First published 1956
Down-on-his-luck actor Lorenzo Smythe is unexpectedly recruited to impersonate a kidnapped Martian diplomat. With interplanetary peace at stake, Smythe must flawlessly pull off the ruse, even as his own life hangs in the balance. Thrust into a high-stakes game of galactic politics, Smythe must navigate treacherous alliances and deadly assassins to prevent all-out war. In the end, this reluctant hero discovers an inner strength and purpose he never knew he possessed.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, action, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, reluctant-hero
Setting: Mars
Period: 20th-century
128 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Signet