Brain Twister

There are a number of science fiction novels that seem to exist primarily for the purpose of making us laugh. They display a humor that is white, light, and slapstick rather than black, grim, and satiric. Some examples (just off the top of my head) of humorous novels include Nelson S. Bond's _Lancelot Biggs-- Spaceman_, Lewis Padgett's _Robots Have No Tails_, Poul Anderson's _The Makeshift Rocket_, Murray Leinster's _The Pirates of Zan_, and Christopher Stasheff's _The Warlock in Spite of Himself_. Mark Phillips's _Brain Twister_ belongs in this company. "Mark Phillips" was the pseudonym of Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer. The novel first appeared as a two-part serial in _Astounding_ in 1959 under the title, "That Sweet Little Old Lady." (It was accompanied by marvelous illustrations by Kelly Freas.) It appeared in book form in 1962 and was set in the "future" of 1971. When the hero finally has an epiphany in which he solves the mystery, the authors give a little nod to Ross MacDonald: A jeep honked raucously and swerved around him. The driver leaned out to curse and Malone waved at him, dimly recognizing a private eye he had once known, a middle-aged man named Archer. Wondering vaguely what Archer was doing this far East, and in a jeep at that, Malone watched the vehicle disappear down the street. (132) But _Brain Twister_ is not a novel in the style of a Ross MacDonald mystery. The key to understanding much about the novel is the name of the F.B.I. hero-- Kenneth J. Malone. It is an echo of Craig Rice's most famous character-- the slightly shady lawyer, John J. Malone. _Brain Twister_ is a screwball mystery story very much in the style and tradition of Craig Rice. The basic situation is this: A psionics machine has determined that scientists at Yucca Flats, Nevada have had their minds scanned by a telepath. But all known telepaths are catatonic and are in mental institutions. After considerable searching, the F.B.I. finds Miss Rose Thompson, a sweet little old lady who is telepathic and lucid-- but who believes that she is Queen Elizabeth Tudor of England. She will help to catch the spy. But only if she is treated like a queen. At one point, Malone challenges her: "Now if you can read my mind, then you must know that I don't _really_ believe that you are Queen Elizabeth of England"(91). Her Majesty replies: "Bless you... I can't help the way you _think_, but as queen, I do have control over the way you _act_"(92). In other words, ladies and gentlemen are not defined by what they _think_ of others but by how they _treat_ others. Malone is a gentleman because he treats Miss Thompson like a queen. Part of the fun in the novel comes from watching the Queen's Own ladies and gentlemen in action. There were two less than stellar sequels to _Brain Twister_ published later-- _The Impossibles_ and _Supermind_. Never mind them. _Brain Twister_ is a neat job of science fiction entertainment.

Like the first book in this trilogy, The Impossibles, Braintwisters is an engaging adventure and mystery that made me laugh at least once a page. It continues to follow the adventures of the rather un-dashing FBI Agent Malone as he investigates psychic criminals. This time it's not telepaths he's after, though.... Somebody should really reprint these books!