used to test the process dies, it is found that Charly's high-IQ will deteriorate at a rate "directly proportional to the quantity of the increase". Raises some serious questions about science and humanity.

Macroscope
by Piers Anthony (1969)

The book that helped Piers Anthony emerge from the relative obscurity of the New Wave into mainstream acceptance. The macroscope allows users to check out just about anything anywhere at anytime, making it a politically explosive device. The protagonist tries to analyse some brain-frying alien messages in the macrons, with the results being metaphysically mind-bending.

Dying Inside
by Robert Silverberg (1972)

Despite potential, David Selig never bothered to make much of himself - relying instead on his telepathic abilities to get him through life. With the onset of middle age his abilities start to fail, forcing him to face the prospect of leading a normal life. Obtuse New Wave offering which some critics claim is a camouflaged autobiography. Classic Silverberg.

A Scanner Darkly
by Philip K Dick (1977)

While there is some debate as to the levels of drug-induced influence on Dick's earlier novels, few would argue that by 1977 the head-trip was in full flight. A Scanner Darkly is the ultimate paranoia trip, with a single mind split between a drug dealer peddling the highly addictive Substance D and the narc trying to catch him. Darkly comical surrealist brilliance not to be missed.