It was really fascinating to try to see this book through the eyes of it's contemporaries, give or take a few decades. I've read a lot of classics, and I'm ashamed that I had never gotten around to this one until this late. As a cat-and-mouse tale it was solid and fascinating. As a malicious psychological examination of megalomania, ethics, and daddy issues, the book really shines. 
 The style is very good for the day. I've read much, much worse, but honestly, it's still good even for today's writing. It's just has a different speed and focus. 
 I especially loved to recall how many other subsequent writers have taken pages from Bester's book, great reused ideas, sometimes done better, often done much worse. I can see exactly why this novel was chosen as the first hugo winner, because it truly set itself above the rest. Telepathy was the biggest gimmick in the book, but it was explored so very thoroughly, as teleportation had been exhausted in The Stars My Destination, that I can do very little but admire how adroitly it was all pulled off. 
 I think I liked Stars better, strangely, but I really loved The Demolished Man.