Pegasus in Space (Hardcover)

by Anne McCaffrey (Author) "As Peter Reidinger was teleporting in gestalt with the huge Jerhattan Power Station to bring the kinetics down from Padrugoi Space Station to Dhaka, an..." (more)
Key Phrases: etop pilot, gestalt generators, serving alcove, First Base, Johnny Greene, Admiral Coetzer (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Anne McCaffrey is best known for The Dragonriders of Pern, but her loose Talents series about superpsychics has been running almost as long. It began with the near-future To Ride Pegasus, continuing a couple of generations later in Pegasus in Flight. Book 2 introduced a crowd of new characters, notably the paralyzed boy Peter whose telekinetic talent can move not only his body without help from his ruined nervous system, but--with practice--even lift payloads into orbit.

Pegasus in Space follows directly, with mayhem and mutiny, at the opening of a manned space station, which Peter and talented friends helped build. Further hassles ensue during his training for space haulage work: obstructive bureaucrats, crooked suppliers, murder attempts, and skillful sabotage. McCaffrey specializes in feel-good adventure SF, full of romance, warm friendships, and hearty meals. Somehow her villains never quite convince, though, and their evil deeds are so rapidly annulled that the story rarely builds up much suspense. Meanwhile, the orphan girl Amiriyah who's adopted into Peter's family has a mysterious, subtle talent of her own, one that we soon guess will change his life. Our young hero's ambitions foreshadow later far-future books in the series (beginning with The Rowan) in which "kinetics" hurl cargo across huge interstellar gulfs. While most people think his talent needs careful conservation, Peter has already teleported supplies to the moon and has secret plans for Mars, the asteroids, and the moons of Jupiter. It all makes for an agreeable, lightweight read. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk

From Publishers Weekly
The next in McCaffrey's popular Saga of the Talents series (Pegasus in Flight, To Ride Pegasus), this novel follows the adventures of a group of psychically gifted scientists who nobly improve Earth's future by making space exploration and colonization possible. Paralyzed adolescent Peter Reidinger has learned how to move himself and some amazingly heavy objects psychokinetically through space. Peter lives with the grandmotherly Rhyssa, who protects him and nurtures the growth of his psychic talents. Rhyssa also takes in prepubescent Amariyah, an orphaned girl who has a talent for plants and healing. When a group of psychically gifted people sneak onto the corruptly run Padrugoi Space Station during its inauguration, it is young Peter who saves the day by using his burgeoning psychic abilities to vanquish the comically evil Space Station Construction Manager Ludmilla Barchenka as she attempts a coup. This impresses Admiral Dirk Coetzer, whose life is saved by Peter's quick thinking. The admiral encourages Peter to consider a career in space, and he happily complies. Treachery, assassination attempts and medical disasters ensue, but the novel's primary focus is on McCaffrey's vision of science and psychic abilities meshing so that humanity can inherit the stars. Cheerful, upbeat and chock-full of fun facts on space stations and space exploration, the novel features cartoon villains and nobly one-dimensional protagonists, making the space station and colonies McCaffrey's real heroes--for they show actual growth and development as her vision of the future progresses. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; 1st edition (April 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345434668
• ISBN-13: 978-0345434661
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #915,497 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Pegasus in Space" - adequate end to a great series, April 18, 2000

By	M. Allegra (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pegasus in Space Soars! A must read!, April 8, 2000

By	Joseph Wagner (Gregory, MI USA) - See all my reviews

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!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Talent Triumphs Again!, April 5, 2000

By A Customer

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.