Burden the hand

"Burden the Hand" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction novel written in the late 1950s. The story focuses on themes of deception, technology, and legacy, centering around a conflict that arises from a family’s hidden secrets and advanced scientific knowledge. It intertwines elements of suspense, as various characters vie for power surrounding the potential recovery of groundbreaking inventions. The plot revolves around Nikki Varden, a young woman who finds herself held captive by Jerome Van Ostrand, who has nefarious plans connected to her deceased father’s inventions. Nikki, alongside several other characters, learns that her father has been alive in a state of suspended animation and that his legacy involves a powerful mind control device. The narrative builds tension as Van Ostrand attempts to manipulate Nikki to access her father’s secrets for immortality. In a twist, it is revealed that the true protagonist has been hiding in plain sight, as he navigates through a web of deception to protect Nikki and reclaim his identity, ensuring that dangerous technologies do not fall into the wrong hands.