Paolo Loschi Loschi itibaren الصايه عفار، イエメン itibaren الصايه عفار، イエメン

Shepherd Blaine telepathically travels to other planets, working for a corporation called Fishhook. Fishhook has a monopoly on this means of travel, and thereby a monopoly on all the goods and information brought back to Earth. The general public fears and distrusts Fishhook, but still buys their products, and resents the hell out of the whole thing. Other paranormals, or "parries" not working for (and protected by) Fishhook are hunted and killed like witches in the 16th century. When Blaine encounters an alien consciousness and melds with it, he is forced to leave Fishhook and go on the run. Encountering parry hunters, reformers, and always one step ahead of Fishhook agents, he grapples with this new alien side of himself and what his new purpose is in life. Interestingly, the only other book by Simak I have read featured folks who telepathically traveled to the stars as well. I wonder if this is a common theme with him. Also similarly to that other book [A Choice of Gods], this novel is short on action and long on philosophical musings. The action parts are quite suspenseful and well written, which makes me wish there were more of them. The philosophy is thought-provoking, but largely moot, and relates only to this fictional society. It points out some interesting things about religion, fear, and the power of backlash, but ultimately, irrelevant. I also have a bone to pick with the cover. I don't think the illustrator even read the book because it contained no scene remotely like the man on a barren planet with a space suit, facing down a spherical alien craft. No one even bodily traveled to another world, or encountered any aliens in battle. It's terribly misleading. I don't mean to be overly critical, because I very much enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this more for people who like to muse about the great 'what ifs' and not for those who like a tight, action-packed space opera (which is what the cover implies).