Lorenzo Smythe is a down-on-his-luck actor with a massive ego who is recruited by mystery men to perform the role of a lifetime. He must impersonate John Joseph Bonforte, an influential interstellar politician who has been kidnapped by rivals just before an important Martian adoption ceremony. Lorenzo travels to Mars and adopts Bonforte’s physical appearance and mannerisms to prevent a diplomatic crisis. When the real politician is found incapacitated, the actor is forced to continue the charade indefinitely, managing high-stakes cabinet meetings and navigating the complex racial tensions between humans and Martians.
This book serves readers interested in the intersection of political maneuvering and the craft of social performance. It attracts those who enjoy hard science fiction centered on psychological transformation and the mechanics of government. The reader walks away with a detailed look at how identity is constructed through public action and how a person’s personality can be reshaped by the responsibilities of leadership. It provides a technical perspective on how professional acting techniques might be applied to achieve specific political outcomes.
- Published
- 1956
- Language
- EN
