The Invaders

The Invaders is a science fiction short story by Benjamin Ferris, written in the early 1950s. It follows Jerry Bronson, a resident of a small American community, as he becomes suspicious of the Merklos family, new inhabitants of the seemingly desolate Dark Valley. As the Merklos family revives the land, strange occurrences—such as disappearing items and unusual crop growth—begin to unsettle the townsfolk. The story blends horror and speculative fiction, exploring themes of identity, community, and the unknown.