Earth was a planet of incompetents, but Simmons was the greatest loser of all. It seemed as if the powers of the Universe were concentrated on grinding his small soul into ultimate insignificance... until the aliens came. To them, Simmons was the most important human on the planet - for only through his mind could they overcome this world.

First published in the USA by Lancer Books 1972
© Barry Malzberg 1972
Chapter 1 of this novel, in different form, appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and is © by the Mercury Press Inc.
First NEL Paperback edition December 1975

The mission was to Folsom's planet, the purpose was to educate the native inhabitants and bring them within the Federation.

But Commander Hans Folsom was worried. Something had happened on the voyage, but he could not remember what. A runic stone he had found on the planet seemed to have a power of its own. And now the messages from Earth were becoming meaningless.

Then there was the crew. Were they educating the natives correctly or were they traitors? Or was Commander Folsom going mad? Could it be that some unknown force was controlling his mind, a force that could bring disaster to the mission?

First published in the USA by Pocket Books in 1974
© 1974 by Barry N Malzberg
First NEL Paperback edition January 1977