The Fugitives

"The Fugitives" by Malcolm B. Morehart, Jr. is a science fiction novel likely written in the early to mid-20th century, specifically around the 1950s. The book explores themes of alienation and societal fear, centering on the experience of an ordinary man, Jeff Engel, who finds himself entangled in a surreal and dangerous world where aliens are despised and hunted. In the story, Jeff Engel, a member of the Missing Persons Bureau, follows a mysterious stranger and unexpectedly plunges into a futuristic society that views him as an alien. After being apprehended by the local authorities, who are on high alert for extraterrestrial threats, Engel learns that he is not only a suspect but also potentially a target in this paranoid environment. As he tries to navigate this bizarre reality and locate the stranger he was pursuing, he uncovers a chilling scheme aimed at identifying and eliminating supposed aliens. In a harrowing climax, Engel must decide whether to save the terrified stranger, known as C. G., from a brutal alien-hunting regime, revealing not only the nature of fear within society but also the hidden truths about his own identity.