The Wandering Variables

by Louis Trimble

Science Fiction. A very nice vintage collector's item. Number # UQ1034 (34). Original price 95 cents." Dr. Tandy Venner was an irreplaceable asset to the Charter Worlds Union... so when she decided to take a mind-bending vacation with a Euphor Trek team, Jano Kegan was sent along to keep an eye on her. But to qualify for the safari across that mad planet, he too had to submit to the Trekkers' mental conditioning. What was not on the tour program was the unwritten sidetrack their guide had planned for Tandy. What was not on the guide's secret detour was the planet's own out-of-bounds programming. And was was not on any of them was the eccentricity of two brilliant vacationers breaking all the rules to find out what Euphor was really all about."

158 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1972

About the author

Louis Preston Trimble (2 March 1917 - 1988) was an American writer and academic. His published work included science fiction, westerns, and mysteries, as well as academic non-fiction. He generally wrote as Louis Trimble, but used the pseudonym "Stuart Brock" for some of his work.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

DAW Collectors #34

Cover Artist: Kelly Freas

Legal Name: Trimble, Louis Preston (Birthdate: 2 March 1917 - 9 March 1988)

Dr. Tandy Venner is an irreplaceable asset to the Charter Worlds Union. Much too valuable to go off on an unexpected vacation by herself. So Jano Kegan, an operative of Charter Worlds, went along on a Euphor Tek team.

But he and Dr. Venner got more than they bargained for. Attempted kidnapping, mind-control, out-of-bounds programming . . . not quite what was promised. Before they know it, Venner and Kegan are off on a wild odyssey, breaking all the rules to find out what Eupor’s really all about.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wandering Variables was Trimble's fifth science fiction novel (this is the third that was published in 1972), though he had been writing westerns and mysteries prolifically since the 1930s. It's the funniest of his books, a madcap and unlikely adventure with a strong female protagonist, Dr. Tandy Venner. She goes on vacation and is so valuable to the Charter Worlds Union that they send agent Jano Kegan to keep her safe. It's a fun adventure on planet Euphor with many twists and unexpected turns.

[Stephen Rowland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.

[SciFiOne · Rating 4 out of 5]

1986 grade B-