In the non-Aristotelian world of 2650 A.D., most humans live to compete in *The Games*, a series of physical and mental tests deigned to select the best and brightest of the human race. Gilbert Gosseyn, on the verge of his first attempt at this massive competition, is shocked to discover that (1)all of his memories are false; (2) he has no idea who he really is; (3) the Games are rigged.
Confused, manipulated by an unknown, shuttled from Earth to Venus and back again, Gosseyn slowly becomes aware that there are two plots in operation. The mundane one is the attempt to take over the rule of humanity by a gang of criminals. But more important than that are mysterious entities from beyond the Solar System, intent upon destroying both the legitimate rulers and the crooks, and eliminating the greatest threat to their Galactic Empire - the philosophy of NULL-A!
THE PLAYERS OF NULL-A (previously published as The Pawns Of Null-A)
Gilbert Gosseyn, the Null-A genius of the Earth-Venus war, never realized that this interplanetary struggle was but a border incident in a greater conflict until he was thrust onto the galactic battlefield as a mere pawn.
But in picking Gosseyn as "expendable," those cosmic chess players unleashed forces they never knew existed. One was the entrance of a powerful third party into the war. The second was the ability of certain pawns to foresee the future. Finally, there was the secret of Gosseyn's original purpose, a secret which could shatter the Greatest Empire and shake a galaxy!