{"product_id":"9781612101828","title":"The Master Minds of Venus","description":"Lee had no idea how strong his invention was until it contacted someone on Venus! As unbelievable as it was it leads him down a path he never expected!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExcerpt\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was late Saturday night, and the last additional stage was almost finished. Madge had gone to bed at 11:30, exhausted by the weeks of constant effort. The last connection was made at 2:00 o'clock. Lee turned on the current and sat down to wait for the tubes to heat, the dials being adjusted for the elusive signal. A half-minute elapsed. Some electrical interference made itself manifest. A half turn on a balancing condenser reduced that to a minimum. It was becoming harder to balance out. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe had perhaps reached about the limit of usefulness of the invention. A minute elapsed. He turned down the dials and explored the 600-meter band. A number of ship stations came in, as he was wont to express it, \"like a ton of bricks.\" Apparently the new stage was operating satisfactorily, so he turned back to the mysterious wavelength and was delighted to hear the familiar whirr of a carrier wave. Then \"James Samuel Lee,\" came from the radio, \"please be patient for a few minutes. I have a message for you.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis was repeated time after time with the information thrown in occasionally that it would be approximately seven minutes before the message would be ready. The voice of the speaker, a man, was strong, eager, and vibrant with hope, as though a long struggle, which he had made to achieve a definite goal, were about to be rewarded with success. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFatigued as he was, Jim's tired thoughts at first were only mildly cheered with the realization that his long, hard labors were over. He had won, had triumphed over many obstacles in building the most sensitive radio receiver in the world, and had finally brought in understandably the mysterious faint voice that had actually called his name. Then the disconcerting thought struck him -- a thought that filled him with something of alarm and accelerated processes of reasoning. Was the secret of his invention out? What could it mean? He had told no one, and he was sure Madge had not. But why such a weak signal associated-- with his name? He reasoned that it would be perfectly possible for one of his friends to build a transmitter so weak that it would take the tremendous amplification of his receiver to bring it in, but, at that, it would have to be some distance away, and furthermore, none of them knew that he had such a powerful receiver, nor that he was up at this hour. His feeling of alarm passed. It must be some other man by the same name. Well, after spending so much hard work bringing this station in, he would wait and get the message some fellow was trying so hard to get through. If it was too personal he could shut it off. Thus his thoughts filled a trifle more than the seven minutes allotted. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Ah! There you are! Success at last!\" The speaker seemed almost beside himself with joy and exultation. His words poured forth with ill-controlled excitement. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"James Samuel Lee, Earthling superior, we are overjoyed at your success, for it is also our triumph. You are a man after our own hearts, and we claim you as our own, as this new enlightened age begins.\" The voice suddenly sobered. \"But you do not know, and I must tell you. There are many questions in your mind, and there will be greater, more baffling questions when you hear this. But it is you, YOU, sitting there in your attic listening to your highly developed radio, with whom I wish to talk. And who am I? You do not know me now, but I hope soon to be your best friend. I am A-daven, of the planet you know as Venus. I have many—\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe radio was switched off by Lee's trembling fingers. A look of fear and bewilderment crept into his eyes. Had he worked on this radio to the extent that he had overtaxed his mind? What could this mean except an hallucination? He had worked too hard on it -- over- taxed his system -- he must not lose his mind -- too much at stake. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe found himself downstairs, wandering about aimlessly. His tired senses took no cognizance of his surroundings, his mind being given over to a jumble of thoughts. Venus -- possible, barely possible, but so improbable-- his language -- his name -- knowledge of his doings and whereabouts-- they could not see him -- it was impossible. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe disturbance wakened Madge. Sensing that he was over-tired when she could get no word out of him, and afraid of the hunted look in his eyes, she decided he must go to sleep. There was a little yellow pill in the medicine cabinet guaranteed to induce sleep promptly. The doctor had left it once when she was ill, but she had not used it. She used it now, but Jim was the dazed recipient. In a few minutes he was peace fully asleep, and, 80,000,000 miles away, a powerful radio ceased to send its carrier wave through space.","brand":"eStar Books LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47134327570672,"sku":"9781612101828","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781612101828_p0.jpg?v=1763843343","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781612101828","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}