Anything You Can Do!

In Short

This novel is a taut science-fiction thriller about a desperate Earth government that, facing an elusive and dangerous alien intruder known as "the Nipe," creates its own champion through radical, experimental surgery. As the protagonist struggles to reclaim his fractured identity, he realizes he is part of a complex, long-term manipulation by those he serves. The story stands out for its blend of hard-edged procedural investigation and a deeply personal psychological mystery, remaining a compelling study of what happens when a person is turned into a weapon.

The Story

The narrative opens in the Siberian tundra, where a "Nipe"—a multi-limbed alien pilot—crash-lands his ship. Stranded and desperate, the Nipe survives in secret, eventually becoming a terrifying, legendary figure to the people of Earth. His presence is a mystery, his motivations are opaque, and his advanced, alien technology makes him nearly impossible to track. To counter this threat, the Earth government recruits Bart Stanton. Years earlier, Bart’s brother, Martin, suffered a debilitating accident that left him catatonic and psychologically linked to Bart. Through a process of intensive glandular and neural reconstruction, the government transforms Martin into a physical superman, while Bart is placed under deep, post-hypnotic suggestion to act as a distraction, living as a freelance investigator named "Stanley Martin" to feed the Nipe false information and keep it occupied.

For ten years, this elaborate ruse persists. The government tracks the Nipe’s movements, waiting for the precise moment to strike. Bart, believing himself to be the independent investigator Stanley Martin, solves cases across the solar system while unknowingly acting as a pawn in the government's long game. As the final phase of the operation approaches, the post-hypnotic triggers are released. Bart regains his true memory and identity, realizing he has been a tool for Colonel Mannheim.

The climax takes place in the forgotten, abandoned rail tunnels beneath Government City. Bart, now fully aware of his own capabilities and the true nature of his brother’s condition, confronts the Nipe. The two engage in a primal, physical battle. Despite the Nipe’s alien physiology and lethality, Bart prevails, not through superior firepower, but through calculated, human grit. Following the fight, the two brothers—Bart and the reconstructed Martin—finally reunite. The psychological link between them is restored, and they achieve a profound sense of "unity without loss of identity." They accept that they are, in effect, two parts of one whole, finally free from the strings pulled by the government that sought to use them as instruments of war.

How It Unfolds

The crash in the snow An alien ship, resembling a silver-pink fish, breaks down in the Siberian wilderness. The pilot, a Nipe, escapes and begins a decade-long period of hidden, mysterious activity on Earth.

The shadow war begins Government officials, led by Colonel Mannheim, realize they cannot capture the alien with standard methods. They secretly develop a "superman" using a damaged human subject and initiate a psychological operation involving the subject's brother.

The investigator’s trail Operating as the freelance agent "Stanley Martin," Bart moves through the solar system, unwittingly serving as a lure. He solves high-profile kidnappings while the government tracks the Nipe’s movements in preparation for the end-game.

The descent into the maze Bart is recalled to Earth and released from his hypnotic programming. He descends into the forgotten tunnels beneath Government City to face the alien in a final, one-on-one showdown.

The final confrontation In the dark, claustrophobic tunnels, Bart and the Nipe fight for their lives. Bart defeats the creature, ending the decade-long threat to humanity.

Unity restored Bart returns to the surface to find his brother, Martin. The two men finally face one another, merging their fractured memories and identities into a single, cohesive existence.

The People

Bart Stanton is the narrative’s anchor, a man whose life is hijacked by his government's need for a weapon. He is initially defined by his confusion and the gaps in his memory, but he gradually evolves into a self-actualized agent who realizes his own agency. His brother, Martin Stanton, is the victim of a tragic childhood accident; he serves as the "control" and the biological base for the super-soldier transformation. Martin’s existence is almost entirely shaped by his brother, existing in a state of suspended development until the final resolution. Colonel Mannheim represents the cold pragmatism of the state. He is a master manipulator who views individuals as assets and is willing to sacrifice both of the Stanton brothers to achieve his tactical goals. He stands in stark opposition to the brothers’ eventual desire for independence.

In Its Own Voice

"The Nipe, of course, had no intention of dying."

The alien pilot reacts to the damage sustained by his ship while navigating the reaches of space.

"The Nipe had become a legend."

The author describes the profound, almost supernatural fear the elusive creature has instilled in the public imagination.

"There is no way of knowing, from that action alone, whether he has courage or not."

Bart Stanton muses on how technology complicates the definition of heroism during a discussion about the nature of the fight ahead.

What It's Really About

The central argument of the book is that humanity’s reliance on technology and external systems risks stripping away the very qualities—courage, identity, and moral agency—that define a person. The Nipe is not just an extraterrestrial enemy; he is a mirror for the human condition, forcing characters to define "real" intelligence and "real" courage. The book questions whether an individual can ever be truly free when they are treated as a disposable component of a larger machine. Ultimately, it argues for the necessity of individual integrity, suggesting that true strength comes not from the superior glandular output or technological advantage of a "superman," but from the unified, authentic self that emerges when those artificial constraints are removed.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy high-concept science fiction with a grounded, noir-like tone will find much to admire here. The narrative moves at a brisk pace, focusing on the tactical and psychological chess match between the hunter and the hunted. The prose is clean, direct, and focused on the mechanics of the mystery, which will please those who prefer substance over flowery exposition.

However, prospective readers should be aware that the book carries the distinct marks of its 1962 publication. The cold, analytical approach to the brothers' trauma—viewing them as "controls" and "lab specimens"—may strike modern readers as somewhat detached or clinical. Additionally, the depiction of the Nipe’s "primitive" mindset reflects the era’s tendency to categorize alien cultures through a narrow, anthropocentric lens. Despite these period attitudes, the core of the story—the struggle of a man trying to reclaim his own life from those who would use him—remains resonant. It is a tight, intelligent puzzle of a book that asks the reader to consider the human cost of being a hero. You will likely finish it thinking less about the gadgetry and more about the strange, enduring bond between the two brothers who were forced to become something else, only to find their way back to themselves.