Mack Reynolds – författare

The author, a top science fiction writer who proves equally adept in the mystery field, says of this novel: “The detective isn’t tough and he isn’t even smart and he doesn’t prove the case against the killer. And the boy doesn’t get the girl, either. Otherwise, this story is just about like a good many others you’ve read. At least it starts to read the same way . . . We can’t help it if it dissolves into men from Mars, people who believe in spaceships and flying saucers, murders without motive, and heat rays fired by little green men (or were they?).”The publishers disagree about its being and ordinary baffler, even at the outset. Rather, they are of the opinion that its humor, colorful characterizations, fast tempo and sustained suspense make it a must for murder addicts, science fiction fen (the plural of fan in science fictionese), and any other men or Martians with a taste for homicide-cum-fantasy.

Here is a saucy, realistic ovel of a group of pleasure-seeking expatriates living it up in the Paris that few tourists see . . .Shelley Halliday, who made a living showing the seamy side of Parisian night life to Americans . . .Felicity Patterson, twice wed and many times brought to bed, who wanted Shelley but would marry only . . .Michael Brett-James, a titles Englishman, who preferred “men” but was willing to settle for a mere woman if she had money . . .Bigelow Warren, who could be virile with a “bad” woman but was always impotent with a “good” one until he met . . .Connie Lockwood, Shelley’s childhood sweetheart, still a virgin, but dying to start living.Paris was a powerful experience to all of them, adding salt to their wounds, balm to their spirits and spice to their lives.

She had coolly planned a campaign to settle her difficulties. A trip to the French Riviera. A stranger - an attractive man without strings. One who would welcome an affair with an American girl.The first man she ran into was expatriate Steve Cogswell. Good! Just right, thought Nadine.Until Gerald Silletoe followed her from the States and tried to force her to marry him, using every method from blackmail to mayhem . . .Until Steve’s luscious ex-wife, Fay, showed up. And Mart Gunther, his ex-business partner . . .Until Steve was robbed of the money he needed to pay off gambler Constantin Kamiros . . .And until Nadine got into Steve’s bed and begged for what she didn’t want . . .

There were things about Rome that Max Fielding would always remember: the titles ladies who acted like tramps, the tramps who acted like ladies, and the movie starlets intent on parlaying a big chest and a small talent in stardom.He could never forget the movie studios of Rome where, for a few months, he became part of the inner circle and learned to play the internationally famous games called Musical Beds.That’s how he met elfin Nadine Barney, a bundle of energy, who learned that sometimes you can catch up with a man by not running after him.This was Rome, City of Eternal Lust, where Bacchanalia was a morning, noon, and night proposition.

Larry Land started his European trek with the idea of seeing as much of the continent and its way of life as he could in a year. To pay his way, he photographed celebrities.That’s how he met the notorious Countessa di Loraine - or Marcy, to her intimates. And Larry quickly became one of her intimates.Life moved into high gear when Marcy introduced him to The Jet Set, - wild parties, yacht cruises, champagne and beef bourguignon, weekends in Spain, nights in Paris, and the insatiable demands of movie queen Loretta Alsace.Larry was living it up - until he met Dorry Malloy and fell in love. That was the beginning of the end, for no one could dump The Jet Set and escape their vicious revenge.