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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... means immutable. The universe is evanescent, everchanging, and our solemn obligation is to change with it. “His Omnipotence is now one with the universe, where naught is ever lost or gained. Hence it matters not whether in our minds and ...
... mean to slip into Eden as an anonymous tourist. It will be essential, you see, for the investigation to be conducted quietly so that whoever is responsible will not be tempted to—” “Negative!” The denial was crisp, not-to-be-argued-with ...
... means convinced, the former grand marshal stroked his bulldog jaw. He stewed in silence, then reluctantly conceded that Klavik had made his point. “Very well ; never apologize to me for speaking your mind, Klavik. I MIND GAMES Walling ll.
... means and methods, so forth and so on, have undoubtedly undergone shuffling in twenty standard cycles.” “Less so than I anticipated,” informed Klavik. “The window dressing, perhaps, but not the essentials. Eden's senior executive, Emil ...
... would have listened to reason.” “Not for one second,” denied the prince, his manner contemptuous. “He would have done exactly what I mean to do, must do.” “But Highness, you —” “Enough! You've heard my last word MIND GAMES Walling l3.