Pegasus in Space
Anne McCaffery

Rating:  
Series: The Saga of the Talents
Preceding Novel: To Ride Pegasus
Publisher: DEL REY Science Fiction
Publish Date: 2000
Review Date: 12/19/2001

            Peter Reidinger has only the faintest idea of his true potential in this excellent continuation of the Talents Saga. Animating his paralyzed body into normal locomotion proves to be the least of his gifts as he finds himself recruited to do the heavy lifting needed to complete construction of the Padrugoi Space Station. Time and again, Peter demonstrates that his telekinetic abilities are immeasurably stronger than even he suspects as his teleports large objects instantly from earth to the space station. As the world struggles to accommodate the ever increasing population, more and more governments are forced to rely on the gifts of the few Talents among them. In some cases, a single gifted individual is enough to avert huge losses of life. In spite of the obvious utility of using the gifts the Talents possess, many are wary of the tremendous power they wield. As a group, the Talents find themselves struggling achieve their rightful status in a society that fears them, while also working to protect their own gifted members. The future of mankind lies in the colonization of other planets, but how can humans reach the stars while scorning those with the gifts that can make it possible? The government's fear of the new race of mind readers is only surpassed by their desire to control them. McCaffery skillfully creates a world where a tradition of myopic vision wars with the evolution of our species in this fast paced installment to the Talents Saga.

            Something I have always enjoyed about Anne McCaffery's work is that her stories are consistently character driven; Pegasus in Space is no exception. Never, while reading the novel, did I feel as though the characters were being bent to fit the shape of the story. Instead, the events seem to stem necessarily from the personalities of the characters and the situations in which they find themselves. For example, as Peter confronts the limitations of his crippled body his anger at the injustice inflicted on him, unfairly he thinks, spurs him to even greater achievements. I view this novel as a window into the mind of a gifted but confused young man who is attempting to find out where he fits in the world. Peter's story could have been set in the old west, or in present day America and still had a similar impact. Of course, I would be lying if I said I did not really enjoy the fantastic elements of the story. Who has not dreamed of being able to levitate, or teleport objects? However, it is McCaffery's insightful portrayal of the ethical and supernatural development of Peter that encouraged me to give this book the four sword rating. May Anne write many more novels!

Reviewed by Chris Hart