View source for Report on the Barnhouse Effect

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{{Infobox short story | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
| name              = Report on the Barnhouse Effect
| author            = [[Kurt Vonnegut]]
| country           = USA
| language          = [[English language|English]]
| series            = <!--N/A-->
| genre             = [[Short story]]
| published_in       = ''[[Collier's Weekly]]'' (1st release)
| publication_type  = [[Magazine]]
| publisher         =
| media_type        = Print ([[Periodical]])
| pub_date      = [[1950 in literature|1950]]
| preceded_by       = <!--N/A-->
| followed_by       = <!--N/A-->
}}
"'''Report on the Barnhouse Effect'''" is the first [[short story]] written and published by American writer [[Kurt Vonnegut]].<ref>[http://www.theparisreview.com/viewinterview.php/prmMID/3605 The Art of Fiction No. 64, Kurt Vonnegut]. Paris Review (1945-02-13). Retrieved on 2011-06-04.</ref> 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]]'', edited by [[Robert A. Heinlein]]. It is also part of the collection ''[[Welcome to the Monkey House]]'', published in 1968.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/vonnegut.htm |title=Kurt Vonnegut |website=Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi) |first=Petri |last=Liukkonen |publisher=[[Kuusankoski]] Public Library |location=Finland |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706141012/http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/vonnegut.htm |archivedate=6 July 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The story was adapted for broadcast on [[NBC]]'s ''[[Dimension X (radio program)|Dimension X]]'' radio program. The episode first aired on April 8, 1950.<ref>[http://www.mevio.com/episode/54764/dimension-x-report-on-the-barnhouse-effect Report on the Barnhouse Effect]. www.mevio.com. Retrieved on 2014-03-29.</ref>

==Plot summary==
The story takes the form of a report written by an ex-student of the story's titular character, Professor Arthur Barnhouse.  A year and a half before the writing of the report, Barnhouse develops the ability to [[Psychokinesis|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 superweapon with a conscience', flees and goes into hiding.

While remaining out of the public eye, Barnhouse uses his dynamopsychic powers to destroy all nuclear and conventional weapon stockpiles, along with other military technologies. Occasional rumors of his death are swiftly followed by talk of rearming nations and the resumption of warfare. The narrator realizes that the world will return to its old ways after Barnhouse dies. He receives an unsigned note one day and determines after several weeks that it was sent by Barnhouse as a set of instructions for manifesting dynamopsychism. Once the narrator discovers that he too can use the power, he goes into hiding and warns the world that the Barnhouse effect will live on even after the death of its originator.

==Notes==
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==References==
*{{cite news|work=[[New York Times]] |date=August 19, 1968 |author=Mitchel Levitas |title=A Slight Case of Candor |url=http://www.vonnegutweb.com/collections/wttmh_times.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312095449/http://www.vonnegutweb.com/collections/wttmh_times.html |archivedate=March 12, 2009 }}

==External links==
* {{ISFDB title|id=82987|title=The Report on the Barnhouse Effect}}
*[https://archive.org/download/OTRR_Dimension_X_Singles/Dimension_X_1950-04-22__03_ReportOnBarnhouseEffect.mp3 Radio version of "Report on the Barnhouse Effect"] (Internet Archive)

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[[Category:Short stories by Kurt Vonnegut]]
[[Category:1950 short stories]]
[[Category:Works originally published in Collier's]]


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