The King of Dreams

Silverberg, Robert. The King of Dreams. "First published in Great Britain by Voyager 2001." London: Voyager-HarperCollins, 2002.

A late book in the RS's Majipoor cycle of heroic stories set on a huge planet isolated from whatever sentient species remain in the galaxy and mostly low-tech and technologically stagnant, with some exceptions. Relevant here for the technological exception of a "helmet" that gives one psi powers. KoD deals with the possibilities of planet-wide peace and stability offered by such a helmet worn by a highly moral King of Dreams, acting as a new Power on Majipoor. Dealt with at greater length: the power for evil when mind control is in the hands of an evil person. Mentioned but not developed: the possibilities of tyranny from constant surveillance of populations—even by good people—with such a device. See for a technology so far advanced it appears like magic. Key passages are in chapters Two.7 and .12; Three.1, .5, .6, .12, .14, .15, .16, .19 / pages 107, 112 f. 155 f., 215, 252, 254 f., 268 f.; 123, 218, 316, 353, 365, 397; 433, 420, 449-50, 460, 476 f., 508-9 (pagination in the 2002 edn.) (RDE, 24/07/02)