PEGASUS IN SPACE

Sequel to Pegasus in Flight (1990) and To Ride Pegasus (1973), yarns that prequel McCaffrey’s Talents series (most recently,

The Tower and the Hive, 1999). Crippled from a boyhood accident, young multitalented Peter Reidinger uses his telekinetic power to mimic normal movements such as eating or walking. Talents, though, are still hated and feared by most of the population. During a reception for bigwigs aboard space station Padrugoi, construction boss Ludmilla Barchenka attempts mutiny—but Peter and General Johnny Greene, himself a multiple Talent, frustrate her plans. Meanwhile, orphan and gardening enthusiast Amariyah Bantam reveals a capability for healing broken plants; eventually she’s assigned to the space station, as is Peter. He faces a struggle to convince detractors and skeptics that, even though physically helpless, he can handle himself in space using mental powers alone. Encouraged by Greene, Peter discovers he can teleport objects to the Moon. Then, as Peter pilots a Moon shuttle, the fuel tanks explode. Peter teleports himself and the crew away safely. This act of sabotage involves a conspiracy of old enemies. Meanwhile, Peter starts to regain nerve function. Guess who’s responsible? Peter, Greene, and Peter’s teacher Lance merge their minds to teleport an object to Mars; eventually they’ll send a colony ship to the star Capella. Well handled if rather obvious: series fans won’t be disappointed.

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