What The Left Hand Was Doing

"What The Left Hand Was Doing" by Randall Garrett, writing as Darrell T. Langart, is a mid-20th century science fiction story wrapped in Cold War intrigue that spotlights psychokinesis, shadowy groups, and global spying. It centers on Spencer Candron, a key figure in the Society for Mystical and Metaphysical Research, as he embarks on a perilous operation to free Dr. James Ch'ien, an American physicist, from a heavily guarded Chinese prison. Candron, using his intellect and mental strength, engineers the physicist’s escape using disguises and mental abilities to avoid capture. The story looks at the mysterious and complex operations of the S.M.M.R. alongside the political tension of the time, when human potential was both feared and respected. Candron's adventure becomes a journey to understand the complexities of self and existence.