The 27th Day by John Mantley

This is a book I read a long time ago. I could remember very little about this book, but just enough to wonder how it ended. I emailed the group to see if anyone knew the title/author, but no one did. I finally found it on Amazon.

This is a SF book written in the 50's. This is an important fact because the "villians" in this book are the Russians; a typical thing in the 50's.

Five people from different countries (America, England, Germany, Russia, and China) are abducted and given a responsibility that no one would want. The alien's world is about to Nova, causing the destruction to their entire race. They are looking for a new world to habitate...but this is not an invasion. These aliens are far more advanced then humans...too advanced to be of a violent nature. They could not invade the earth even if they wanted to. It would simply be against their nature.

So, instead, they chose 5 earth people at random and gave each a black box that could only be opened by the boxes owner. Inside each box lay 3 gold capsules that have the ability to anhilate humans only. There would be no radiation, no destruction of plant life nor animal life. Only humans. Each capsule has the capability of destroying people within a 3000 mile radius. These 5 people have 27 days to decide if they will use their capsules or not. If they do, and human kind is wiped from the face of the earth, or at least 2/3 of them, the aliens will come and inhabit. If not, then the aliens will except their fate and the capsules will become inert.

Common sense says that none of these 5 people would want to use the capsules. Ah...but it isn't that easy. Once these boxes become common knowledge through out the world, pressures are put to bear on the 5 people who own the boxes. Governments desire to have control of the capsules. The ensuing troubles of the owners of the boxes keep the story moving and the reader riveted.

Who will prevail? Will the human race be completely destroyed? Will part of the human race survive and co-habitate earth with the aliens?

Although the premise of this book sounds slightly corny and simple, the author writes in a way that keeps you swept up with the story, wanting to know what happens next. A very good read!