(Found) Last Survivor waits return of last Astronaut: telepathy killed the rest

[Nivek]

I'd guess this was a short story or novella, read in school early 80's so perhaps young adult Sci-Fi.
A ring of satellites is about to be switched on which will make everyone telepathic, at the same time a space ship launches.
Years later - everyone bar one is dead and she awaits the return of the Astronaut to restart the human race - but for some reason - cannot as he has aged too much - I think. Essentially we all set about each other because everyone could read each others nasty thoughts, there were no more secrets.
Many thanks if anyone can name this for me
Kevin

 

[Danny McG]

The new wine by John Christopher?
(Aka return to Earth)

 

[mosaix]

An excellent story. And an analogy for what the internet has done, where we are exposed to other peoples ‘nasty thoughts’.

 

[Danny McG]

@Nivek
Kevin, you wanna confirm if this is the story you were seeking?
Then it can be marked as found
Cheers
Danny

 

[Nivek]

Found, many thanks all,
Kevin

 

[Nivek]

Guys, am coming back to this as I cannot find a copy, and wondering if you could suggest an anthology as am really keen to have it in digital form. Appreciate any pointers. Am in China and never sure if my searches are as efficient as they could be

 

[mosaix]

Have a look at this link. Good luck.

The New Wine

books.google.co.uk

Unfortunately, the link says that it's not available in digital form.

 

[otistdog]

ISFDB has a listing of known publications of the story. I thought that the Internet Archive might have a copy of the original publication (Fantastic Story, summer 1954), but it unfortunately doesn't.