
Kenneth J. Malone, a weary FBI agent, drags himself out of bed on a morning that feels ominously wrong. Staring into a rippled mirror, he finds his own reflection warped, his confidence shaken, and a lingering sense that something far stranger than a bad haircut is afoot. The narrative captures his cynical humor as he wrestles with the mundanity of post‑vacation life while hinting at a deeper, unseen menace.
Set against the backdrop of a 1970s Washington, D.C., the story blends dry bureaucratic banter with a creeping sense of unease. Malone’s routine—chasing counterfeit rings, polishing his pistol, and polishing his self‑image—quickly spirals into a puzzling mystery that promises more than the usual case file. Listeners can expect a clever mix of science‑fiction intrigue and witty, self‑deprecating commentary, all delivered in a brisk, engaging style that keeps the tension simmering without giving away the twists that lie ahead.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (231K characters)
Series
Psi-Power 1
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2007-08-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1927–1987
A fast, prolific storyteller, he helped shape the feel of mid-20th-century science fiction and fantasy. He is especially remembered for the Lord Darcy mysteries, which blend detective fiction with an alternate world ruled by magic.
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1933–2002
A prolific and versatile science fiction writer, he spent more than fifty years publishing novels, stories, criticism, and collaborations. He is especially remembered for witty, fast-moving speculative fiction and for the humorous "Mark Phillips" books written with Randall Garrett.
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