Eric Frank Russell's "Legwork" (novelette, alien invasion): Solving a weird bank robbery
Most of the story is a detective work - as cops trace the culprit of an extremely weird bank robbery.
But as readers, we already know the culprit: an alien scout who's here to prepare the groundwork for invasion. And he has an unusual ability: within a mile of him, he can make anything with some brains, animal or human, see whatever he wishes them to see.
How do you track someone who could look like anyone or anything? Or nab one who could make you handcuff yourself instead of him!
Rating: A.
Among the stories from Astounding/Analog issues edited by John Campbell.
Related: Stories of Eric Frank Russell (annotated list).
But as readers, we already know the culprit: an alien scout who's here to prepare the groundwork for invasion. And he has an unusual ability: within a mile of him, he can make anything with some brains, animal or human, see whatever he wishes them to see.
How do you track someone who could look like anyone or anything? Or nab one who could make you handcuff yourself instead of him!
See also.
- "Spiro" (download scans as part of a larger package): Another Russell story with similar theme - catching an alien spy that can masquerade as anything to humans around him.
Fact sheet.
First published: Astounding, April 1956.Rating: A.
Among the stories from Astounding/Analog issues edited by John Campbell.
Related: Stories of Eric Frank Russell (annotated list).
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