Second census

"Second Census" by John Victor Peterson is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story centers around Jim Rainford, a man who learns he and his wife are expecting quintuplets, only to find their lives disrupted by mysterious census-takers who are not just ordinary humans but extraterrestrial beings from Alpha Centauri. The novel explores themes of identity, family, and the implications of interstellar relationships. In "Second Census," Jim Rainford's mundane life is turned upside down when a strange census taker arrives at his home, demonstrating superhuman speed and knowledge about his wife's pregnancy before even being informed. Alongside his friend Ed Fitzgerald and advanced physicist Maitland Browne, Jim embarks on a wild encounter with these alien visitors, revealing that the extraterrestrials are seeking lost children from their species to aid them in a war. The tension escalates as they try to understand the aliens’ intentions while dealing with their own personal lives, ultimately leading to a blend of adventure, humor, and science fiction that culminates in a surprising and thought-provoking conclusion about their connection to the aliens.