Crooks in Space, Part 2

cover art by Edward Valigursky 

Anson Drake's career as a criminal has taken him to many planets, making many enemies along the way. In fact, when he returns to the planet Thizar, he is apparently walking into danger. He once had a run-in with the wealthy and outwardly respectable Viron Belgezed, robbing him of fifty thousand credits in illicit funds. 

That's the situation we find as the story "Heist Job on Thizar," by Randall Garrett, begins. Published in the October 1956 issue of Amazing Stories, it is the second consecutive issue of Amazing that contains a Garrett story featuring a crook as the main protagonist.

But though we hated the guy from "The Man Who Hated Mars" and looked forward to seeing him get what was coming to him, we find ourselves liking Anson Drake. He fits the template for the sort of suave and capable jewel thief that would often by played by Cary Grant or Clark Gable in a movie. He's not on orginal character at all, but some character types are reused over and over again because a good writer can always make them entertaining.

But, despite having a ready-made enemy on the planet, Drake has reason to return. Belgezed has just bought a valuable piece of jewelry known as the Necklace of Algol. Belgezed is planning on wearing it to a big coronation to-do, but Drake has his own plans for it.

Drake dodges an assassination attempt and is soon contacted by Nancy Knight, another jewel thief with designs of her own on the Necklace. But her partner has run out on her, so she needs Drake's help.

Drake agrees to go partner with Norma, but there are layers under layers here in what is actually going on. Drake is going to have to run a multi-level con in order to get off the planet with the necklace. 

As I said, Drake is the standard Suave Jewel Thief/Con Artist character we've seen in a zillion stories, but demonstrates that this is a character type that will always entertain us when dropped into a well-told story. Garrett's straightforward prose, humor and clever plotting makes Drake an effective protagonist without seeming to be a mere cliche.

You can read it online HERE.