Short Story Where Mind Reading Is Universal - and Catastrophic.

[mosaix]

This was a short story I read many years ago. Maybe in Analog. Maybe in the 80s.

A space traveler returns to Earth to find society in meltdown. Whilst he's been away a scientist has released a virus(?) that has given everyone the ability to read everyone else's mind.

People can't stand it. They can't get used to what goes on in other people's head - the hatred, abuse etc. that is normally hidden. Society disintegrates.

Hope someone remembers it.

 

[hitmouse]

I know I have read this. Quite apart from the babel fish in HHGTTG.

 

[Cinderfall]

I have read this one I believe.
In my memory, it was a voyage subject to time dilation and the setup for the mindreading apocalypse was done before the astronauts left, the author of the tech was a friend of the expedition leader. They return to find the situation you describe and a sole survivor.
Further details: there is a scene with lions hunting using a telepathic link, the survivor can only hunt using a sniper rifle because he cannot get close to the animals.
The story closes with the astronauts leaving earth again I think.

Possibly republished in the mammoth book of post apoc science fiction, orange cover with a burnt out car on it.

 

[Cinderfall]

Bit of googling indicates that the story you are looking for is "The New Wine" by John Christopher?

 

[HareBrain]

Whilst he's been away a scientist has released a virus(?) that has given everyone the ability to read everyone else's mind.

People can't stand it. They can't get used to what goes on in other people's head - the hatred, abuse etc. that is normally hidden. Society disintegrates.

Is the scientist Tim Berners-Lee?

 

[mosaix]

Is the scientist Tim Berners-Lee?

Excellent reply, HareBrain. I think that’s exactly what’s happening.

 

[mosaix]

Bit of googling indicates that the story you are looking for is "The New Wine" by John Christopher?

Thanks, Cinderfall, I’ll follow that up tomorrow.