The Alien

In Short

The Alien is a classic mid-century space opera that explores the perilous discovery of an extinct extraterrestrial civilization. When archeologists aboard a deep-space laboratory ship unlock a black artifact preserved at absolute zero, they unwittingly awaken Demarzule, an ancient tyrant who claims to possess the secrets of life and galactic rule. As religious mania and political fervor sweep Earth in support of the revived alien, a small band of scientists must race against time to unearth the biological weapons of Demarzule's ancient enemies, risking their own humanity to defeat a mind bent on total cosmic domination.

The Story

Deep in the asteroid belt, Dr. Delmar Underwood and the researchers of the Smithson Asteroidal Expedition discover a dark, perfectly preserved artifact belonging to the extinct Sirenian civilization. Inside lies a repository left by Demarzule, the self-proclaimed "Great One" of Sirenia. Alongside his preserved, inert protoplasm is an operating manual detailing how to restore him to life using a specialized radiation beam. Despite warnings and internal apprehension, the scientists transport the artifact to Earth. There, a charismatic preacher named William B. Hennessey whips the public into a religious frenzy, hailing the alien as a miraculous savior sent to heal a lost world.

As Underwood and his team work at the Carlson Museum to carry out the restoration, they discover that Demarzule was not a benevolent savior but a ruthlessly tyrannical ruler who escaped his destroyed empire by turning his body into dormant protoplasm. Upon his revival, Demarzule instantly uses his commanding voice and semantic genius to subjugate the worshipping masses, establishing himself as dictator. Realizing the existential threat, Underwood tries to destroy the alien before he fully revives, but fanatical Disciples intervene. Forced to flee as police and disciples attack, Underwood and his team stage a daring raid on the burning museum stacks to rescue precious ancient records before escaping into space aboard the Lavoisier.

Deciphering the stolen Stroid records, the scientists learn of the Dragbora—the ancient enemy whose biological weapons defeated the Sirenians. They set course for the airless, preserved ruins of a Dragboran world. Upon landing, they meet Jandro, a surviving humanoid descendant who reveals the secret of the abasa: specialized alien organs that grant extraordinary sensory, mental, and energy-absorbing powers. Realizing that human technology cannot match Demarzule's immense force-field defenses, Underwood convinces his hesitant fiancée, surgeon Dr. Illia Morov, to perform a dangerous transplant, grafting the Dragboran abasa organs directly into his own body.

Transformed into a human-alien mutant, Underwood harnesses his new abilities to projected consciousness and energy manipulation. Returning to Earth, where Demarzule has fortified himself behind an impenetrable force dome, Underwood launches a psychic and energetic assault directly into the tyrant's lair. Reaching through space and energy shields, Underwood overwhelms Demarzule's defenses and destroys the alien. With the tyrant gone and humanity saved from cosmic servitude, Underwood chooses to retain his strange new powers, guided by the quiet residual consciousness of Jandro embedded within his mind.

How It Unfolds

The black jewel in space Underwood and Terry uncover a mysterious, light-absorbing artifact among the asteroids, prompting expedition administrator Doc Phyfe to demand an immediate investigation. Inside the chamber, they read Demarzule's opening greeting, which promises supreme knowledge to any race advanced enough to unlock his vault.

The preachings of Hennessey When the alien protoplasm is brought to Earth, former publicity man turned preacher William B. Hennessey leverages the public's desperation, rallying thousands into a fanatical cult devoted to the upcoming awakening.

Awakening the Great One Underwood succeeds in constructing the complex generator required to revive the protoplasm, but as Demarzule's massive voice boom through the hall claiming ownership of humanity, the team realizes they have freed a galactic conqueror.

Fire in the stacks Underwood, Terry, and Illia stage a perilous rescue inside the burning museum, braving smoke, structural collapse, and police gunfire to carry off tons of ancient records detailing the Sirenian empire's history.

The dead world's secret After flying to the barren Dragboran moon, the team meets Jandro and discovers a biological vault filled with preserved organs, realizing that Dragboran power resided in living biology rather than simple machinery.

The operation Facing certain defeat by Demarzule's fleet, Underwood convinces Illia to perform a complex, untried surgical procedure using Jandro's guidance to graft the tri-abasa organs into his body.

Duel of the titans Sitting in the control room of the Lavoisier sixty thousand miles away, Underwood projects his mind through Earth's defense screens to confront Demarzule inside his palace, crushing the tyrant in a final mental battle.

The People

• Dr. Delmar Underwood: A dedicated physicist who seeks peace in the quiet expanse of the asteroid belt. Driven by intellectual curiosity, his work inadvertently revives a cosmic tyrant. Feeling personally responsible for the catastrophe, he undergoes a dangerous biological transformation, risking his life and mind to destroy the threat he created.
• Dr. Illia Morov: A brilliant terrestrial surgeon and Underwood's fiancée. Pragmatic and deeply devoted to Underwood, she resists risking his life in untried medical experiments. Ultimately, her exceptional surgical skill enables Underwood's transformation into a mutant power capable of saving Earth.
• Doc Phyfe: An eager, passionate archeologist who manages the Smithson expedition with frantic energy. His reverent awe for ancient artifacts blinds him initially to the danger of the Sirenian repository, though he remains fiercely loyal to his scientific colleagues when crisis strikes.
• Demarzule: The "Great One" and last ruler of the Sirenian Empire. Cold, arrogant, and semantically superior, he views all other species as subjects to be conquered. He uses his vast knowledge and commanding presence to instantly subjugate Earth's population upon his awakening.
• Jandro: A serene Dragboran descendant living among ancient ruins. He selflessly offers his own anatomical knowledge and organs so that Underwood can acquire the abilities necessary to defeat their mutual ancient enemy.

In Its Own Voice

"I am Demarzule, the Great One the greatest of great Sirenia--and the last. And within the storehouse of my mind is the vast knowledge that made Sirenia the greatest world in all the Universe."

Demarzule's opening message greets the archeologists who breach his deep-space vault, establishing his overwhelming arrogance from the outset.

"How many of this congregation this morning are among those who have given up in the race of life, who have despaired of values and standards to cling to, who have forsaken the leadership of all who would lead you?"

William B. Hennessey exploits public disillusionment during a Sunday sermon, grooming the masses to accept the alien as a divine ruler.

"I have triumphed over death, I have conquered the ages, and now I come to you, my people. I have come to lead you to the stars and to the Galaxies beyond the stars, where your very name shall cause the creatures of distant worlds to tremble."

Upon his physical restoration, Demarzule immediately addresses the worshipping crowd, revealing his true nature as an expansionist conqueror.

What It's Really About

The Alien explores the fragile nature of human reason when confronted with magnetic authority and technological superiority. Through the rapid rise of Demarzule's cult, the novel argues that a populace exhausted by social instability will eagerly surrender its freedom to a charismatic strongman promising galactic glory. Underlying the plot is a conflict between rigid, authoritarian power and the open-ended pursuit of scientific understanding. Jones uses the concept of "semantics" and critical thinking as humanity's primary defense against ideological manipulation, suggesting that true advancement requires psychological maturity rather than blind obedience to ancient, self-appointed gods.

Why Read It Today

Fans of mid-twentieth-century "Golden Age" space opera will enjoy The Alien for its creative blend of archeological mystery, alien biology, and cosmic warfare. Raymond F. Jones captures the sense of wonder inherent in deep-space exploration while delivering a fast-paced thriller driven by high-stakes decisions. The narrative moves briskly from quiet asteroid labs to chaotic urban riots and remote, airless alien cities.

Readers should be prepared for period-typical pulp conventions: character dialogue can occasionally feel melodramatic, and the story relies heavily on speculative mid-century concepts like "semantic training" and rapid bio-engineering. Additionally, the plot moves with a breezy disregard for physical realism—such as characters performing complex alien organ transplants with zero prior medical trials. Yet despite these melodramatic shortcuts, the novel stays with you thanks to its thought-provoking warning against hero worship and its fascinating depiction of a protagonist who must literally sacrifice his human identity to preserve humanity's future.