num_pages: 29
description: "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" is an adaptation of a Kurt Vonnegut short story that was part of the collection Welcome to the Monkey House. It originally appeared in 1950 in Collier's Weekly. It is also the subject of an Alexisonfire song. The protagonist, Professor Arthur Barnhouse, develops the ability to affect physical objects &amp; events thru the force of his mind. He calls his power 'dynamo-psychism'. He makes the mistake of telling the government about his power. When they try to turn him into a weapon, Barnhouse decides that he is the first weapon with a conscience, &amp; goes into hiding. While in this reclusive state the Professor uses his 'dynamo-psychic' powers to destroy large quantities of weapons, &amp; other things used in states of war. He realizes tho, that he will die eventually &amp; decides to pass down his "powers" to an ex-student. The story is told as a report by this ex-student, hence the title.
language: English
title: The Barnhouse Effect
titlecomplete: The Barnhouse Effect
characters: Arthur Barnhouse
genres: Literature, Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Stories
ratings_count: 253
publisher: Dramatic Pub. Co.