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Newly accepted as a Special Agent of the star-spanning United Planets organization, Ronny Bronston found that his first assignment was one which had taken the lives of dozens of agents before him: he was to track down a man named Tommy Paine.
"We've been trying to catch him for twenty years," said Ronny's section chief. "How long before that he was active, we have no way of knowing. It was some time before we became aware that half the revolts, coups d'etats and assassinations that occur in the United Planets have his dirty finger stirring around in them."
"But what motivates him?" Ronny asked. "What's he get out of all the war and killing he stirs up?" "Nobody seems to know. But the best guess is that he's insane -- a homicidal maniac on an intergalactic scale. He's dangerous, Ronny, and you've got to get him!"
About the author
Dallas McCord "Mack" Reynolds was an American science fiction writer born on November 11, 1917, in Corcoran, California, and passing away on January 30, 1983, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, at the age of 65. Throughout his career, Reynolds wrote under various pen names, including Dallas Ross, Mark Mallory, Clark Collins, Dallas Rose, Guy McCord, Maxine Reynolds, Bob Belmont, and Todd Harding. His work was primarily focused on speculative fiction, with notable short stories such as Status Quo, A Leader for Yesteryear, Black Sheep Astray, and The Adventure of the Extraterrestrial. Reynolds' writing often explored social and political themes, using science fiction to examine issues of governance, economics, and human behavior. His works were influential during the mid-20th century and contributed to shaping the genre, especially with regard to blending adventure with philosophical inquiries. He was the son of Verne L. Reynolds. Despite his varied output and pseudonymous work, Reynolds remains best known for his distinctive voice in science fiction, exploring the future of humanity, societal structures, and technological advancements.
