H. L. Gold is best known for his tenure as editor of Galaxy Science Fiction one of the most influential science fiction magazines of the 1950's. During that period he was as responsible for shaping the genre as John W. Campbell had been a decade earlier. However, he also was a talented writer, writing dozens of stories beginning in the 30's and continuing on into the 60's. Shunning the super science themes prevalent when he began writing, his characters were more likely to be out of work actors, Jersey shore concessionaires, or race track touts than scientists or space pilots, even if they...

He seemed to be nothing more than a tramp. And yet, for some reason, Ira Kaplan found himself drawn to the man almost as much as he was repulsed by him. He spoke English, of a sort, all the words were recognizable but together they defied interpretation. What could he want? Who could he be?