To Ride Pegasus / Anne McCaffrey

To Ride Pegasus

by Anne McCaffrey

science fiction

copyright 1973

read in August 2017

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

This book puts a scientific basis to mental powers... sort of. It's all very scientifically based but it's all measurement rather than understanding.

There's a great new device which graphs brainwaves. Read the graphs and you can tell what type of mental power is being used -- ESP, telekinesis, precognition, whatever. Yet there is no attempt to replicate these signals with a machine... Is machine ESP possible? We will never know because no-one ever tries it.

This book is about the people, the society, the reaction to ESP rather than the ESP itself. It is a tale of evolution and gradual development rather than an amazing adventure. Though there is a constant emphasis on, Wow! that's amazing!

The book is a mash-up of several previous stories. Each story covers a key aspect of this future history. There are two main phases, quite well integrated, despite two sets of leading characters. It is clearly a series of stories but it reads well enough as a single novel.

The weakest part of this book is the cast of characters... There is variety but they share a common factor: they are all so sweet and well meaning. Once they understand their ESP powers, they are all so positive, so altruistic, so hard working. I'd like to think it's a true representation of humanity. I have my doubts.

There is also "romance". Yes, "romance" in quotes. The hero is unaware of unrequited love so he remains chaste. As soon as he realises that the woman loves him -- they hop into bed. There is no wooing, no courtship. I think that he also loves her, that is not so clear. This could be a sign of the times of writing: everyone is supposed to be open and accepting of sex but it is still not allowed in mainstream media. Ooooh ! the daring of science fiction :-)

Pegasus is a light and entertaining book. There are similarities in the style to the dragons of Pern but it lacks the excitement. Perhaps because the challenges and conflicts are more political and personal, with no real threat to life and limb.

An enjoyable book. Not at all a page-turner. Read, enjoy, move on.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
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"If you're not part of the solution, you're in government." … per Ginger Meggs