The novel “Of Men And Monsters” by William Tenn was published for the first time in 1968.

Eric the Only is a boy about to face the test that will allow him to be included in the Male Society. Among the 128 people Mankind consists of, this means being able to carry out a Steal against the Monsters, the aliens who have conquered the Earth.

Thomas the Trap-Smasher, Eric’s uncle and mentor as well as one of the leaders of Mankind, reveals to his nephew that he’s adept at Alien-Science and convinces him to contact some Strangers during his test. After recovering from his surprise, Eric accepts and receives some strange alien weapons from the Strangers but when he returns to the corridors where Mankind lives, he gets captured by men of his own tribe.