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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... warning that if some unknown malefactor had used Eden's arbiters of pleasure to effect the loathsome crime, why then so much the worse for Eden. Klavik knew resolving the question of guilt, and bringing the perpetrator before the bar of ...
... warning that Kurani's blood pressure was soaring. On the verge of saying something he might later regret, Kurani drew a deep breath and willed himself to calmness. “What you propose, Highess, could place Kraan's entire future in ...
... warning flags. Time after time, take after take, no matter how my cameraman frames a scene, the damned crater creeps into it and ruins the long-shot we simply must get on holodisc.” Waiting with outward patience for the director to wear ...
... warn away trespassers. “Eventually,” Klavik heard the PM tell the prince, a break in his voice, “we shall erect a proper monument here.” A bleak nod was Kewart's only response. Buford leaned from the carriage holding a sheaf of digitial ...
... warning, unfriendly one,” said the director. “Step aside. My key grip is known far and wide as Rough 'n Tumble Timmy.” Robust and eager to please, the tall, muscular youngster stood a half-head shorter than Klavik. Grinning, he moved to ...