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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... voice the familiar concluding mantra, but did so anyhow on general principles. “You noticed nothing unusual that night, no untoward incidents, no strangers on the premises?” A blink of surprise. “Strangers down here? Security's tight as ...
... voice. “Report to the Palace without delay, Klavik. Prime Minister Kurani awaits your arrival. Go now, now, now! ” Klavik frowned. “Particulars?” “A planetary emergency has been declared. The PM ordered a crash-priority search for your ...
... voice edged with rancor, he said, “We've a major crisis to conted with, and learning you were out of your office gave me doubt. May I ask where you were?” “At the arsenal, Prime Minister. I'm still investigating the —” “Ah, the thorium ...
... voice the peoples of Kraan had shouted vociferous demands for the culpable head or heads to be searched out, run to ground and obliterated. Media pundits aligned with either political faction had trumpeted a concerted warning that if ...
... voice. “I beg you to reconsider, Highness. For all we know the vermin responsible for perpetrating the infamy may still be in Eden.” “Oh, I hope so,” said Kewart with feeling. “It will make them easier to track down, and exterminate ...