Psychopath Plague: Symphony Terror-Cn

I took a chance on the Psychopath Plague while browsing in a local secondhand book store. The main character is Elias Cain a rootless jack of all trades in a future(no date is ever given)where specialization is the key. Mr. Cains most notable quirk is his need for stimulation provided by any risky situation. After winning a high stakes game(some sort of super chess) our hero gains his loyal alien sidekick Pendrake. Soon, this duo sets out to discover why Earth is suffering from a wave of violence that threatens to wipe out all humans if not stopped. The characters are well developed and likable in a fast paced plot. The 1978 copyright gives a charming precomputer feel to a future setting. I got a chuckle out of the hero picking the key lock on a spaceship. The only problem with the book is the ending is a bit hashed together to fit within the 252 page length.