The I Inside by Alan Dean Foster. Set in a sci-fi future, the main character starts demonstrating superhuman powers under stress, for reasons totally unknown to him ( but later revealed ). Mostly superhuman strength, speed and durability.
Slipt by Alan Dean Foster features an old man with a power that - to start with - is just a parlor trick where he pops the tops off jars and bottles with his mind; he’s never cared about it or really done anything with it. The Bad Guys want to lock him up or worse to study him, and he’s forced to figure out how his power works and to stretch it farther and farther until he’s gone well beyond parlor tricks.
Coils by Roger Zelazny involves an amnesiac who discovers his true identity, memories and powers ( he’s essentially telepathic with machines ), and comes into conflict with other empowered people ( a telekinetic and a telepath, I recall offhand ).
The Kundalini Equation by Steven Barnes. Basically written by asking the question, “What if that human potential and secret-wisdom-of-the-ages stuff was actually true ?” The main character unlocks ( with help from books written by Savagi, someone who had a little bit of the ancient knowledge that he stole ) long lost techniques that grant him superhuman powers and perceptions. What he doesn’t know is that the cult Savagi started is still out there, watching and manipulating him; that what he’s discovered isn’t some generic make-yourself-superhuman technique, but a make-yourself-a-living-weapon technique; and that he has no idea how to shut it off or control it.
Joe Haldeman’s Tool of the Trade is a terrific Cold War tale of a guy who acquires mind control (through technological means). One of my favorite SF books - I re-read it every few years. A fascinating premise and thrilling in the telling.
Watchmen is a great graphic novel about superheroes with problems. Big problems.
For the movies, you can’t go wrong with The Incredibles.
I would add **Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem ** - it’s about growing up in Brooklyn in the 70’s - and some super-power type stuff. Lethem is a wonderful writer and the book was very well received by critics - but in this case, that’s actually a good thing!
Did anyone read that book that came out last year written from a super villain’s perspective? The cover was a winged helmet or something? Darn - what is the name? Not really what the OP is looking for, but I remember reading reviews that sounded fun and interesting. I think the name is some cliche saying that a super villian might say…
Zena Henderson’s The People books and stories. They’ve been out of print for at least 20 years, but used are available on Amazon.
The People were crash-landed aliens with assorted psychic powers, who assimilate reasonably well into earth (mostly, if not entirely US) culture, while trying to hide while maintaining their abilities. Well written, and entertaining, they fall into the fantasy genre, NOT horror.
Going by memory, the titles are The People, No Different Flesh; Holding Wonder; Pilgramage; and The Holding Box, and it seems like there is one more. They stand alone, as they’re more interconnected short story collections than a series, IIRC.
I’m not allowing myself to even open Amazon right now, or I’d give you links with prices, and perhaps a coherent review or two.
I have never read Replay. I don’t think I ever even heard of it until today. I just ordered a used copy from Half.com. I love the SDMB! Thanks, y’all. Group hug.
I’d like to echo the comments about Zenna Henderson. Wonderful, haunting, memorable stories.
There’s a UK edition of Dying Inside by Silverberg available, if anybody wants it - I expect Amazon UK will have it…
And somebody mentioned Count Geiger’s Blues by Michael Bishop; it’s pretty good, but not great - another book kind-of like it is Flyboy Action Figure Comes with Gasmask by Jim Munroe where 2 students realise they have special powers and decide to do the right thing, and fight crime (more or less!)
I’ve been thinking about this topic recently, as well. I’ve noticed all the tv shows about super-powered people, and have been wondering whether this is due to people feeling powerless in the real world.
I loved Replay as well, and have been looking for books such as the OP asks for. Thanks for all the good recommendations.
Recently I greatly enjoyed Natasha Mostert’s** Season of the Witch**, in which the main character has “remote viewing” ability.
Bacchus by Eddie Cambell (comic book). Greek mythology for real, in the 1990s.
:smack: myself ‘cause I can NOT remember…a childrens’ book, with this kid who meets a sorcerer who gives him the ability to grow wings, and the kid does stuff like rescue a littler kid stranded on a rowboat in Long Island Sound…dang…set in the 1940s…dang me! This is just escaping me!
Decades ago, I remember looking everywhere for the Anything Box, but without the internet in those days, finding a book was really difficult. In fact I may have some of these packed in the garage, but some of my books were water-damaged.
And I just thought of a more recent example: Scott Westerfeld’s Midnighters series. I’m not always thrilled by his endings, but the series overall was OK and definitely fits the theme the OP is looking for.
