Customer Reviews

Pegasus in Space

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First off, let me say that this is not a bad book, even at hard-bound prices. The problem is that it would have been a better book if it had been twice as long. Let me explain. The plot is a series of snapshots of exciting or emotional episodes with very thin connecting material. The "connecting material" in SciFi or any speculative fiction usually describes how the people live and relate to each other when they are not under stress. It's often a better and more rewarding read than the action sequences. The connecting material wasn't used effectively in "Pegasus in Space" and that's a shame because Ms. McCaffrey is one of the best at creating a society and having her characters really live in it.

On the other hand, Ms. McCaffrey seems to be concluding her extended plot lines in all her series and "Pegasus in Space" is worth reading just for that. The characters we met in "Pegasus in Flight" return and grow up. The real character problem here is the villains. I just can't buy good ole FlimFlam managing to have the freedom of the space station and arranging the big accident. He's not that smart - all the characters agree. And while our "darling" Ludmilla, Queen of the Space Station would be smart enough to pull off a small coup - no one's stupid enough to believe they could pull off a large coup in a telepathic environment. Space stations don't get "taken over" I don't care how many "top" people are attending the opening and available as hostages. "Top" people don't arrive without their own body guards. And if the body guards can't come, the celebrity doesn't arrive, either. Further, conspiracies that large fall apart under their own weight. Honestly now, Ludmilla is NOT a subtle kind of gal.

Finally, though, Peter Reidinger is a wonderful character. McCaffrey matures him beautifully in the course of this book. I was disappointed in his relationship with the whimpy MD. I preferred Amariyah - she had much more personality but that's a quibble on my part. One final point, was Major Johnnie Green always so conniving? I don't recall this from the prior book. Oh yes... and how come we never see his wife?

Unlike "Pegasus in Flight" which could have been read separately from "To Ride Pegasus," "Pegasus in Space" is a close sequel to 'Flight.' It must be read first for the new book to make sense. Both prior books are superior, especially 'Flight,' but "Pegasus in Space" is certainly acceptable entry and closure from an extraordinary talent.

Altogether this one great piece of prose and should definitely be crowed as the best possible bridge between the Pegasus and Rowan/Tower and the Hive series. I thoroughly enjoyed it and consider it to be one of the top ten Anne McCaffrey novels ever written.

For this installment of the Talent series, McCaffrey thrilled us with a much longer look into the heart of the parapsychics of the late 21st Century then we got in the first two books. Peter Reidinger's character develops in the ever-expanding psychic realm. From the first scenes in Bangladesh to the heart-stopping last `port, Pegasus in Space keeps you on the edge of your seat. Rhyssa Owen-Lehardt, General Johnny Greene, Boris and Sascha Roznine, Tirla, Madlyn, Dorotea and the rest of the gang make excellent returning roles. Amariyah very much fills a gap that was left open at the end of Pegasus in Flight. Perhaps nothing was more shocking and awe-inspiring then the lasting effect she has on Peter. Great writing all around.

Now for the positive technical stuff. I loved the opening "rescue" scene in Bangladesh and the edge-of-your-seat Padrugoi Mutiny. Beautifully written. Also, wonderful "scheming" on the part of Reidinger throughout. Nothing is funnier than watching General Greene jump from his chair in astonishment at something he himself did. Almost as if he sat on a whoopee-cushion. At 16/17 chapters it has a great length and every chapter blurs into the next, I couldn't put it down. I especially liked the scenes where Cass Cutler and Ranjit are scrounging the underbelly of Padrugoi and the Flimflam "chase scenes." (reminds you of any scenes in Pegasus in Flight? Hmm...). Wonderful use of character mapping. Very "tidy." You can almost see the situations as though you were there. Imagery is excellent. Great dramatic irony... We all knew Amariyah would save those torn plants... Love the Reidinger "pondering" scenes where Peter conceives of FT&T and Callisto Tower. Johnny Greene is wonderful comic relief, as he seems to take on the roll of the older Peter Reidinger IV from the Rowan series. Oh yeah, and great ship names for the colony ships (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). Though I must admit to not catching on to the whole First Base thing until later in the book. My favorite scene is where Peter shows off "oh so timidly" to the Secretary of Space and his bean counters, perfect. All in all, a very well composed story on the part of McCaffrey. Kudos.

Now for the unfortunate, negative technical stuff. As much as we all love a good McCaffrey Sci-Fi/Romance, this book tends to take after Nimisha's ship in its lack of. I particularly found myself missing the Sascha/Tirla scenes (or for that matter their character really at all...). A strange composition in that she keeps the reader thinking that Peter will go for Amariyah the entire time (or at least that's what I pulled out even though the age difference). Sort of a bait and switch, if you will. Not bad character development wise of Peter, but the time changes are frequent and can possibly confuse the reader if not taken in as a McCaffrey Original. For lack of a better word, the plot "simmered" but never really came to a boil (after Flimflam was out of the picture). It also took after most of the later Tower and the Hive books in the militaristic, "young resident Prime, older Admiral and commanders" look on Padrugoi. Good use of Amariyah as a micro-surgeon (if subconscious) instead of a more supporting kinetic roll which would favor Peter/Amariyah relationship. Nice use of science with Gadriel, but it was a tad "Hawkingish."

However, all around the book was marvelous. A must read for every Talent fan, or even for simply any McCaffrey fan. This was definitely a page-turned and an instant classic. Coming from myself (whom loved Pegasus in Flight and To Ride Pegasus and has all the Rowan books and has been patiently awaiting Pegasus in Space for a long time), I must say it was one heck of fine ride. Write on McCaffrey, write on!

Pegasus in Space provides the perfect link between Anne McCaffrey's Pegasus Series (To Ride Pegasus and Pegasus in Flight) and her Talent Series (The Rowan, Damia, Damia's Children, Lyon's Pride, and The Tower and the Hive) by showing the events that took place between Pegasus in Flight and The Rowan. The book blends the elements of both science fiction and fantasy well, describing the technology that allows expansion into new worlds while also giving the Talents powers that the reader can only dream of having. This novel also shows some of McCaffrey's strongest characterization in the past few years-- Peter Reidinger and Johnny Green are especially vivid and likable. Readers can not help but sympathize with Peter through his internal struggles and cheer at the points in the book where he succeeds. Perhaps Pegasus in Space's only flaw lies in the ease with which the enemy is repeatedly subverted. Still, Pegasus in Space is a must-read for all fans of the Talent books and McCaffrey's work.

In the not so distant future, Earth has become so overcrowded that its people are forced to search outer space for planets to inhabit just so they can survive. A space station is erected so ships can be built and launched to other galaxies. Passengers will be in suspended animation until the crew finds a world they can colonize. The Talents, people with scientifically proven psychic powers play a pivotal role in the new world order. They teleport heavy items from earth to the space station, saving a fortune in fuel and transportation costs.

The most powerful teleporter is Peter Reidenger, a paralyzed individual who remains mobile because of his psychic powers. The people running the space station eagerly accept Peter as a full team member even though some fear his power. On a space shuttle journey to the moon, someone sabotages the ship computers, forcing Peter to use his powers in ways he never knew he could in order to keep everyone alive. A full-scale investigation occurs to uncover the traitors who would rather destroy Peter for reasons of revenge rather than allow the people of earth to have a future in space.

Although PEGASUS IN SPACE can stand alone as a superb work of science fiction, the novel is part of a trilogy (see PEGASUS IN FLIGHT and TO RIDE PEGASUS). This book links this saga with the Rowen collection as it shows the beginnings of a space-based society. Although the story line is classic space opera filled with action, there is great characterization in this work as well. The great Anne McCaffrey makes the people populating her novel feel complete, real and very much alive. The hero is not a marvelous rendition of Professor Xavior though some similar traits exist. Instead, he is a unique and special person who will not allow his true physical condition to stop him from enjoying life to the fullest. The talented Ms. McCaffrey, one of the top authors of the twentieth century, demonstrates she will also become one of the most beloved writers of the new millennium.

Harriet Klausner

I'm 27 and have Read Anne McCaffrey since I was in Grade Eight. My first book of hers was Dragonsdawn and I've been hooked ever since. At first I only wanted Pern but as I've matured I grew to love all her work. The talent series (both Rowan and Pegasus) have become my favorites. With Pegasus in Space I was enchanted from start to finish. I didn't intend to read it until my fiance had left town for a week but ended up reading it in one 2 to 3 hour sitting. I didn't feel a lack in the older characters because Peter was essentially the focus of this book. Just as Tirla was more evident in Pegasus in Flight. I simply loved it. And I can't wait for the next installment. {The way she linked the Rowan and Pegasus series was just plain wonderful).

Another great McCaffrey Book. I read it in one reading. You just have to love a book that has spaceships name "Andre Norton", "Arrakis" and "Bradbury". As always well written. I have only one complaint. As I recall the only time teleportation is mentioned is in "To Ride Pegasus" and not at all in connection with Peter Reidinger and Johnny Greene, yet at the beginning of this book, which is set within months of "To Bridle Pegasus", (Rhyssa is still pregnant with her first child) both of them are teleporting supplies and equipment to Padragoi Station. Still a great read and worth the price. Anne shows the beginning of the FT&T. I must agree, however with the review by fiagaro1010, it worries me when an author starts concluding a series, such as the Talent series. That said, I highly recommend this book.

For those who have read everything that she has written this will be a welcome addition to your collection. She still has the spark that makes readers lover her so much. I don't like the fact that she is writing conclusions to all her stories, that makes me believe she is about to stop writing and that would be a travesty. For those just beginning McCaffrey, start with Dragon flight or to Ride Pegasus. All in all a good novel and well worth the money paid.

Pegasus in Space is a nice cap to the trilogy-so-far of the Pegasus Talents books, but it lacks a little in overall plot and intrest--the previous two books, To Ride Peagsus and Pegasus in Flight, are quite a bit better. Pegasus in Space did a good job of finishing all the previous character's stories, and it was a very interesting prequel to The Rowan Talents books--it and its two mates set up the situation in The Rowan and onward books quite nicely--showing the origins of Talent and, in Pegasus in Space, the origin of FT&T. But besides finishing up the trilogy and setting the stage for later books, it was pretty lacking. First of all, Pegasus in Space starts out making a very big deal about Amariyah--but never finishes it. She's this phenominal healer Talent, but the only mention of her after the age of 13 is such an "oh, and by the way" deal that it leaves one a little confused, after all the hype about her in the first part of the book. Then, in the middle of the book, Anne McCaffrey switches into heavy *heavy* sci-fi mode with all her descriptions of space walking and shuttle launching, etc. For a person like myself--a lover of sci-fi/fantasy, but not a die-hard sci-fi reader--it got quite boring and monotonus. And the whole book was mainly about one chracter--Peter Reidinger. Not that a story is not allowed to have a main character, but after the previous two books, which were both relatively oligarchal as far as characters went, it was quite a change. Seemed a bit of an overkill on Peter. The whole book was about his obsession with space. Like I said, it's a nice setup for The Rowan, but it was very overkill. And the only "bad guys" were a weak resurrection of Pegasus in Flight's main villians. It was nice to know what happened to all the characters from the previous two books, but they all paled in comparison to Peter's role in the book, and only got brief mentions and were reverted to completely two-dimensional personalites. Without the previous books, the accessory characters would have been totally lost. Overall, it was pretty enjoyable, with the happily ever after ending and the little dip into romance that Anne McCaffrey never fails to make in all of her books, but it lacked in comparison to the two previous books in the Pegasus trilogy. And it especially lacks if one chooses to comapre it to the Dragonriders of Pern books--which are all awesome novels, true masterpieces by Anne McCaffrey. Pegasus in Space seemed a little forced, as if the author had just wanted to get the story done, rather than enjoy it. But even for all its faults, it deserves three-stars, because it *was* good and because, of course, nearly everything Anne McCaffrey touches is golden. Pretty good, but most certainly not the best.

This book picks up where Pegasus in Flight ends, with the addition of new psychics and old friends of Peter, who help him in unexpected and startling ways. Once I started reading the book I got to page 114 before tired eyes forced me to go to sleep. The following day I finished it, so gripped by it's action was I.I am looking forward to more sequals to it.All characters come alive right from page one. Joseph T. Gabus ham@morgan.net & Extra Class amateur radio operator AB5RE

The book over all was an excellent end to a very good series. McCaffrey's use of a wide range of telepathic powers (Talents) opened my mind (pun intended) to a vast array of possiblities. The progress of Peter's kenetic growth was not all that suprising yet when he 'ported to "First Base" (on the Moon)I was happy at first, impressed second than third annoyed; because when Peter "landed" Limo-34 he nearly destroyed the Apollo 12 historical site. What really suprised me was the regrowth of Peter's nerve endings and spinal cord, truly the most important event in the book (way more important than travelling 45 light years in the blick of an eye). Yet while the book was quickly paced it lacked the edge that I had found in "Pegasus in Flight". And most upsetting was that Trile was only a minor character in this novel. The unusual thing is one I mentioned in my review of "To Ride Pegasus," that was a lack of underhandedness by secret government/military involvement. Maybe McCaffrey is more of a Utopion, and I a Dysutopion. Or more likley the X-Files has just lodged itself in societies sub-conscience and we so look for such deceptions, but when it is not found, that scares us even more.