The Seventh Order (XMIN)

A mechanical alien from the planet Zanthar (good name for a planet, or a prescription drug) chooses a human professor to study in order to determine the Earth's suitability for invasion. The good professor seeks to humor his unwanted guest while he figures out a way to halt the alien's nefarious plans.

The real plot of the story is how to defeat an opponent who can read minds. How would you beat such an opponent? Not one of my favorites, but an interesting academic puzzle. The story first appeared in Galaxy, March 1952. You can read it here.

X Minus One #50
The Seventh Order
8 May 1956
19560508(050)_XMIN_TheSeventhOrder.mp3
James Monks, Nelson Olmsted, Kate Wilkinson, Bob Hastings, Richard Hamilton, James Rafferty, Reese Taylor, Jim Stevens, Wayne Chappell, W. W. Chaplin (commentator), Jerry Sohl (author), George Lefferts (adaptor), William Welch (producer), Daniel Sutter (director), Fred Collins (announcer)