Status
Available
Call number
Publication
London : Orbit, 1992.
Description
"McCaffrey's world of the Talented is as vivid as that of Pern and its dragons."--Publishers Weekly When a freak accident furnishes solid scientific proof of paranormal mental abilities, the world reacts with suspicion and fear. How can ordinary people coexist with a minority able to read minds, heal with a touch, peer into the future, or move objects with a thought? How can anyone with such power be trusted not to abuse it? Harsh repression seems the only answer Gifted with precognitive talent, Henry Darrow has other ideas, foreseeing a future in which the Talents are accepted for what they are and not what they can offer their fellow humans. But the road to that future will not be easy. Darrow and the powerful telepath Daffyd op Owen must win the public's trust while overcoming the threat of rogue Talents like Solange Boshe, a young girl so consumed with hatred that her thoughts can kill, and the singer known as Amalda, whose telepathic prowess can unite a thousand strangers in joyful harmony--or mold them into a bloodthirsty mob. . . .… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Katissima
To Ride Pegasu is really a group of short stories that tell as a group how parapsychic powers were first documented and used in McCaffrey's near future universe (where the northeast US has turned into this massive city she calls "Jerhatten"). The people who are going to be most interested in this
Show More
book are people who enjoyed either or the FT&T universe books that begin with The Rowna. I am not sure that it really stands that well on its own, being really one of those books that reads better if you have some kind of vested interest in it. However, sci-fi fans that particularly like to read short stories might enjoy it anyway. Show Less
LibraryThing member nakmeister
When an old man is in a serious road accident, a young nurse with an innate talent for healing accidentally discovers a means to test scientifically for telepathy, telekinesis, and other special ‘talents’. This accidental discovery leads to the formation of a centre for psychically gifted and
I was recommended this book by a friend, and while it was interesting to read, it did not grip me and leave me wanting more (despite the fact this is the first book in a trilogy). The writing in some places could have been better I felt, and I felt little empathy towards the characters. The idea was interesting, but the plot was cumbersome and didn’t really flow. I would not personally recommend this book, but that is just my opinion, and others have enjoyed this book far more than I did.
Show More
talented people. Daffyd op Owen is chosen by the dying founder to run the centre after he is gone, but op Owen soon realises that he will make many enemies along the way, both talented and normal.I was recommended this book by a friend, and while it was interesting to read, it did not grip me and leave me wanting more (despite the fact this is the first book in a trilogy). The writing in some places could have been better I felt, and I felt little empathy towards the characters. The idea was interesting, but the plot was cumbersome and didn’t really flow. I would not personally recommend this book, but that is just my opinion, and others have enjoyed this book far more than I did.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dragonasbreath
Anthology of four short stories, the first four in the Talented Universe, covering the years from Founder Henry Darrow's accident that revealed scientific proof of psychic ability through Through final implemtation of the Talent Immunity Law which allowed the Tower and Hive structure to form and
Quick, light reading. Entertaining and good social commentary on being a part of a minority that makes the majority uneasy.
Show More
develop.Quick, light reading. Entertaining and good social commentary on being a part of a minority that makes the majority uneasy.
Show Less
LibraryThing member AVoraciousReader
Henry Darrow is a surprisingly accurate astrologer. He predicted the car accident that would give him a serious head injury and would put him in the one hospital with an ultra-sensitive electroencephalograph, otherwise known as a Goosegg. After his surgery he woke to a nurse watching him. He had a
This book contains four short stories chronicling Henry Darrow’s hard work to get the Center started then a place for the Talented to stay where their quarters weren’t crammed in with others and could be shielded to protect their minds. Land for the center, finding Talents to bring into the fold and getting laws passed to protect them all started with Darrow, but continued well after his death.
While this book was first published in 1973, I didn’t read it until after came out in paperback in 1986. Did I read it in 1986? No. I read it in 1990 after reading The Rowan, the first book in The Tower and Hive series. After reading McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series, I was hunting for other works by her to read and when I picked up The Rowan I didn’t realized there were three books prior to it in a series called The Talent. Once I realized that fact it was just a matter of hunting down the books.
I was enthralled with the idea that people had extrasensory abilities and I remain enthralled to this day. A fan of Anne McCaffrey since my brother gave me Dragonflight when I was a kid (in the 70s), I love her writing. She brings a world and people to life with a minimum of description that is a perfect balance between describing what she sees and allowing the reader to paint their own version of the same picture, letting imagination fly. Her plots are tight and the characters are well-developed. The endings always make you want to have the next book on deck, so you can dive right back in.
To Ride Pegasus is the beginning of the The Talent series and it morphs into The Tower and the Hive series with The Rowan. If you like books that feature people with a wide range of parapsychic abilities then this story and all those that follow should appeal to you.
*Book source ~ My home library.
Show More
precognitive episode predicting they would get married and since he was being monitored by the Goosegg the chart showed the unusual activity in his brain at the exact moment of his episode. Scientific proof that parapsychic talent exists. From that point Henry Darrow begins the hard work needed to form the Parapsychic Center and bring all those with Talent under its protection. This book contains four short stories chronicling Henry Darrow’s hard work to get the Center started then a place for the Talented to stay where their quarters weren’t crammed in with others and could be shielded to protect their minds. Land for the center, finding Talents to bring into the fold and getting laws passed to protect them all started with Darrow, but continued well after his death.
While this book was first published in 1973, I didn’t read it until after came out in paperback in 1986. Did I read it in 1986? No. I read it in 1990 after reading The Rowan, the first book in The Tower and Hive series. After reading McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series, I was hunting for other works by her to read and when I picked up The Rowan I didn’t realized there were three books prior to it in a series called The Talent. Once I realized that fact it was just a matter of hunting down the books.
I was enthralled with the idea that people had extrasensory abilities and I remain enthralled to this day. A fan of Anne McCaffrey since my brother gave me Dragonflight when I was a kid (in the 70s), I love her writing. She brings a world and people to life with a minimum of description that is a perfect balance between describing what she sees and allowing the reader to paint their own version of the same picture, letting imagination fly. Her plots are tight and the characters are well-developed. The endings always make you want to have the next book on deck, so you can dive right back in.
To Ride Pegasus is the beginning of the The Talent series and it morphs into The Tower and the Hive series with The Rowan. If you like books that feature people with a wide range of parapsychic abilities then this story and all those that follow should appeal to you.
*Book source ~ My home library.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jshillingford
The first book of the Talent series, and the best. Henry Darrow can see the future. He knows that talents will need protection as they become more visible to society. So, a rich man makes a deal with him, he'll leave his fortune to Darrow if he dies at the exact time Darrow predicts. Awesome book!
LibraryThing member emrya
Beginning of Talent. Like the backstory and the origins.
LibraryThing member atreic
Some very interesting short stories strung together as a book - I love the focus on the legal implications of being able to predict the future. If you predict a disaster, so people spend lots of time and money on preventing it, and so it doesn't happen, are you legally responsible for all the time
Show More
and money they 'wasted'? Cute ideas, but not gripping, and hard to follow the charecters. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Now this is a book I read many, many years ago, and while this cover doesn't match the edition I just read, it does match the cover I remember from many years ago.
It's a collection of four short stories all centered about psionic talents in the late 20th early 21st century. This near-future (and
It's a collection of four stories, A Womanly Talent was originally published in Analog in 1969, Apple appeared in Crime prevention in the 30th Century in 1969 (even though it's set in the early 21st Century) and appears in Get off the Unicorn and A bridle for Pegasus appeared in Analog in 1973.
To Ride Pegasus is set in 1997, a story about the discovery of the reality of paranormal talents between an astrologer, Henry Darrow and a nurse with healing hands, Molly Mahony and the attempt to set up a centre for paranormal talents and to get Talents (as they refer to psychics) recognised as legitimate people.
A womanly talent felt the most dated in certain ways, set in the early 21st Century. The stories are of their time and some of the attitudes grate but they're also an interesting look at the perception of women and their roles from a woman's point of view. Then I thought about it again and I know women like that., so maybe not completely out of order.
Apple is all about hunting a larcenous talent and about pushing your talent.
A Bridle for Pegasus is a lot about ethics and understanding and an unusual relationship.
It's an interesting set of stories that set up the world that The Rowan and Damia come into, while they are dated (computer tapes and IBM CARDS!!) a lot of the core of the story is quite interesting and well done. Not her best, but as a backdrop to later stories an interesting read.
It's a collection of four short stories all centered about psionic talents in the late 20th early 21st century. This near-future (and
Show More
now near-past in some instances) written in the 1960s and 1970s does have some quite interesting failures on the part of prediction, but it's interesting to look at a perception of the future at that time. It's a collection of four stories, A Womanly Talent was originally published in Analog in 1969, Apple appeared in Crime prevention in the 30th Century in 1969 (even though it's set in the early 21st Century) and appears in Get off the Unicorn and A bridle for Pegasus appeared in Analog in 1973.
To Ride Pegasus is set in 1997, a story about the discovery of the reality of paranormal talents between an astrologer, Henry Darrow and a nurse with healing hands, Molly Mahony and the attempt to set up a centre for paranormal talents and to get Talents (as they refer to psychics) recognised as legitimate people.
A womanly talent felt the most dated in certain ways, set in the early 21st Century. The stories are of their time and some of the attitudes grate but they're also an interesting look at the perception of women and their roles from a woman's point of view. Then I thought about it again and I know women like that., so maybe not completely out of order.
Apple is all about hunting a larcenous talent and about pushing your talent.
A Bridle for Pegasus is a lot about ethics and understanding and an unusual relationship.
It's an interesting set of stories that set up the world that The Rowan and Damia come into, while they are dated (computer tapes and IBM CARDS!!) a lot of the core of the story is quite interesting and well done. Not her best, but as a backdrop to later stories an interesting read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member fuzzi
I have read and enjoyed Anne McCaffrey books in the past, and still enjoy rereading some of them. A couple of my favorites take place in the Talents universe, "The Rowan" and "Damia". So I was looking forward to reading "To Ride Pegasus", the prequel to those works.
I am very disappointed in this
I am very disappointed in this
Show More
book. The characters have no depth, and I cannot find anything I like about any of them. After reading almost a third of the book, I am putting it in my cull bag, to exchange it at the used book store for something I will enjoy. Show Less
LibraryThing member Xleptodactylous
Where the hell is Pegasus? Fled from the mid-century ideas, I assume. "The consensus is that while a man might lift furs and jewels, possibly the dress, only a woman would takes the shoes, too." Page 127
In one paragraph the second-wave protagonist is referred to, by the writer and by several other
In one paragraph the second-wave protagonist is referred to, by the writer and by several other
Show More
characters, invariantly as Op Owen, Dr Owen, Dai, Dave, Daffyd, Daffyd Op Owen. I assume the author is just super happy she used a Welsh name. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
This is an early work by McCaffrey published in 1973 but some parts first appeared in 1969. I’m not sure when I first read anything by McCaffrey but I’m pretty sure it was The Ship Who Sang. Years later I had the privilege of hearing McCaffrey read that story at the Winnipeg Science Fiction
People with psionic powers (telepathy, telekinesis, telempathy, precognition and other powers) in the 21st century are bombarded with sensations because people are so packed together in megalopolises. Jerhattan is one of the biggest and has all the problems one would expect in such a large city. A man who can predict the future, including his own precise death date, Henry Darrow, conceives of a refuge for those with powers and they would then use their powers to help the city. He convinces a wealthy man who owns one of the largest tracts of land that has not yet been divided to allow the center to set up shop on the land. Darrow tells the man that he knows when he will die to the precise moment and the man agrees that the center can stay if he does indeed die at that moment. However, if he lives longer the center has to leave. Of course, Darrow is right and the center is established. The title comes from the analogy that Darrow uses to describe using extrasensory powers: It’s like riding a winged horse; one can get on its back but it is hard to get off once it is in flight. However, as the center expands and matures they learn more about using the powers and harnessing the winged horse.
As I said, this is not the best example of McCaffrey’s work but it is still very enjoyable.
Show More
Convention. Everyone present, including McCaffrey, had tears in their eyes by the end. This book isn’t up to that calibre but it is interesting to read something from a great writer’s formulative period.People with psionic powers (telepathy, telekinesis, telempathy, precognition and other powers) in the 21st century are bombarded with sensations because people are so packed together in megalopolises. Jerhattan is one of the biggest and has all the problems one would expect in such a large city. A man who can predict the future, including his own precise death date, Henry Darrow, conceives of a refuge for those with powers and they would then use their powers to help the city. He convinces a wealthy man who owns one of the largest tracts of land that has not yet been divided to allow the center to set up shop on the land. Darrow tells the man that he knows when he will die to the precise moment and the man agrees that the center can stay if he does indeed die at that moment. However, if he lives longer the center has to leave. Of course, Darrow is right and the center is established. The title comes from the analogy that Darrow uses to describe using extrasensory powers: It’s like riding a winged horse; one can get on its back but it is hard to get off once it is in flight. However, as the center expands and matures they learn more about using the powers and harnessing the winged horse.
As I said, this is not the best example of McCaffrey’s work but it is still very enjoyable.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ConalO
I decided to re-read this series in some down time this month and it has not lost it's appeal since the last time I read this twenty years ago. I have always enjoyed stories that dealt with higher mind powers and Anne McCaffrey does not disappoint in this area.
4 stars for a fun and entertaining
4 stars for a fun and entertaining
Show More
re-read. Show Less
LibraryThing member GlenRH
This is the back story to a lot McCaffrey's 'talent' series. It is a good background and the story well sets the stage for later stories.
Language
Original publication date
1973-08
ISBN
0722159676 / 9780722159675