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In the radio broadcast service for the Missing Persons Bureau, a strange radio signal cuts in over the normally secure channel. Who could be doing such a thing? Where is the signal coming from? Can it be a message from the moon? Names are mentioned in the message that match up with missing person reports, but nobody believes the report that Henry is giving. Mr Philo, a newspaper reporter is willing to listen to the theories that Henry, and the broadcast technician have been working on.
The plot thickens when a list of names is found on Henrys desk, who become the next ones to report as missing over his broadcast. As the facts emerge, and the newspaper reports hit the press, the syndical, grumpy boss begins to soften and listens to Henry’s theories. The broadcast studios seem eery and spooky after hours when the boss joins Henry in a meeting with the reporter as another moon broadcast is expected. Is there a conspiracy of some sort? Renegade scientists, slave labor, atomic energy, flying disks, invasions? What kind of danger has Henry exposed?
The boss is now a convert, and as he tries to keep Henry safe, and make a quick get away, things begin to fall apart. What kind of evil forces has henry gotten riled up, and on his case? What does it mean when he suddenly finds himself on a rocket that is blasting off for the moon? By the time he learns the truth behind the missing persons, and the evil plot to invade the earth, it may be too late for poor Henry. Good always triumphs over evil, right?
Compare to: X Minus One – The Man In The Moon. 550529
George Lefferts wrote a lot of stuff for Dimension X, mostly adaptations but this is one of his own and it’s not bad. Sure the experienced SF reader will be ahead of the script by the end, but the journey is half the fun and I enjoyed following the twists and turns in the story.
Good points. You expect the main character to get entangled, the discovery, and the search for truth and a solution. I even expected grumpy old Mr Wilkins to soften up, and help in the problem solving. One plot twist that I didn’t fully expect was… Oh hold on a minute, there’s a knock at the door. Man this is a spooky place around here today… Oh, it’s you Mr Wilkins.. what can I help you with Mr Wilkins? Mr Wilkins… what are you doing… Mr Wilkins…? MR WIL…