Cat and Mouse

This was a fun read.  We have our typical pragmatic, competent 1950s science fiction hero against an intriguing alien being.  The Harn, with its hive mind and different specialized creature forms, seems ahead of its time.  Ed is only slightly fleshed out but  you can understand him.  He's the independent guy who is becoming tired of life and his routine.  He steps up to meet the challenge of the Harn, and then eaglery anticipates a new frontier to explore.  A bittersweet ending with the Ranger cutting him off from the alien world, and showing that he thinks of Ed simply as a tool.  I felt bad for Ed and he deserved better.