The Seeds of Frenzy

by Michael Elder

Susan Barclay and her family have found peace at last on the planet Haven. Yet that peace is harshly disturbed when an attempt is made to kidnap her seven-year-old daughter Barbara. The attempt is foiled, but puzzling questions why were the members of a telepathic family not able to pick up the thoughts of the unsuccessful kidnapper? And why did the kidnapper die without obvious cause? Later, Susan’s husband, Graham, disappears only to reappear making a murderous attack for no apparent reason on their older son, Roger. These bizarre events have important repercussions for the whole population of Haven, and the entire family is drawn into a mystery which hovers perilously on the brink of disaster before the solution is found.
This book is the fourth in the Barclay series following Nowhere on Earth, The Perfumed Planet and Down to Earth.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Michael Elder was a Scottish actor who also wrote documentaries and other largely fact based programmes for BBC Scotland amongst others. He was a member of the Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow, Byre Theatre, St. Andrews, The Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh (1953 - 1960), and the Fraser Neale Players.

In film and television, he is known for his roles in The Flight of the Heron (1976), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1978) and Sam (1973). He played Dr. Wallace in the Scottish Television series Take the High Road.

Elder had a long association with the town of St. Andrews, moving there when he and his sister, Alison, travelled north for schooling after their home was bombed during the blitz in the Second World War.

During the 1950s, he was a member of the Edinburgh Gateway Company. His many television credits included the classic drama series, Dr Finlay's Casebook. A prolific writer from a very early age, Elder had many books published, from children's titles and poetry, to an impressive list of 14 science fiction novels. He also completed several scripts for television, including High Road.