Fredric Brown wrote wonderful mysteries and wonderful science fiction. Not many writers are that skilled and that adroit. The Mind Thing blends science fiction with mystery. An alien criminal is exiled on Earth, in rural Wisconsin. If he can find a way back to his home planet, the alien will be pardoned. The alien looks like a small turtle, but he has the power to take over the minds of sleeping creatures. He can only be released from his hosts by killing them. Much of the book involves the alien’s attempt to take possession of Doc Staunton, a vacationing MIT professor, who would provide the perfect access to technology that would allow the alien to return to his home planet. But Staunton suspects something is wrong from the rash of animal deaths and human suicides. Fredric Brown creates a cat-and-mouse game that ends with a bang. Don’t miss this one!
Good pick!
Some of the best writing in THE MIND THING is when the alien takes over cats to spy on the humans, Bill. Fredric Brown really captures the essence of being a cat. Very impressive!
While not quite up there with MARTIANS, GO HOME or WHAT MAD UNIVERSE, this is pretty darn entertaining. Despite the grim stakes–possible enslavement of the human race–this is a low-key, almost mellow affair. If there had been more humor, I’d say it could be a really odd, charming episode of the old b&w Andy Griffith show.
If it was made into a movie today, it’d be really loud, stupid, and have a male model playing the role of the clever and middle-aged Doc, who was one of Brown’s most appealing characters.
Happily, a new edition was issued a few years ago.
Excellent analysis, Drongo! Fredric Brown wrote this book in an understated way that is very effective.
I remember – now that you’ve posted this – reading and liking this book, the same cover and all. I didn’t think then, and still don’t that the cover conveys much about the book, but then that would be no surprise, would it?
A good choice, George. No grade?
All my FORGOTTEN BOOKS are “A” quality, Rick. The cover is eye-catching.
By the way, this is included in the NESFA Press 2002 volume MARTIANS AND MADNESS, which is still in print and also includes WHAT MAD UNIVERSE, THE LIGHTS IN THE SKY ARE STARS, MARTIANS, GO HOME and ROGUE IN SPACE. Also included are the two short stories “Gateway to Darkness” and “Gateway to Glory”, which were extensively re-written to become ROGUE IN SPACE.
Anyone wanting to read Brown’s science fiction will be happy with this collection, and it’s companion volume of short fiction, FROM THESE ASHES also published by NESFA.
It should come as no surprise to you, Rick, that I own both NESFA volumes and I highly recommend them.
Richard Robinson: “ROUGE IN SPACE” ??
The coda to the story was kinda sappy, but it came late enough in the book not to spoil it.
Very funny, Dan!
I’ve read some of his shorts, which were amazing.
Fredric Brown may have been a better short story writer than a novelist, Patti, but he was very good at both.
You can tell that ROGUE IN SPACE was sewn together from different pieces. Brown’s least impressive sf novel, though still definitely worth reading.
Everything Fredric Brown wrote is worth reading, Drongo.
Dan caught me out in my silly misspelling. Mea culpa. Thanks for making the correction, George.
Glad to be of assistance, Rick.
George:
BTW, I did get the Anthony Boucher book you recommended last month. I’m about 2/3 through with it. Now I have several hundred books Boucher liked that I could be trying to track down if I had but money enough and time. At the very least, I guess, I should read something by Craig Rice to see if she is anything like as good as Boucher thought. And in addition to all the mysteries, the book he raved about most fervently was a mainstream novel, “The Steeper Cliff” by David Davidson; I had never heard of the book or the author. I guess that would certainly qualify as a forgotten book.
Glad you’re enjoying the Anthony Boucher book, Steve. I love books that point me to even more great books and Boucher’s book certainly does that. I’m going to have to seek out THE STEEPER CLIFF by David Davidson since you peaked my interest, too. Plenty of the books Boucher recommended can still be found in some of the remaining used bookstores. And, of course, the Internet provides access.
Drone: I think it was made into a 50’s sic-fi movie. I read this when it first came out in paperback and then years later saw Roger Corman’s THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES. The stories are almost the same (except for the appearance of the “beast”). Heinlein sued Corman over a cheap 50’s epic called THE BRAIN EATERS. The screen writer stole his ideas from THE PUPPET MASTERS. Don’t know if Brown ever noticed the similarities.
Ken, thanks for the info!
The Mind Thing was published in 1961, six years after Beast with a Million Eyes.