Earth Invader

by Randall Garrett

"The world was gripped in terror when the Nipe, a lethal, alien fighting machine, crashlanded on Earth from outer space and began a nightmarish rampage of slaughter and destruction. Unable to stop the deadly, intelligent creature, scientists quickly developed a plan to turn an ordinary Earthman into a super-human with powers enough to conquer the monster. As the man chosen for the dangerous mission, Bart Stanton was not sure he wanted to give up his humanity. The Nipe seized the Earth's most vital defense secrets and Bart felt he had no choice but to go through with the plan. Then the Nipe mysteriously disappeared - and the only man who could locate the thing was also the only man who could destroy Bart. The world tottered as the three came face to face.."

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 1, 1982

About the author

Randall Garrett's full name was Gordon Randall Phillip David Garrett. For more information about him see https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?239

He was married to Vicki Ann Heydron

His pseudonyms include: Gordon Randall Garrett, Gordon Aghill, Grandal Barretton, Alexander Blade, Ralph Burke, Gordon Garrett, David Gordon, Richard Greer, Ivar Jorgenson, Darrel T. Langart, Blake MacKenzie, Jonathan Blake MacKenzie, Seaton Mckettrig, Clyde (T.) Mitchell, Mark Phillips (with Laurence Janifer), Robert Randall, Leonard G. Spencer, S.M. Tenneshaw, Gerald Vance.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat briefer iteration of this story was serialized in John W. Campbell's Analog magazine in May and June of 1962, and then Doubleday published it in hardback followed by several paperback editions from Dell, Lancer, etc. through the 1960s and '70s. All of these editions had the title Anything You Can Do..., though on some of them the author is listed as "Darrel T. Langart." This Leisure edition appeared in 1982 with a big red banner above the title in capital letters that read: FIRST TIME IN PAPERBACK, which was absolutely not even close to any truth, so I was annoyed to soon find out that I'd purchased a second copy of the same book. It's a pretty good story, typically amusing and adventurous for 1962, about a shipwrecked alien Nipe who finds itself shipwrecked on Earth. It has some entertaining elements of mystery and action, and a bit of psychological/sociological speculation mixed in with the space opera. It's fine, but only worth buying once...

[Steve Rainwater · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first half of this story serialized in an old Astounding issue but never found the second part until I came across the novel in a used book store.

It's not a great book but I finally got to finish the story at least. An alien creature crash lands on Earth and goes on a decade long killing spree, breaking into labs and factories to steal materials it needs to repair its ship. No one can find the alien and if it finds you, you're dead because of its super strength and speedy reflexes. Scientists spend years upgrading one man to have super fast reflexes and super human strength so he can go fist to fist with the alien. But when they finally meet, there's an unexpected outcome.