Seven from the Stars

Weird little story. Aliens (human, but from elsewhere) are stranded on Earth - their lifeboat self-destructs and they have to adapt to life here. But there's an extra threat - extra-dimensional aliens who take over and use human bodies. Is there one among them? Are there some on Earth? How can they tell, and how deal with it? The least believable part of the story is how willing authorities are to believe the whole thing... though I suppose someone shooting a ray-gun is a big assist towards belief. It's very much a relationships story - the whole spaceships and ray-guns structure is only the backdrop. Friends, and enemies, and love, and hate...that's the important part of the story. Oh, and telepathy, and empathy. Which complicates the show more relationships, when it doesn't simplify them. Odd and interesting little book. show less

A quick, light read - there's a fiery crash in the night - 7 survivors, one badly injured. During the night the man dies - but the baby is born.
Can these 7 from the stars, survive, hide what they are, and find a way to get home from an interdicted planet when their world believes they are all dead?
Should they make contact with the locals? And if so, what kind of story should they use?

Double publication: Marion Zimmer Bradley: Seven from the Stars & Worlds of the Imperium: Keith Laumer