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bethanyread's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite Anne McCaffrey's. Great story setting up her future series. Great characters, fun information about the moon and other planets.
hawkietta's review against another edition
2.0
I finished it, so I can't be too critical of this novel. I must divulge this is my first foray into the works of Anne Mccaffrey, so perhaps I am judging too quickly on what may be a fluke in a collection of excellent works. However, I have little good to say about Pegasus in Flight.
To start there are what feels like twenty recurring characters, far too many for a book which, while one in a series, is the only one in which most of these characters appear. I suppose the sheer amount of named characters are included in order to try and make up for the fact that almost none of these characters are delved into with any kind of depth beyond the surface level. Even those who should be main characters (Rhyssa, Peter, Sascha, Dave) feel distant, simply names on the page.
I won't even get started on the relationship development in this book. I'll just say that the first physical interaction between two main characters should not include one asking to marry the other. Totally out of left field. Makes one wonder what the author's point of reference is for romantic relationships. And it's not okay or normal for a middle aged man to be mentoring a 10 (?) year old, feel sexually attracted to her, and be waiting for her to grow up. That's just passed off in a paragraph toward the end, no explanation, just that's that.
I like space drama, that's my fantasy bread and butter, think Heinlein. For some this may be just your perfect brand of weird... I just kept waiting to get pulled in, waiting to get to know the characters. I was not rewarded for my sweating out this work. Two stars because I finished it... And future novels are cool.
To start there are what feels like twenty recurring characters, far too many for a book which, while one in a series, is the only one in which most of these characters appear. I suppose the sheer amount of named characters are included in order to try and make up for the fact that almost none of these characters are delved into with any kind of depth beyond the surface level. Even those who should be main characters (Rhyssa, Peter, Sascha, Dave) feel distant, simply names on the page.
I won't even get started on the relationship development in this book. I'll just say that the first physical interaction between two main characters should not include one asking to marry the other. Totally out of left field. Makes one wonder what the author's point of reference is for romantic relationships. And it's not okay or normal for a middle aged man to be mentoring a 10 (?) year old, feel sexually attracted to her, and be waiting for her to grow up. That's just passed off in a paragraph toward the end, no explanation, just that's that.
I like space drama, that's my fantasy bread and butter, think Heinlein. For some this may be just your perfect brand of weird... I just kept waiting to get pulled in, waiting to get to know the characters. I was not rewarded for my sweating out this work. Two stars because I finished it... And future novels are cool.
sdurr's review against another edition
4.0
This second book is a novel that combines the stories of two exceptional and unique Talented children. Picking up several years after Book #1, it deals with political manipulations and attempts by corrupt and greedy individuals to exploit Talent for personal gain. Sound familiar?
The setting is an Earth bursting with overpopulation and wide gaps between the haves and the have nots. But there are plans to build a platform for moving some of the human race into space. The Talent are to play a part in building that platform but the woman in charge fails to understand how her methods and her personality are harmful to Talent. This sets up part of the struggles Talent face throughout this book.
I like how the stories of Peter and Tirla start separately, intertwine, and merge with each other the story of the development of space travel. The adults who guide their training are also interesting and have their own stories as well. Some of the names will sound familiar from The Talent #1, sort of "the next generation."
You will see some these names return in subsequent books about The Talent as they move beyond Earth.
The setting is an Earth bursting with overpopulation and wide gaps between the haves and the have nots. But there are plans to build a platform for moving some of the human race into space. The Talent are to play a part in building that platform but the woman in charge fails to understand how her methods and her personality are harmful to Talent. This sets up part of the struggles Talent face throughout this book.
I like how the stories of Peter and Tirla start separately, intertwine, and merge with each other the story of the development of space travel. The adults who guide their training are also interesting and have their own stories as well. Some of the names will sound familiar from The Talent #1, sort of "the next generation."
You will see some these names return in subsequent books about The Talent as they move beyond Earth.
alys's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
"[Near Eastern] girls ripen faster than us Northern or Occidental types" and therefore the adult man (whose age is never stated, but his twin brother is the Police Commissioner, so I'd say 30 AT LEAST) should wait "four years" before making a move on the now 12 year old, future 16 year old.
I remembered being a little weirded out by the age thing when I read this years ago (at around 12 myself), but at the time I glossed right over the casual racism of the statement. And the casual racism of pretty much the entirety of the book. I hadn't picked this book up in over twenty years, so when I wanted a fun breezy re-read I was not prepared for cringing through huge swaths of the book. From disparaging comments about "the ethnics" to the casual way that even the "good" characters who are shocked (shocked I tell you!) that Tirla would be surprised at the idea that illegal children have some rights later go on to clarify that the reason the city commisioner is upset that a group of kids have been kidnapped is that some of the kids were legal. Because obviously when it was just a bunch of illegal "subbies" people thought it was a problem, but it wasn't A PROBLEM until legal kids were involved. There were offhand remarks about how all of the "ethnic" kids will, given even half a chance "tart it up just like their mothers", or that every single woman with illegal kids was having them with the full intention of selling the children (there is not mention of even one mother who just....wanted lots of kids. During the scene were the illegal children were being forcibly removed to live in an orphanage, it was made very clear that exactly zero of the women were upset because they were losing THEIR CHILDREN, but rather because they were missing out on an opportunity to make a profit.)
Really, there were so many times I was catapulted out of the story by the casual racism on display. It was clearly not intentional, a way of building out a complex character or making a subtle point about "the good guys" being imperfect themselves - the author clearly intended the audience to be nodding their heads along in agreement.
When I was a young teenager I loved this book (largely because I loved Tirla) and the way that it exalted the Special Outsiders who were misunderstood and mistreated by the clearly inferior majority, but I'm no longer in middle school.
I remembered being a little weirded out by the age thing when I read this years ago (at around 12 myself), but at the time I glossed right over the casual racism of the statement. And the casual racism of pretty much the entirety of the book. I hadn't picked this book up in over twenty years, so when I wanted a fun breezy re-read I was not prepared for cringing through huge swaths of the book. From disparaging comments about "the ethnics" to the casual way that even the "good" characters who are shocked (shocked I tell you!) that Tirla would be surprised at the idea that illegal children have some rights later go on to clarify that the reason the city commisioner is upset that a group of kids have been kidnapped is that some of the kids were legal. Because obviously when it was just a bunch of illegal "subbies" people thought it was a problem, but it wasn't A PROBLEM until legal kids were involved. There were offhand remarks about how all of the "ethnic" kids will, given even half a chance "tart it up just like their mothers", or that every single woman with illegal kids was having them with the full intention of selling the children (there is not mention of even one mother who just....wanted lots of kids. During the scene were the illegal children were being forcibly removed to live in an orphanage, it was made very clear that exactly zero of the women were upset because they were losing THEIR CHILDREN, but rather because they were missing out on an opportunity to make a profit.)
Really, there were so many times I was catapulted out of the story by the casual racism on display. It was clearly not intentional, a way of building out a complex character or making a subtle point about "the good guys" being imperfect themselves - the author clearly intended the audience to be nodding their heads along in agreement.
When I was a young teenager I loved this book (largely because I loved Tirla) and the way that it exalted the Special Outsiders who were misunderstood and mistreated by the clearly inferior majority, but I'm no longer in middle school.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Trafficking
jovvijo's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book, I could empathize with Tirla, growing up poor and having to take care of yourself when no one else does, Oh but I wish I had her talent!
I will admit that child trafficking in any book makes you a tad nervy but I think McCaffrey did it well for what it was in a fantasy book. (And she must like the subject as it popped up later in the first 'Acorna' novel as well.)
As for the older bloke "waiting" for Tirla to be his sweetheart when she gets older, in the end it's still up to her if she wants him or not when she 'comes of age'. Life is different for everyone.
Now where can I get me some of those awesome powers?
Spoiler
Being able to speak any language and be understood by anyone! Holy moly would that ever be useful!I will admit that child trafficking in any book makes you a tad nervy but I think McCaffrey did it well for what it was in a fantasy book. (And she must like the subject as it popped up later in the first 'Acorna' novel as well.)
As for the older bloke "waiting" for Tirla to be his sweetheart when she gets older, in the end it's still up to her if she wants him or not when she 'comes of age'. Life is different for everyone.
Now where can I get me some of those awesome powers?
claystarfire's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse and Slavery
Minor: Pedophilia
amalyndb's review against another edition
5.0
The second of the Pegasus series. Even in the future, there are still dregs of society who prey on children, trafficking them for labour, organs, and sex.
In a dense residential complex, Tirla lives as an illegal after the death of her mother and siblings, eking out an existence by doing odd jobs for other residents. Her own eldest brother was sold to traffickers when he was old enough and she is all too aware of the future facing some amongst her chronological peers.
Peter, paralyzed by a falling wall, develops a kinetic Talent to cope with the inability of his body to move. He becomes one of the first kinetics to draw on power sources to augment his talent - possibly a forerunner to The Rowan of The Tower and the Hive series (a short story of which was in Get off the Unicorn).
A fascinating read, set perhaps 70 years in the future in a world similar and yet startlingly different from our own. The environments described are rich and involving and fascinating to read about and visualize.
In a dense residential complex, Tirla lives as an illegal after the death of her mother and siblings, eking out an existence by doing odd jobs for other residents. Her own eldest brother was sold to traffickers when he was old enough and she is all too aware of the future facing some amongst her chronological peers.
Peter, paralyzed by a falling wall, develops a kinetic Talent to cope with the inability of his body to move. He becomes one of the first kinetics to draw on power sources to augment his talent - possibly a forerunner to The Rowan of The Tower and the Hive series (a short story of which was in Get off the Unicorn).
A fascinating read, set perhaps 70 years in the future in a world similar and yet startlingly different from our own. The environments described are rich and involving and fascinating to read about and visualize.
acreech's review against another edition
4.0
I remember this one better than the first, and with it being set several generations in the future, the tech is less distracting.
bookcrazylady45's review against another edition
3.0
Personal prejudice against stories about children sexually assaulted, used by parents and sold. The sections about finding new talents and the first of those with Rowan's talent. I also do not like when a bad guy/woman gets away with bad behavior using law against the good guys and never getting her comeuppance.