Customer Reviews

Universe against Her

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James Schmitz wrote a bunch of loosely connected stories (mostly short stories), and this is the first one about Telzey Amberdon -- his favorite telepathic character. My detailed rating for this book would be 4.0. This book has been combined with another, to create the currently published "Telzey Amberdon." The story is mostly an adventure story. That is, the EVENTS that happen in the book are the most interesting part of the story. The characters, scenery, universe, history, etc. are not described in any real detail. By the end of the book, you still don't "know" Telzey. But she is a telepath, and there seem to be many interesting things you can do with telepathy! And you get into some sticky fixes too. Schmitz did an admirable job creating a very strong female character, for people who care about such things. And her adventures are fun to read -- but none of the characters in the book are greatly likeable, and that makes it all come out a little flat. I think the book gets a little dull to reread many times -- it loses a little sparkle each time through.

I'm a long-standing fan of the writings of James H. Schmitz, the author of a number of remarkable science fiction novels and stories originally published between 1960 and 1974. I enjoy them for their bold female characters (surprising even by today's standards), for the author's deft handling of psionics, and for his surprisingly accurate forsight of certain technologies such as cell phones.

Many of Schmitz' writings fall into one of two universes and have many interlocking characters. He wrote one set of tales set in the universe of the "Agent of Vega" series. He created a different universe in the "Federation of the Hub" series which includes over two dozen stories and novels (this is the first novel set in that environment). His writings exist as eight novels and fifty-odd stories in several collections, most of which have thankfully been reprinted by Baen books.

The Universe Against Her was first published in 1964. It consists of two episodes which can be regarded as the first two Telsey Amberdon adventures. Despite the juvenile title (and equally silly pictures on the front of the book), I found this to be a great read. If you're new to Schmitz, this book would be a very good place to start.

MILD SPOILERS: The first of the two episodes describes how a very young Telsey first learns about her psionic ability, which then allows her to overcome several obstacles and avert an impending disaster. The second episode involves Telsey working to gain greater control over her new-found talent and struggling to avoid being a tool of the powerful Psychology Service.

The TV series Babylon 5, and the recent Vorkosigan novels by Lois McMaster Bujold, owe something to the excellent legacy of Schmitz and especially the Telzey character first introduced in this book. Highly recommended!

I should have guessed from the cover picture that The Universe.. was a book for adolescents. I started reading a couple of chapters then gave up. Then one rainy day, I decided to pick the slimmest volume on the shelf and promised myself to read the book to the end. The Universe got picked, and guess what? I not only managed to finish it but I enjoyed it. I guess we all have a child somewhere inside us waiting for an opportunity to get out and enjoy his/herself.

I really loved this book. A real pity it is out of print as I would love to get a copy for my library. Would like to see some more books written about the marvelous Telzey!

Telzey Amberdon is a character I loved. She is telepathic and often in trouble just because of that fact. Schmitz 's books are a "must read" for any serious science fiction - fantasy reader.

James H. Schmitz's _The Universe Against Her_ (1964) is a fixup novel comprised of the first two Telzey Amberdon stories. They are labeled Parts One and Two in the novel, but their magazine titles are "Novice" (_Analog_, 1962) and "Undercurrents" (_Analog_, 1964). The first story was a long novelette, while the second was a two-part serial.

It is not easy to create credible characters in fiction who are gifted-- who think rationally, talk sensibly, and who behave in an intelligent manner. Fifteen year old Telzey Amberdon is such a character-- a bright pre-law student who discovers one day that she has emerging psionic powers and that she can communicate with nonhuman creatures: teleporting cats in Part One and a giant guard dog in Part Two. Telzey also finds herself at odds with a number of villains-- an unsavory aunt and uncle in Part One and a family of oily, would-be murderers in Part Two.

Schmitz also does well in his depiction of the political background of the Hub. He knows in detail how Customs at a spaceport works, how an ambassador behaves in the face of unexpected developments, and how the Psychology Service (actually a powerful branch of the Federation) operates. He knows how upstart politicians are dealt with. He knows what crimes the government ignores and what crimes it prosecutes. He knows what punishments and rehabilitations are meted out to guilty parties.

Telzey has problems when the Psychology Service becomes aware of her. Telzey wants to maintain her independence. The Service wants her to develop her talents in a socially responsible manner. Eventually, a compromise is reached.

There is a form of giftedness in which the person conceals his or her talents-- deliberately dumbs down talented behavior in order to fit in or appear more normal. Telzey conceals many of her talents, but not to fit in with a group. It is because she knows that if many others know of her abilities, the knowledge will put them at risk. An excellent novel. It has been absorbed into the much longer collection, _Telzey Amberdon_ (2000).

Telzey Amberdon, fifteen-year-old genius and first-year law student, is a psion who has come into her own, and this is the story of how her powers were awakened by her pet Tick-Tock and how they were tempered in adversity. It's paced well, though the usage of 'tapes' along with computers slightly distracts. Still the story isn't harmed by the dissonance in technological advancement, and I enjoyed how it unfolded.

This book is the first stories of Telzey Amberdon, but you would be better served in buying the book "Telzey Amberdon" edited and compiled by Eric Flint, which contains this entire volume along with additional stories. For the complete experience, also purchase "T&T: Telsey and Trigger" which combined with the first volume, contain all stories of Telzey.