The Palmer, Lloyd creator Vestal, Herman B. 1916-2007 text utu 2021 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "The Bloodhounds of Zirth" by Lloyd Palmer is a science fiction novel written during the early 1950s. The story revolves around the grim landscape of Zadda, a penal colony on the planet Zirth, where prisoners are closely monitored by telepathic guards and their mental "bloodhounds," the mertha. This book delves into themes of escape, mental anguish, and the nature of reality and identity in a world where minds are tracked instead of bodies. The plot follows Greg Purnell, a special investigator as he witnesses the aftermath of a prison escape by a convict known as 4W382ZT. As the chase unfolds, Purnell learns about the Zirthan's unique telepathic abilities, which allow them to pursue the fugitive through mental techniques rather than physical sight. The psychological tension escalates as the escaped prisoner struggles against the torment of the mertha, who haunt him telepathically and mentally break him down. Ultimately, the story culminates in a surreal twist when the escaped prisoner encounters an unexpected figure, leading to an eerie conclusion that merges elements of history with science fiction, challenging perceptions of identity and reality. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2021-02-12 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Prisons -- Fiction Life on other planets -- Fiction Escaped prisoners -- Fiction PS Original publication data not identified https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64527 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64527 UtSlPG 260607 20260610134504.0 64527