Mind GamesConditioned to enhance an inborn ability to acutely perceive another's emotional state, Klavik, security director of a massive world ruled by the sole monarchy in neohuman interstellar society, investigates the ruler's assassination while on holiday in parsecs-distant Eden, a terraformed pleasure world operated by a distant syndicate peopled by alien exotics. A pair of royal companions force themselves upon Klavik during his sojourn in Eden, where his empathic perception “sixth sense” enables him to fasten on a nervous official as a prime suspect to interrogate, but is frustrated because his energies must be channeled toward protecting his illustrious companions. Eden's planetary director, Shatterhand, ushers the threesome into a “hall of mirrors” where nothing is as it seems. After feints and ploys designed to distract or frighten he and his charges away, Klavik senses “nibblings” at the limbic fringes of his mind, and intuits the the presence of an alien telepath. Sly mental assaults persist until his charges are taken hostage, and the ultimate confrontation erupts in a rapacious battle of wills. |
From inside the book
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... Eden, 1 iernfnrmed “pleasure world” owned by i commercial alien syndiclie, w» cpinplnions inree themselves upon Klnvik durin his invesiigzlive sojn'urn in Eden, ilie rime minisier inii, e adolescent prince, heir were“: in Men's luclcul ...
... Eden's raw, pristine state — a frigid, backwater planet smaller than Old Earth, the neohuman ancestral home. Selected from hundreds of candidates because it best fit the prescribed template, the lonely planet featured large, ice-covered ...
... Eden, the resort world's chosen name. Reared in accordance with Syndicate precepts, their maturation rates paralleled final constructions. The Parvon Syndicate's investment of time, energy and valuta was immense. The predicated long ...
... Eden. The Lord Regent, Protector of the Crown during the monarch's extended absence, had been viciously maligned by the rightwing Kaolin media, also condemning Kraan's wan, unwell ruler in absentia for “turning his back” on grossly ...
... Eden. His Omnipotence has been assassinated.” His limbs turned rubbery, Klavik sank back into a lounge. He stared upward, speechless, at the artificially stoic mask of Prime Minister Kurani. two Massed drummers beat a slow dirge tempo ...