The Secret Martians

"The Secret Martians" by Jack Sharkey is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story centers around Jery Delvin, an ad agency employee with a talent for spotting flaws, who is unexpectedly summoned by the Chief of Interplanetary Security for a clandestine mission on Mars. Delvin is tasked with investigating the mysterious disappearance of fifteen boys from a spaceship, which leads him into a web of intergalactic intrigue and danger. At the start of the narrative, we find Jery Delvin in a mundane work setting when security agents abruptly appear to take him to the Chief of Interplanetary Security, Philip Baxter. Through a mix of witty banter and moments of self-reflection, Jery learns of his crucial role in uncovering the truth behind the Space Scouts' vanishing act. As Delvin gathers information about the boys' apparent abduction and the peculiarities surrounding the spaceship "Phobos II", he grapples with the weight of being chosen for this task by the enigmatic "Brain," an advanced cybernetic intelligence. The opening describes Delvin's analytical prowess and his struggle against distractions, specifically the allure of women, foreshadowing how these elements will complicate his mission as he seeks to unravel the enigma of the missing boys.