The four superior Lensmen: Kinnison, Worsel, Tregonsee, and Nadreck, are armed with mental powers allowing them to control the minds of others and see, hear, and feel without using their physical senses (the "sense of perception"). This elite cadre allows Civilization to tip the balance against Boskone as Second Stage Lensmen abilities are ideally suited to spying and information gathering…
E. E. Smith, PhD. or, E. E. "Doc" Smith is regarded as the father of the space opera. His works were the precursors of the modern day sci-fi fantasy series like Star Wars and Star Trek. So much so that Smith is credited to have coined many of the oft-used technical terms like tractor beams, inertial dampers etc. Smith was also a successful American food engineer and is still best known for his Lensman and Skylark series.