Psi-Power Trilogy

Series · 4 books · 1959-1960

By Laurence M. Janifer, Randall Garrett

Books in series

Brain Twister

1959

"Mark Phillips" was the pseudonym of two well-known science fiction writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer. Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention. Both men were drunk at the time, which explains a good deal, and only one ever sobered up. A matter for constant contention between the collaborators was which one. They collaborated for some years, and devised an interesting method of work: Mr. Garrett handled the verbs, the adverbs and the interjections, Mr. Janifer the nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. Conjunctions are a matter of joint decision, and in the case of a tie, the entire game was replayed at Fenway Park, Boston, the following year. Regardless of who wrote what, Brain Twister is a highly enjoyable novel about spies and telepathy, as only two great writers could have conceived it!

The Impossibles

1960

Pseudonym Mark Phillips In two words Im Possible. First, late-model cars began driving themselves away - with nobody at the wheel... Then, valuables began vanishing from locked rooms... It was a new kind of crime. And Malone, the Government's expert on "impossibilities," was afraid it was a new kind of criminal...one who could disappear at will, walk through walls, and thumb his nose at the police. And Malone was dead right...

Supermind

1960

Librarian note: This PB edition was originally going to be published with ISBN10: 1603123032 (ISBN13: 9781603123037) but was not actually published. The ISBN has reverted to the original book it was meant for: Bone Music. Mark Philips was the pseudonym used for SF collaborations between Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer. As Mark Philips, they produced SF three novels featuring FBI agent Kenneth J. Malone. The stories originally appeared in shorter versions in "Analog Science Fiction" magazine in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Malone lives in a world where psionic powers such as telepathy and teleportation exist. Malone must cope with them as well as an FBI Director who leaves Malone continually confused about what situation he is being asked to handle and what he is expected to do about it. Published in "Analog" as "Occasion for Disaster," "Supermind" has Malone investigating a series of incidents in which people make mistakes—sometimes minor, and sometimes major—that lead to disasters. It looks like a secret cabal of psis may be behind events, influencing the behavior of those involved. Are they? And if so, why? Malone must find out if it kills him—which is a very real possibility.

#1-3

Queen's Own FBI

1960

This volume contains all three novels featuring FBI agent Kenneth J. Malone in the Queen's Own FBI (also known as the Psi-Power Series) trilogy: Book One: Brain Twister (That Sweet Little Old Lady) Book Two: The Impossibles (Out Like a Light) Book Three: Supermind (Occasion for Disaster) FBI agent Kenneth J. Malone lives in a world where psionic powers such as telepathy and teleportation exist. Malone must cope with them as well as an FBI Director who leaves Malone constantly confused about what situation he is being asked to handle and what he is expected to do about it. Brain Twister: All the FBI needed to save America was a telepath. Then agent Kenneth Malone found one. Only she was crazy and thought she was Queen Elizabeth. He also needs her help when teenage gang members can escape police and payment for their crimes by teleporting away and vanishing—appearing to simply wink out like a light. The Impossibles: This novel involves Malone with a new kind of crime wave. Cars drive themselves away with nobody at the wheel. Valuables begin vanishing from locked rooms. Malone is afraid it's a new kind of criminal—who can disappear at will, walk through walls, and thumb his nose at the police. Malone is right . . . Supermind: It continues to follow the adventures of FBI Agent Malone as he investigates psychic criminals. He investigates a series of incidents in which people make mistakes—sometimes minor, and sometimes major—that lead to disasters. It looks like a secret cabal of psis may be behind events, influencing the behavior of those involved. Are they? And if so, why? Malone must find out if it kills him—which is a very real possibility. Full of intrigue and adventure, these sci-fi novels are a must for pulp literature fans.

Authors

Laurence M. Janifer

Author · 6 books

Laurence M. Janifer (born Laurence M. Harris) was an American science fiction author, with a career spanning over 50 years. Janifer was born in Brooklyn, New York with the surname of Harris, but in 1963 took the original surname of his Polish grandfather. Many of his early stories appeared under the "Larry M. Harris" byline. Though his first published work was a short story in Cosmos magazine in 1953, his career as a writer can be said to have started in 1959 when he began writing for Astounding and Galaxy Science Fiction. He co-wrote the first novel in the "Psi-Power" series: Brain Twister, written with Randall Garrett under the joint pseudonym Mark Phillips. The novel was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1960, and published in book form in 1962. Janifer's best known work is the "Survivor" series, comprising five novels and many short stories. The series follows the career of Gerald Knave as he visits (and survives to tell the tale of) planets on the outskirts of the civilized galaxy. In addition to his career as a novelist and short story author, Janifer was an editor for Scott Meredith Literary Agency; editor/managing editor of various detective and science fiction publications; film reviewer for several magazines; and a talented pianist. Laurence Mark Janifer's pseudonyms include: Alfred Blake, Andrew Blake, Larry M. Harris, Mark Phillips (with Randall Garrett), Barbara Wilson, Tom Beach, Robert J. Cassiday, Robert Cassiday, Lorens M. Dženifer, Renee St. Hahn, Laurance Janifer, Sir David Leeds, William Logan, Siral [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurenc...]

Randall Garrett

Author · 37 books

Randall Garrett's full name was Gordon Randall Phillip David Garrett. For more information about him see http://www.irosf.com/q/zine/article/1... He was married to Vicki Ann Heydron His pseudonyms include: Gordon Randall Garrett, Gordon Aghill, Grandal Barretton, Alexander Blade, Ralph Burke, Gordon Garrett, David Gordon, Richard Greer, Ivar Jorgenson, Darrel T. Langart, Blake MacKenzie, Jonathan Blake MacKenzie, Seaton Mckettrig, Clyde (T.) Mitchell, Mark Phillips (with Laurence Janifer), Robert Randall, Leonard G. Spencer, S.M. Tenneshaw, Gerald Vance.