Three to conquer

A character named Harper is the protagonist of this story about aliens from Venus taking over the minds of humans. After a ship sets out from Earth to explore Venus, the three astronauts neglect to report back to authorities. They're back, but they're not the same three explorers who set out. Now they're in hiding, and looking to convert more terrestrials to their way, and the only man on Earth who can detect them is Harper. There's one part that is very sexist, as another reviewer pointed out, and really knocks points off the otherwise talented characterization.

Mientras Wade Harper, fabricante de micro herramientas, viaja en coche, oye en su mente la llamada de auxilio de un hombre, un agente de policía que ha sido atacado. Antes de fallecer, Harper logra recabar ciertas pistas para la investigación. Sin embargo, el talento de Harper, que es capaz de leer las mentes, deberá usarse para una amenaza mayor.

‘Tres que capturar’ (Three to Conquer, 1956), del británico Eric Frank Russell, es una buena historia de ciencia ficción, con una primera parte, la que más me ha gustado, con buenos elementos detectivescos y de misterio. La parte central se hace algo repetitiva, pero remonta al final. Creo que hubiese funcionado mejor como novela corta.

During my continuing review of classic SF (1950s-60s) authors I have run the gamut of, "This is why you are forgotten" to "Why did this author not become the next Asimov, Clarke, or Heinlein".

I have discovered a few lost jewels. Leigh Bracket, Chad Oliver, J. T. McIntosh, and Lloyd Biggle are good examples. Now I can add to the list of winners.

Eric Frank Russell is good. At least his novel "Three to Conquer" is good. It is that pleasant mix of mystery and SF. The characters are regular people, except our lead, and the time period could be anytime in the 21st century. I will be looking for more of his work.

Wade Harper, a capable entrepeneur with an unusual talent, discovers a secret invasion of Earth. In his efforts to stop it, he'll be forced to deal with intransigent bureaucracies and reveal far more of his capabilities than he ever wished to. One of the better 'alien invasion' novels.

This was ok. Very Heinleinian hero, just a little better than everyone else. Never really has any failures. Very much of its time.

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Wade Harper nació con una mente singular que le separaba de las demás gentes por conocerlas demasiado.
Pero cuando los seres desconocidos de Venus se apoderaron de los cuerpos muertos de tres terrestres introduciendo su mente en los mismos, es cuando Wade Harper se ve acosado por la policía y por los seres de aquel planeta.