The Puppet Master

by John Dalmas

In an alternate time line, a breakthrough in basic physics has catapulted technology centuries ahead in only a few years. Everyday life had become very different, but crime always goes on, and criminals have found new ways to steal and murder and cover their tracks. It hasn't made life any easier for private eye Marti Seppanen, in a Los Angeles that Philip Marlowe would barely recognize.

Murder is still murder, but the weapon may be a bioengineered disease, the murderer may be someone who can control other people mentally, and the victim may be someone whose legal status as a human is in limbo, and whose existence is a government secret. But when Seppanen is on the case, it gets solved, wth legwork, with muscle, and often with the help of osme unusual friends—one of them much more than a friend—with their own very unusual mental powers.

Genres: Science Fiction, Ebooks, Fiction

Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

John Dalmas—pseudonym for John Robert Jones—wrote many books based on military and governmental themes throughout his career. He grew up in Minnesota and Michigan and resided in Spokane, Washington. He was a parachute infantryman in WWII and was discharged in 1946 without ever being put seriously in harm's way. He has worked as a longshoreman, merchant seaman, logger, construction worker, and smokejumper. He attended Michigan State University, majoring in forestry, but also took creative writing.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd blend of Alt-Time Sci-Fi, psycho-telepathy (I guess that is the correct terminology...) and gumshoe detective work. I think this collection of shorter stories works for that very reason; none of them was bloated up to full novel length like a boxer trying fight 4-5 weight classes beyond his body size. An interesting diversion.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of three stories that branch from our timeline sometime after the end of World War II. The Geogravitic Power Converter (GPC) has brought cheap, clean, abundant energy and a new physics. The protagonist, Martti Seppanen is a detective, his wife Tuuli is a professional psychic.

These stories read like an early Heinlein. The stories move right a long -- Dalmas seems to be a competent story teller -- but he is undisciplined about the impact of psychic powers. The Martti and Tuuli always seem to have psychic forces looking after them. Dalmas is also undisciplined about the use of POV, breaking into third-person omniscient when he cannot tell the story within Seppanen's POV. The "Puppet Master" in the title is such a shadowy figure, that Seppanen doesn't realize he is a threat for most of the narrative.

Three stars, however, because one scene where a hit-man sets up an ambush for Seppanen is both thrilling and memorable.

[Martine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the weirdest blend of sci-fi, supernatural, investigative, etc etc etc. with one (1) novella, (1) novel, and one (1) novelette... on the bright side, I really learned about the difference between a novella, novel, and novelette via one physical book!

[Michael Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Dalmas died at age 90 in 2017. Reading his books, you'd think he was a young writer in 2020. The Puppet Master, was different than eight of his other books I've read, but every bit as enjoyable. This is set in the USA and feels very contemporary. The ending was reasonable but seemed too abrupt and simple. It is followed by a unique story novella with the same detective, Martini Seppanen. Much shorter than the main title, but every bit as good, plus with a more satisfying ending.

[Lynn Calvin]

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