The Impossibles

The Story

Kenneth J. Malone, an FBI agent who suspects his own professional success is merely a string of fortunate coincidences, is sent to New York City to investigate a series of bizarre thefts involving red Cadillacs. His boss, Director Andrew J. Burris, suspects a high-tech conspiracy—perhaps robot-controlled vehicles—but the reality is far more strange. Malone soon crosses paths with his old colleague, Boyd, and discovers a mysterious black notebook containing the names of several local youths.

The investigation leads Malone to Mike Fueyo, a teenage leader of a local gang called the "Silent Spooks." Malone quickly realizes that the gang members possess the extraordinary ability to teleport. They are not merely stealing cars for profit; they are using their powers to bypass locks and security measures, leaving the authorities completely helpless. As Malone digs deeper, he encounters a familiar, eccentric group of telepaths previously apprehended by the FBI and housed at a facility in Yucca Flats. Among them is a woman who, while suffering from a delusion that she is Queen Elizabeth I, possesses formidable telepathic range and proves essential to tracking the elusive teenagers.

Malone’s pursuit is complicated by his growing relationship with Dorothea Fueyo, Mike’s sister, who is caught in the middle of her brother’s criminal exploits. As the "Silent Spooks" escalate their activities—stealing liquor, jewelry, and cash—Malone must find a way to neutralize their powers without causing them harm. The climax occurs during a tactical infiltration of the gang’s hideout, where Malone and Boyd use specialized equipment to outmaneuver the teleporters.

The story concludes with the gang’s apprehension. Rather than facing standard imprisonment, the teenagers are sent to the government-run facility at Yucca Flats to be studied and utilized for their unique talents. Malone ensures they will be treated with care, though he acknowledges the cold reality that the government views them primarily as valuable assets. The book ends on a romantic note, with Malone finding a moment of personal happiness with Dorothea, successfully balancing his unconventional case work with his personal life.

How It Unfolds

The assignment begins Director Burris tasks Malone with investigating a wave of high-speed thefts involving identical red Cadillacs. Malone travels to New York, nursing his own doubts about his competence as an agent while pondering the impossibility of the crimes.

The discovery of the Spooks After a series of strange encounters and a mysterious notebook appears in his possession, Malone identifies a group of teenagers known as the "Silent Spooks." He soon realizes that these youths are not using machines, but their own innate ability to teleport, to commit their thefts.

The telepathic assist Malone calls upon a team of institutionalized telepaths, including a woman convinced she is Queen Elizabeth I, to help track the teenagers. This group provides the necessary edge to monitor the boys, who are otherwise impossible to catch.

The final confrontation Malone, Boyd, and Dorothea execute a precise raid on the gang’s warehouse hideout. Using infrared technology and strategic planning, they corner the teleporters and bring the spree to an end.

The resolution The boys are relocated to a government facility at Yucca Flats to serve as psionic resources. Malone, having successfully completed his "vacation" case, finds personal peace and the promise of a future with Dorothea.

The People

Kenneth J. Malone is an FBI agent defined by his modesty and an endearing habit of doubting his own capabilities. He seeks a quiet life but finds himself constantly thrust into the center of extraordinary, world-altering events. He relies on intuition and a surprisingly effective rapport with the bizarre, eventually accepting his role as a capable, if reluctant, hero.

Mike Fueyo is the charismatic, defiant leader of the "Silent Spooks." Driven by the arrogance of youth and the thrill of his own untapped potential, he uses his teleportation skills to challenge the establishment. His journey ends with him being funneled into the government's machinery, transitioning from a petty criminal to a state-managed asset.

Dorothea Fueyo serves as the emotional anchor for Malone. Initially a bystander to her brother's crimes, she becomes a bridge between Malone and the boys. Her presence challenges Malone to act with empathy rather than mere cold, bureaucratic efficiency.

The Queen is a powerful, institutionalized telepath whose delusions of grandeur mask her extreme utility to the FBI. She is both a source of critical information and a constant reminder of the fine line between genius and madness in the world of psionic research.

In Its Own Voice

"The sidewalk was as soft as a good bed."

Malone is introduced to the reader in a moment of surreal, dreamlike disarray that sets the tone for his unusual career.

"I've been out West on a couple of cases."

The casual, professional shorthand between Malone and his colleague Boyd highlights the mundane, matter-of-fact way they approach the most bizarre investigations.

"The kid could make himself vanish at will."

Malone reflects on the primary obstacle of his investigation, framing a supernatural event through his lens of professional, investigative logic.

What It's Really About

The story explores the tension between human exceptionalism and government control. At its core, the book asks how a democratic society should manage individuals who possess power that fundamentally undermines the law. The government’s decision to institutionalize the "Silent Spooks" at Yucca Flats—treating them as "equipment" rather than citizens—poses a quiet, cynical question about the ethics of authority. Additionally, the book examines the nature of identity and delusion; the characters who are most effective at navigating this strange world are often those who, like the "Queen," have completely detached from reality. It suggests that in a universe where the laws of physics are flexible, a flexible mind—however slightly unhinged—is the most valuable tool for survival.

Why Read It Today

This work offers a unique, period-specific blend of the hard-boiled detective story and the mid-century obsession with psychic phenomena. Readers who enjoy the witty, fast-talking banter of 1960s pulp fiction will find Malone’s internal monologue particularly engaging. It is an honest, unvarnished look at a time when science fiction was as interested in the absurdity of human institutions as it was in the possibilities of the future.

It is important to approach the book with an awareness of its era. The attitudes toward gender, the casual depiction of government overreach, and the period-typical slang are firmly rooted in the early 1960s. Some readers may find the pacing—written in just six days—to be frantic or the logic leaps to be more about character whimsy than rigorous plotting. However, for those who appreciate a story that doesn't take itself too seriously and prizes charm over grit, this remains a delight. It leaves the reader with a lingering sense of wonder at the idea that the greatest mysteries are often solved by those who are just barely making it up as they go along.