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Pegasus in Space    by Anne McCaffrey Amazon.com order for
Pegasus in Space
by Anne McCaffrey
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Del Rey, 2001 (2000)
Hardcover, Paperback, Audio, e-Book

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* *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

Pegasus in Space follows To Ride Pegasus and Pegasus in Flight in the author's ongoing saga of an organization of Talents (powerful psychics). They seek out others of their kind and work to help humanity, despite the fear and distrust that many less gifted feel towards them. Much of McCaffrey's success comes from the fact that she obviously enjoys her characters and is able to depict them in such a way that the reader feels that same empathy and liking.

As Pegasus in Space begins, the Talents are well organized and generally accepted. The core group in the organization operates like a large extended family, with an ageing Dorotea and the pregnant Rhyssa at its center. However the hero and the focus of this story is the paraplegic Peter Reidinger, an exceptionally powerful telekinetic, who applies this Talent to manage his disability and to move goods long distances. It is interesting that the author has dedicated the book to Christopher Reeve, with a wish that he will 'stand on his own feet once again in 2002!'

The story begins as it goes on, with plenty of space action in a mutiny at the official opening of the manned Padrugoi Space Station. Of course, the bad guys from previous episodes get in the act as well as the Talents (and, as usual, they are easily defeated after some small alarms). Flooding in Bangladesh is once more in the story and results in the discovery of a small new psychic - Amariyah and her Gift for gardening is added to the family. She becomes Peter's sister and assists in his coming of age.

McCaffrey gives us a pleasant and comfortable read without too many surprises, though I find more meat to the Pegasus stories than her Rowan series, which occurs later in time (in fact Peter is busy developing the skills in moving payloads that will be all too common in the godlike powers of the Rowan and her descendants). If you have enjoyed the Pegasus books so far, keep on reading - Pegasus in Space is a worthy sequel with no loss in quality.

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