In any status-hungry culture, the level a man is assigned depends on what people think he is—not on what he is. And that, of course, means that only the deliberately phony has real status!

The odds were right for victory. The problem with computer warfare is that the computer is always logical while the human enemy is not—or doesn’t have to be. And that’s what the Betastani enemy were doing—nothing that the Alphaland computers said they would. Those treacherous foemen were avoiding logic and using such unheard-of devices as surprise and sabotage, treason and trickery. They even had Alphaland’s Deputy of Information believing Betastani propaganda without even realizing it. Of course he still thought he was being loyal to Alphaland, because he thought that one and one must logically add up to two. And that kind of thinking could make him the biggest traitor of them all.

A shorter version of this novel was published in If magazine in Jul and Sep 1969 issues under the title “The Towns Must Roll”.

Legally, the United Planets Organization could do nothing about the repressive, backward planetary governments of Falange, Stalin and Doria. It was imperative, however, that something be done. The UP had proof that a race of highly advanced, warlike aliens existed somewhere in the depths of space-the human-held worlds had to be ready to meet the challenge when it came. For this reason the secret corps, Section G, was formed. No government could be allowed to hold up the progress of mankind; Section G was ordered to bring then down-by any means necessary!

A step in an odd direction—a moment of dizziness—and archaeologist Dan Fielding was thrust through an invisible barrier found hundred years into the past. He was still in the Mexican desert—but it was the desert of the 16th century, and Mexico was in the grip of the conquistador Hernando Cortez.Inevitably, Cortez captured Fielding—and learned of the rich territory north of the Rio Grande. The land that would one day become the U.S. would be his next conquest. Unless Fielding could rally the Indians and erase Cortez's bloody footsteps from the New World forever!

His words alone could change the world—his words alone DID change the world. Was it mass hypnosis, a hex, or THE POWER? First published as “Of Godlike Power” .

What was the secret of San Raphael? It held too many faces from the past. Alex Germain recognized a former lover..then a noted intellectual..and a handsome, courtly Italian. All as young, as vital, as when Alex had first met them--decades earlier. Alex demanded the truth..but he had nothing to do with the murders that began to strike San Raphael. Suddenly the little Mexican village crackled with violence. Battle had been joined. To the losers: nothing but death. To the winners: eternity.

The author, a top science fiction writer who proves equally adept in the mystery field, says of this novel: "The detective isn't tough and he isn't even smart and he doesn't prove the case against the killer. And the boy doesn't get the girl, either. Otherwise, this story is just about like a good many others you've read. At least it starts to read the same way . . . We can't help it if it dissolves into men from Mars, people who believe in spaceships and flying saucers, murders without motive, and heat rays fired by little green men (or were they?)."The publishers disagree about its being and ordinary baffler, even at the outset. Rather, they are of the opinion that its humor, colorful characterizations, fast tempo and sustained suspense make it a must for murder addicts, science fiction fen (the plural of fan in science fictionese), and any other men or Martians with a taste for homicide-cum-fantasy.

Milk run. That’s what they told Ronny Bronston this job would be. “Just like a vacation,” his boss had said. All he and the giant Dorn Horsten would have to do is visit the planet Einstein and see if there was any reason not to admit them to United Planets. The planet was a paradise, where the people had bred themselves for intelligence and beauty, where everyone was completely free. Free, sometimes, to get into more trouble than they could handle. Only Ronny could get them out of that trouble; and that’s how he wound up on the Dawnworld, in a gladiator’s arena!

Here, the world situation has become so confused that a young American living on Negative Income Tax finds himself drafted into an international espionage assignment by no less than 5 opposing interests. It is a story of humor and adventure that will be hard to forget!

25 great modern and classic tales of devils, demons, and the macabre.