Brain Twister

Mark Phillips was the pseudonym of two well-known science fiction writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer. Their joint pen-name derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark) was coined soon after their original meeting at a science-fiction convention. Both men were drunk at the time which explains a good deal and only one ever sobered up. A matter for constant contention between the collaborators was which one. They collaborated for some years and devised an interesting method of work: Mr. Garrett handled the verbs the adverbs and the interjections Mr. Janifer the nouns pronouns and adjectives. Conjunctions are a matter of joint decision and in the case of a tie the entire game was replayed at Fenway Park Boston the following year. Regardless of who wrote what Brain Twister is a highly enjoyable novel about spies and telepathy as only two great writers could have conceived it!