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Talents, Incorporated
The ruthless Dictator of Mekin had already subjugated twenty-two helpless planets. Now he wanted Kandar's unconditional surrender -- or he would blast it out of existence!
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
15 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Murray Leinster
901 books121 followerssee also:
Will F. Jenkins
William Fitzgerald Jenkins
Murray Leinster was a nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an award-winning American writer of science fiction and alternate history. He wrote and published over 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays.
An author whose career spanned the first six decades of the 20th Century. From mystery and adventure stories in the earliest years to science fiction in his later years, he worked steadily and at a highly professional level of craftsmanship longer than most writers of his generation. He won a Hugo Award in 1956 for his novelet “Exploration Team,” and in 1995 the Sidewise Award for Alternate History took its name from his classic story, “Sidewise in Time.” His last original work appeared in 1967.
Will F. Jenkins
William Fitzgerald Jenkins
Murray Leinster was a nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an award-winning American writer of science fiction and alternate history. He wrote and published over 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays.
An author whose career spanned the first six decades of the 20th Century. From mystery and adventure stories in the earliest years to science fiction in his later years, he worked steadily and at a highly professional level of craftsmanship longer than most writers of his generation. He won a Hugo Award in 1956 for his novelet “Exploration Team,” and in 1995 the Sidewise Award for Alternate History took its name from his classic story, “Sidewise in Time.” His last original work appeared in 1967.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 18, 2018
Note to self - add Librivox edition.
Another space opera as only Leinster writes them. I can see why he did the scripts for so many awful, but entertaining SF shows during the 60s. The main premise is that an eccentric man gathered together paranormal talents with distinct, limited abilities & helps our unwilling hero save his part of the universe from the oppression of a terrible empire for reasons that become clear at the end. (If you didn't guess what the reason was long ago, there is no hope for you.) Still, it was a fun romp with a ton of unlikely decisions made only to keep the story going. Well narrated, not recommended unless you're in the mood for a silly space opera, though.
Another space opera as only Leinster writes them. I can see why he did the scripts for so many awful, but entertaining SF shows during the 60s. The main premise is that an eccentric man gathered together paranormal talents with distinct, limited abilities & helps our unwilling hero save his part of the universe from the oppression of a terrible empire for reasons that become clear at the end. (If you didn't guess what the reason was long ago, there is no hope for you.) Still, it was a fun romp with a ton of unlikely decisions made only to keep the story going. Well narrated, not recommended unless you're in the mood for a silly space opera, though.
March 20, 2021
I read Talents, Inc. many years ago and have very much enjoyed revisiting it via this fine Librivox performance. Leinster, known for years as 'The Dean of Science Fiction," was one of the great early writers of the genre. This is one of his better space opera stories, in which an interstellar war takes place between a vastly over-matched small planet and a huge, evil empire. Luckily, the underdog has Talents, Inc. on their side, a group of unusual folks with psi-powers. Prof. Xavier would have been right at home. Good lighthearted, fun stuff.
April 3, 2018
Interesting space opera novel, with a hero with an Arcturian name (Bors) who fights an empire against all odds with the help of a set of freakies (Talents, Inc.) who are able to "predict" things such as the arrival of a space ship or who will marry who:-)
The plot is interesting, with a very little Arcturian king (Humphrey VIII) who is always gloomy, interprets all victories as though they were defeats, and is ready to surrender when everything is on his side.
There are a few naive points (such as the use of paper for archives in the far future, or the fact that important technical advances are always made by the smaller party - I know, with the help of Talents, Inc.), but some of them can be attributed to the time (it's very difficult to make predictions, specially about the future), and the others can be included in the general suspension of incredulity by the reader.
The plot is interesting, with a very little Arcturian king (Humphrey VIII) who is always gloomy, interprets all victories as though they were defeats, and is ready to surrender when everything is on his side.
There are a few naive points (such as the use of paper for archives in the far future, or the fact that important technical advances are always made by the smaller party - I know, with the help of Talents, Inc.), but some of them can be attributed to the time (it's very difficult to make predictions, specially about the future), and the others can be included in the general suspension of incredulity by the reader.
September 11, 2022
This is my favorite of Leinster's books. It is funny and light but with a grounding element of political truth. My original review is below.
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Now featuring Mark Nelson's LibriVox reading on Forgotten Classics.
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#38 - 2010.
Finished listening to this on SciPodBooks and really enjoyed the concept. Kandar is going to be invaded by the cruel Mekin empire. Captain Bors is helpless to do anything to save the planet until he is approached with amazingly accurate information gathered by Talents, Incorporated. Using his strategic knowledge and their information he works his way toward keeping Kandar free. Watching Bors struggle with his incredulity as the Talents Inc. group's precognitions (and other amazing ways to gather info) prove right each time is fun. Also interesting is the fact that the king constantly wants to surrender to the Mekins, despite winning encounter after encounter with them. Certainly this says something as a commentary about political realities when this book was written. Classic Leinster and a great reading by Mark Nelson, as always.
===================
Now featuring Mark Nelson's LibriVox reading on Forgotten Classics.
===================
#38 - 2010.
Finished listening to this on SciPodBooks and really enjoyed the concept. Kandar is going to be invaded by the cruel Mekin empire. Captain Bors is helpless to do anything to save the planet until he is approached with amazingly accurate information gathered by Talents, Incorporated. Using his strategic knowledge and their information he works his way toward keeping Kandar free. Watching Bors struggle with his incredulity as the Talents Inc. group's precognitions (and other amazing ways to gather info) prove right each time is fun. Also interesting is the fact that the king constantly wants to surrender to the Mekins, despite winning encounter after encounter with them. Certainly this says something as a commentary about political realities when this book was written. Classic Leinster and a great reading by Mark Nelson, as always.
August 20, 2012
Talents, Incorporated is a novel that works on many levels. In terms of politics, it matches the satirical style of the late Leonard Wibberley (The Mouse That Roared, The Mouse on the Moon) written in the same era (Talents, Incorporated was first published in 1962) at the height of the Cold War. The order of the day was MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) and Murray Leinster, pseudonym for William F. Jenkins, author of Talents, Incorporated, does a better job of presenting the absurdity of governing for defeat than does Wibberley. Wibberley assails the patronizing near Imperialism of the anti-Communist frenzy of the era. Both are hilarious, disconcerting, and mesmerizing. Wibberley chronicled the relationships of a fictional duchy that declared war on the U.S. with attendant economic benefits while Leinster chronicles a fictional space empire that is potentially foiled by an eccentric assortment of freaks—empathic, polymath, precognitive, dowser, paranoid, etc.
Talents, Incorporated is a celebration of the mystery of human knowledge, ambition, and resilience. Against the absurdity of the politics and the trappings of space opera (faster-than-light drives, fusion bombs, blaster rifles) is a story of cream rising to the top, creativity and flexibility circumventing rigidity, tradition, and fear. In short, it was perfect for the Cold War Era of the early ‘60s and the emphasis on individuality of the human spirit that was about to commence. And, as a bonus, it offers some fairly intriguing battle sequences (not bloody but more like space opera) and a boy meets girl sideline that is not sexual, but more like a light romantic comedy.
Some of my favorite lines from the book are from the discussions about political circumstances. For example, “You are reasonable men. Too reasonable! Nothing can destroy a nation so quickly as for it to fall into the hands of practical, hard-headed, reasonable men who act upon the best scientific data and the opinions of the best experts.” (p. 120 in my eBook version) As a follow-up, the protagonist remarks: “I can’t believe that nations can be saved by reasonable, practical men. They aren’t made by them! I’ve no hope except that acting foolishly may be wisdom. Sometimes it is!” (p. 122)
At another point, the narration considered the potential boredom of “overdrive” (ie. “hyperspace”) or was it about the need for creative thought at any point in life? “In overdrive, Bors’s ship traveled almost with the speed of thought, but there was absolutely nothing to think about while journeying. Not about the journey, anyhow.” (p. 243) I also like the way the protagonist dealt with the mystery of the ESP demonstrated by these “talents.” “My mind doesn’t work in a way to undersand these Talents of yours. I admit everything, but I’m afraid I don’t really accept anything.” (p. 302) Again, there is an attempt to demonstrate how precognition wouldn’t “totally” eliminate free will when the head of Talents, Inc. implied that his goal was “…to modify the situation so their assumptions will lead logically to a different conclusion. Apparently they’re going to change their minds (p. 307)
I also love the way Leinster interweaves precognition and free will. In one discussion, the protagonist doesn’t want to try a new tactic, but the head of the “talents” hoped “…to modify the situation so their assumptions will lead logically to a different conclusion. Apparently they’re going to change their minds!” (p. xxx.) With that, we are introduced to a vital wrinkle in the plot which involves the Department for Disseminating Truthful Seditious Rumors.
Some of my friends had recommended this book to me back when it was still in print. I’m sorry I waited until now to read it. In spite of being light and humorous, it’s incredibly engaging. I think I avoided the novel because most of Murray Leinster’s short stories that I had read seemed absurd. Nevertheless, Talents, Incorporated limits the absurdity to politics (well, along with all of the eponymous psionics, that is) and is a delightful adventure.
Talents, Incorporated is a celebration of the mystery of human knowledge, ambition, and resilience. Against the absurdity of the politics and the trappings of space opera (faster-than-light drives, fusion bombs, blaster rifles) is a story of cream rising to the top, creativity and flexibility circumventing rigidity, tradition, and fear. In short, it was perfect for the Cold War Era of the early ‘60s and the emphasis on individuality of the human spirit that was about to commence. And, as a bonus, it offers some fairly intriguing battle sequences (not bloody but more like space opera) and a boy meets girl sideline that is not sexual, but more like a light romantic comedy.
Some of my favorite lines from the book are from the discussions about political circumstances. For example, “You are reasonable men. Too reasonable! Nothing can destroy a nation so quickly as for it to fall into the hands of practical, hard-headed, reasonable men who act upon the best scientific data and the opinions of the best experts.” (p. 120 in my eBook version) As a follow-up, the protagonist remarks: “I can’t believe that nations can be saved by reasonable, practical men. They aren’t made by them! I’ve no hope except that acting foolishly may be wisdom. Sometimes it is!” (p. 122)
At another point, the narration considered the potential boredom of “overdrive” (ie. “hyperspace”) or was it about the need for creative thought at any point in life? “In overdrive, Bors’s ship traveled almost with the speed of thought, but there was absolutely nothing to think about while journeying. Not about the journey, anyhow.” (p. 243) I also like the way the protagonist dealt with the mystery of the ESP demonstrated by these “talents.” “My mind doesn’t work in a way to undersand these Talents of yours. I admit everything, but I’m afraid I don’t really accept anything.” (p. 302) Again, there is an attempt to demonstrate how precognition wouldn’t “totally” eliminate free will when the head of Talents, Inc. implied that his goal was “…to modify the situation so their assumptions will lead logically to a different conclusion. Apparently they’re going to change their minds (p. 307)
I also love the way Leinster interweaves precognition and free will. In one discussion, the protagonist doesn’t want to try a new tactic, but the head of the “talents” hoped “…to modify the situation so their assumptions will lead logically to a different conclusion. Apparently they’re going to change their minds!” (p. xxx.) With that, we are introduced to a vital wrinkle in the plot which involves the Department for Disseminating Truthful Seditious Rumors.
Some of my friends had recommended this book to me back when it was still in print. I’m sorry I waited until now to read it. In spite of being light and humorous, it’s incredibly engaging. I think I avoided the novel because most of Murray Leinster’s short stories that I had read seemed absurd. Nevertheless, Talents, Incorporated limits the absurdity to politics (well, along with all of the eponymous psionics, that is) and is a delightful adventure.
March 4, 2013
Il pianeta Kandar sta per essere invaso dall'esercito del pianeta Mekin, che sta conquistando con forza bruta e violenza tutti i pianeti pacifici della galassia. L'esercito si sta preparando a essere annientato nell'ultima disperata battaglia.
Su Kandar arriva la nave dell'Anonima Talenti: il presidente Morgan insieme a sua figlia ha radunato una serie di indovini, fenomeni della matematica, rabdomanti e talenti di varia natura e offrono i loro servizi al capitano Bors della flotta di Kandar. Questi, disperato e disilluso, gli darà credito quasi per caso, reputandoli ciarlatani. Ma non lo sono.
Per tutto il libro, il comandante rimarrà convinto di peggiorare di continuo le cose, Le vittorie parziali che riuscirà a conseguire grazie alle tecnologie e capacità sempre più determinanti che l'Anonima Talenti gli mette in mano saranno per lui solo delle conquiste effimere.
Contraltare sarà l'ottimismo del presidente Morgan dell'Anonima Talenti, che porterà il comandante da un insperato successo a un altro, fino a un lieto fine che non si svolge che nelle ultimissime pagine, condito anche di rosa.
Il libro è scritto con uno stile scorrevole, anche se potrebbe rendere meglio se si soffermasse un po' di più in alcuni punti dove racconta un po' troppo.
Il suo punto di forza è comunque nella storia, una rivincita del debole che sgomina un oppressore grazie alla supremazia dell'intelletto e della volontà sulla forza e la prepotenza. Una sorta di parabola fantascientifica di Davide contro Golia.
Questo libro l'avevo letto molto giovane, e mi aveva folgorato. Un libro di avventura e speranza, adatto ad un animo di ragazzo. Riletto da adulto la folgorazione non c'è più stata, ma la lettura è rimasta piacevole e divertente.
MasMas
http://www.pescepirata.it
http://www.pescepirata.it/aspiranti_s...
Su Kandar arriva la nave dell'Anonima Talenti: il presidente Morgan insieme a sua figlia ha radunato una serie di indovini, fenomeni della matematica, rabdomanti e talenti di varia natura e offrono i loro servizi al capitano Bors della flotta di Kandar. Questi, disperato e disilluso, gli darà credito quasi per caso, reputandoli ciarlatani. Ma non lo sono.
Per tutto il libro, il comandante rimarrà convinto di peggiorare di continuo le cose, Le vittorie parziali che riuscirà a conseguire grazie alle tecnologie e capacità sempre più determinanti che l'Anonima Talenti gli mette in mano saranno per lui solo delle conquiste effimere.
Contraltare sarà l'ottimismo del presidente Morgan dell'Anonima Talenti, che porterà il comandante da un insperato successo a un altro, fino a un lieto fine che non si svolge che nelle ultimissime pagine, condito anche di rosa.
Il libro è scritto con uno stile scorrevole, anche se potrebbe rendere meglio se si soffermasse un po' di più in alcuni punti dove racconta un po' troppo.
Il suo punto di forza è comunque nella storia, una rivincita del debole che sgomina un oppressore grazie alla supremazia dell'intelletto e della volontà sulla forza e la prepotenza. Una sorta di parabola fantascientifica di Davide contro Golia.
Questo libro l'avevo letto molto giovane, e mi aveva folgorato. Un libro di avventura e speranza, adatto ad un animo di ragazzo. Riletto da adulto la folgorazione non c'è più stata, ma la lettura è rimasta piacevole e divertente.
MasMas
http://www.pescepirata.it
http://www.pescepirata.it/aspiranti_s...
January 31, 2012
I really enjoyed listening to this space adventure with my wife. The story is a grand tale and you are drawn in to the plot and root for the good guys and are sometimes confused by there perceptions of the situation.
Mark Nelson does a wonderful job, with a rich voice that he can use as several different characters. Very impressed. He has several other books available and he has a web site: http://web.mac.com/marknelson2/
The E-book can be downloaded from Project Gutenberg,
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23845
Mark Nelson does a wonderful job, with a rich voice that he can use as several different characters. Very impressed. He has several other books available and he has a web site: http://web.mac.com/marknelson2/
The E-book can be downloaded from Project Gutenberg,
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23845
March 20, 2022
Entertaining space opera listening 🎶😯
Another will written short story fantasy space opera thriller adventure by Murray Leinster about leadership skills while at war and finding ways to avoid conflict with a surprising ending. I would recommend this novel to anyone who reads space opera thrillers. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶to different kinds of novels 👍🔰🏡😊 2022
Another will written short story fantasy space opera thriller adventure by Murray Leinster about leadership skills while at war and finding ways to avoid conflict with a surprising ending. I would recommend this novel to anyone who reads space opera thrillers. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶to different kinds of novels 👍🔰🏡😊 2022
November 25, 2023
Captain Bors prepares everything for surrender and collective suicide - on a planetary scale. The enemy fleet is approaching and that enemy is invicible and ruthless.
A representative of Talents Incorporated gives some free advice and the tables get turned. Bors survives but at what cost.
The book continues to put the success of Bors and his crew against the black doom and defatism of the people in charge of the planet. Each time Bors claims a victory he gets reproached that he makes faith worse for the survivors.
Talents Incorporated stands at his side and especially the lovely daughter of the owner. The talents consist of people that posess an unusual talet for which they were despised - until they were hired by Talents incorporated. Talents include prediction of the correct arrival time of spaceships, math from the head faster and more accurate than any computer, seeing the worst that could happen etc
Leinster brings us this story in his usual style, a mix of breath-taking action and a lot of hunor.
Of course there is also some romance on the background.
Great reading, ageless.
A representative of Talents Incorporated gives some free advice and the tables get turned. Bors survives but at what cost.
The book continues to put the success of Bors and his crew against the black doom and defatism of the people in charge of the planet. Each time Bors claims a victory he gets reproached that he makes faith worse for the survivors.
Talents Incorporated stands at his side and especially the lovely daughter of the owner. The talents consist of people that posess an unusual talet for which they were despised - until they were hired by Talents incorporated. Talents include prediction of the correct arrival time of spaceships, math from the head faster and more accurate than any computer, seeing the worst that could happen etc
Leinster brings us this story in his usual style, a mix of breath-taking action and a lot of hunor.
Of course there is also some romance on the background.
Great reading, ageless.
March 16, 2025
OK just one spoiler: Star Trek: Discovery did not invent the spore drive. OK, they used the concept of spores, but Talents, Incorporated does it with something even more inspiring: mathematics.
Oh to have been a child when this book first came out. It's so inspiring, and mankind hasn't actually made it even to the moon when this comes out. With all the complexity of Foundation but way more of a condensed storyline, Talents, Incorporated is about the little planet that could, with the help of a rag tag group of mutants with exceptional gifts. All of which boil down to one thing: information. As in, every reader is left with the opportunity to be a meaningful cog in this bright shiny future where groups work together for a common goal. It's spectacular.
Oh to have been a child when this book first came out. It's so inspiring, and mankind hasn't actually made it even to the moon when this comes out. With all the complexity of Foundation but way more of a condensed storyline, Talents, Incorporated is about the little planet that could, with the help of a rag tag group of mutants with exceptional gifts. All of which boil down to one thing: information. As in, every reader is left with the opportunity to be a meaningful cog in this bright shiny future where groups work together for a common goal. It's spectacular.
December 4, 2018
A Fun Science Fiction Book
Murray Leinster for his time was imaginative and engaging. Many of his scientific strategies you can find classics like the Star Trek series. Theories of wrapping space to travel are use still by many other classic and contemporary writers today.
I would definitely recommend any of Leinsters books to those looking to get into scfi.
Murray Leinster for his time was imaginative and engaging. Many of his scientific strategies you can find classics like the Star Trek series. Theories of wrapping space to travel are use still by many other classic and contemporary writers today.
I would definitely recommend any of Leinsters books to those looking to get into scfi.
October 12, 2019
Murray Leinster was one of those top-notch authors who could make absolutely rubbish and formulaic stuff not only readable, but rather enjoyable. This novella is a solid example of such stuff. The plot is completely devoid of humour. The characters take themselves too seriously. And there is absolutely nothing that makes this a work of science fiction.
But it's enjoyable.
'Nuff said.
But it's enjoyable.
'Nuff said.
February 16, 2018
In desperation, Captain Bors accepts help from Talents, Incorporated, a grouping of people with VERY unusual abilities and skills, in his fight to preserve his planet's independence from the Dictator of Mekin who had already conquered many other worlds.
January 18, 2019
At times I was a bit frustrated with the book as there was a fatalistic attitude that was just a bit much. But, without giving anything away, that changed for the better. I found myself rooting for the fatalistic under dog and enjoyed the book.
June 25, 2018
Really enjoyed this book.
Read as an audiobook.
Read as an audiobook.
March 23, 2023
My favourite. I have read it several times.
What an imagination the writer had.
What an imagination the writer had.
September 18, 2023
This was an extremely mediocre sci-fi novel. The plot was okay, the characters pretty bland and the plot overly militarily focused.
April 14, 2024
I absolutely LOVE this classic Leinster space opera, from start to finish.
Lots of action, technical detail and strategy and adventure!
Lots of action, technical detail and strategy and adventure!
October 27, 2025
Interesting applications of psi powers and other "talents." I greatly enjoyed this.
June 30, 2021
Der Diktator von Mekin erobert mit seiner riesigen Armada ein Sonnensystem nach dem anderen. Nun steht der Angriff auf das harmlose Sonnensystem Kandar bevor. Deren kleine Raumstreitmacht hat keine Chance, doch sie wollen stolz kämpfend in den Untergang gehen. Da taucht das Raumschiff eines mysteriösen Firmeninhabers auf, der Informationen bietet. Der Chef hat eine Truppe von "Freaks" um sich geschart, mit parapsychischen Fähigkeiten.
Abgebrochen auf S. 102 von 160. Untypisch. Militärische Strategie ist selten das Thema von Dutzendware-SF. Blöd ist halt wieder die alte Mutantenleier. Störend ist für mich als Skeptiker auch die ausgedrückte Geringschätzung von Wissenschaft und Vernunft. Es war nicht schlecht, aber nicht gut genug, bis zu Ende zu lesen
Abgebrochen auf S. 102 von 160. Untypisch. Militärische Strategie ist selten das Thema von Dutzendware-SF. Blöd ist halt wieder die alte Mutantenleier. Störend ist für mich als Skeptiker auch die ausgedrückte Geringschätzung von Wissenschaft und Vernunft. Es war nicht schlecht, aber nicht gut genug, bis zu Ende zu lesen
October 11, 2023
Classic Murray Leinster
Here we have Leinster at his classic best, using tactics unthinkable by the Admirals and political leadership to outsmart the evil enemy invaders. Leinster has to have been the prototypical thought leader opposed to just doing what you are told but actually applying thought and skill to out wit your enemies by real outside the box thinking. This novel fits in with his Med Ship and Explorer series of novels using the same culture and technology basics to tell his story.
Here we have Leinster at his classic best, using tactics unthinkable by the Admirals and political leadership to outsmart the evil enemy invaders. Leinster has to have been the prototypical thought leader opposed to just doing what you are told but actually applying thought and skill to out wit your enemies by real outside the box thinking. This novel fits in with his Med Ship and Explorer series of novels using the same culture and technology basics to tell his story.
May 9, 2016
Neat little scifi story about precognition, the politics of warfare, and the unreasonableness of hopelessness. Captain Bors is a fun character to follow as he tries to do his job in a difficult situation.
Listened to the LibriVox recording by Mark Nelson by way of the Forgotten Classics podcast.
https://librivox.org/talents-incorpor...
http://hcforgottenclassics.blogspot.c...
Listened to the LibriVox recording by Mark Nelson by way of the Forgotten Classics podcast.
https://librivox.org/talents-incorpor...
http://hcforgottenclassics.blogspot.c...
Read
March 2, 2014The ruthless Dictator of Mekin had already subjugated twenty-two helpless planets. Now he wanted Kandar's unconditional surrender -- or he would blast it out of existence!
June 11, 2014
Good but very dated.
February 21, 2015
1976 grade B-
1995 grade B-
1995 grade B-
November 8, 2016
Fun but sometimes frustrating
June 19, 2015
Dense read...Plenty of imaginative fluff.
Read
June 19, 2017Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Lllllllllllllllllll lll lol lol ll,lol ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l. L. L l l l l
Lllllllllllllllllll lll lol lol ll,lol ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l. L. L l l l l
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews