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Psychomancer
Science scoffs at the concept of luck. The lottery is called a tax on people who are bad at math, and Vegas rakes in cash based on precise odds, not good fortune.
But what if good luck were a scientific reality? An evolutionary trait?
Cornelius Worthington, the luckiest man in the world, washes up on a beach in Miami with no knowledge of where he is.
Natasha Barrett, the most gifted psion the government has ever trained, is tasked with capturing or killing him.
Seymour Zimmerman, a freelance journalist who writes a syndicated column about strange deaths, follows their path of destruction and winds up with a bigger story than he could have ever imagined.
Then things really start to get weird.
Psychomancer is alternatingly funny and horrific, philosophical and explosive. It asks: When good luck is real, what happens if we end up on the wrong end of someone else’s?
But what if good luck were a scientific reality? An evolutionary trait?
Cornelius Worthington, the luckiest man in the world, washes up on a beach in Miami with no knowledge of where he is.
Natasha Barrett, the most gifted psion the government has ever trained, is tasked with capturing or killing him.
Seymour Zimmerman, a freelance journalist who writes a syndicated column about strange deaths, follows their path of destruction and winds up with a bigger story than he could have ever imagined.
Then things really start to get weird.
Psychomancer is alternatingly funny and horrific, philosophical and explosive. It asks: When good luck is real, what happens if we end up on the wrong end of someone else’s?
- GenresScience Fiction
ebook
First published June 15, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 29, 2011
Summary: Science scoffs at the concept of luck. The lottery is called a tax on people who are bad at math, and Vegas rakes in cash based on precise odds, not good fortune.
But what if good luck were a scientific reality? An evolutionary trait?
Cornelius Worthington, the luckiest man in the world, washes up on a beach in Miami with no knowledge of where he is.
Natasha Barrett, the most gifted psion the government has ever trained, is tasked with capturing or killing him.
Seymour Zimmerman, a freelance journalist who writes a syndicated column about strange deaths, follows their path of destruction and winds up with a bigger story than he could have ever imagined.
Then things really start to get weird.
Psychomancer is alternatingly funny and horrific, philosophical and explosive. It asks: When good luck is real, what happens if we end up on the wrong end of someone else's?
As the summary promises, this book does deal with the question of good luck and what the consequences are if you aren't the one with it but it is no where near as simple as that. Natasha, as one of the most powerful Psion's in the CIA, senses another more powerful Psion which doesn't feel quite right, not quite human. Standard procedure in this case assumes the new Psion is rogue and must be dealt with by a team containing firepower as well as other CIA trained Psions. If the rogue is powerful yet able to be trained, then they will recruit. If not, they will eliminate.
Natasha has no idea what this new entity is or if it's a threat. It seems to be co-habitating with a human but can manipulate events to work out in it's, or the humans, favor. Years in advance. Everything this entity does affects those around it and benefits this man. Natasha also realizes that she is being 'allowed' to remote view by design and senses she has a place in his manipulation of events.
Natasha's personality is very cold and arrogant. She feels superior to those around her and has spent all of her time honing her abilities. No friends, no family, her only motivation is to be powerful. You don't get a true sense of her as being a hero in any way. At first.
Cornelius has lived his life on an island, isolated from society and unaware if there even is anyone else left. Books and his late parents have taught him the basics but he is lonely and bored and tries several time to kill himself. Everytime something intervenes and he is left unharmed and unaware of the power within him that is keeping him safe. Finally successful in jumping from the cliffs of his island home, Cornelius washes ashore in Miami. Having no idea how to interact with society, knowing he is there for a purpose and realizing Natasha is involved somehow, Cornelius and the 'power' within him leave a trail of death and destruction as he follows her.
An important player in the story is Seymour. A bitter and jaded journalist who has a rare condition in which he doesn't feel pain. Although horrified by Cornelius's lack of empathy he is compelled to go with him.
I found the most important aspect of this story to be self-discovery. It was fascinating to watch the characters come to terms with who they really are. Their motivations. Natasha discovers forgiveness and acceptance. Seymour discovers fear and pain while Cornelius shows them a realistic approach to thier lives they cannot refute.
I do not have the background in philosophy to truly analyze this story but it still made me think. On the outside, Psychomancer is a thriller that takes it's reader on a ride into hell and chaos; Violence and the evil inherent in us all but once you are done reading you realize there was also the story of human weakness, fear and vulnerability.
But what if good luck were a scientific reality? An evolutionary trait?
Cornelius Worthington, the luckiest man in the world, washes up on a beach in Miami with no knowledge of where he is.
Natasha Barrett, the most gifted psion the government has ever trained, is tasked with capturing or killing him.
Seymour Zimmerman, a freelance journalist who writes a syndicated column about strange deaths, follows their path of destruction and winds up with a bigger story than he could have ever imagined.
Then things really start to get weird.
Psychomancer is alternatingly funny and horrific, philosophical and explosive. It asks: When good luck is real, what happens if we end up on the wrong end of someone else's?
As the summary promises, this book does deal with the question of good luck and what the consequences are if you aren't the one with it but it is no where near as simple as that. Natasha, as one of the most powerful Psion's in the CIA, senses another more powerful Psion which doesn't feel quite right, not quite human. Standard procedure in this case assumes the new Psion is rogue and must be dealt with by a team containing firepower as well as other CIA trained Psions. If the rogue is powerful yet able to be trained, then they will recruit. If not, they will eliminate.
Natasha has no idea what this new entity is or if it's a threat. It seems to be co-habitating with a human but can manipulate events to work out in it's, or the humans, favor. Years in advance. Everything this entity does affects those around it and benefits this man. Natasha also realizes that she is being 'allowed' to remote view by design and senses she has a place in his manipulation of events.
Natasha's personality is very cold and arrogant. She feels superior to those around her and has spent all of her time honing her abilities. No friends, no family, her only motivation is to be powerful. You don't get a true sense of her as being a hero in any way. At first.
Cornelius has lived his life on an island, isolated from society and unaware if there even is anyone else left. Books and his late parents have taught him the basics but he is lonely and bored and tries several time to kill himself. Everytime something intervenes and he is left unharmed and unaware of the power within him that is keeping him safe. Finally successful in jumping from the cliffs of his island home, Cornelius washes ashore in Miami. Having no idea how to interact with society, knowing he is there for a purpose and realizing Natasha is involved somehow, Cornelius and the 'power' within him leave a trail of death and destruction as he follows her.
An important player in the story is Seymour. A bitter and jaded journalist who has a rare condition in which he doesn't feel pain. Although horrified by Cornelius's lack of empathy he is compelled to go with him.
I found the most important aspect of this story to be self-discovery. It was fascinating to watch the characters come to terms with who they really are. Their motivations. Natasha discovers forgiveness and acceptance. Seymour discovers fear and pain while Cornelius shows them a realistic approach to thier lives they cannot refute.
I do not have the background in philosophy to truly analyze this story but it still made me think. On the outside, Psychomancer is a thriller that takes it's reader on a ride into hell and chaos; Violence and the evil inherent in us all but once you are done reading you realize there was also the story of human weakness, fear and vulnerability.
November 15, 2011
I've read a number of Ryker's books (do check out his short story collection [[ASIN:B004TCJIFI Pulling Teeth]]) and it's safe to say this is the most straight forward: a thriller involving a number of characters with psychic powers. It's well written, exceptionally well paced, and moves to a great climax. And you could read it as a hot little page turner and not be disappointed...
... BUT there's a lot of depth here too, for those looking for it. There's a pleasing ambiguity around all the central characters, and especially Cornelius. The focus of the story, and the target of some pretty nasty government agents, Cornelius would be the unambiguous hero of a lesser story. Here, his powers aren't entirely in his control, and his actions from an ethical and moral standpoint don't fully pass scrutiny. The reader feels a Frankenstein-esque mixture of sympathy and horror towards him. And it's this kind of themes (never over done in Ryker's writing, but there if you want it) that elevates this book beyond your average thriller.
Recommended.
... BUT there's a lot of depth here too, for those looking for it. There's a pleasing ambiguity around all the central characters, and especially Cornelius. The focus of the story, and the target of some pretty nasty government agents, Cornelius would be the unambiguous hero of a lesser story. Here, his powers aren't entirely in his control, and his actions from an ethical and moral standpoint don't fully pass scrutiny. The reader feels a Frankenstein-esque mixture of sympathy and horror towards him. And it's this kind of themes (never over done in Ryker's writing, but there if you want it) that elevates this book beyond your average thriller.
Recommended.
February 17, 2012
Psychic Assassin Natasha Barrett has been working with the CIA for years honing her skills. One day she feels the presence of someone more powerful than she and sets out to capture him. Enter Cornelius Berterm Worthington XV. He has been exiled on a small island until his unknown powers lead him to Natasha. Will she kill him or will he get to her first. Great storyy and excellent action through out. A great way to spend an afternoon in the sun.
August 5, 2011
The first chapter was awesome - lots of showing, I could practically smell the ocean and vomit and everything, and it was great. After that, it kind of went downhill. It felt like there was a lot of stuff snatched from Torchwood and other similar scifi series, and then it went into a lot of long descriptions with telling over showing, cliches galore, and a predictable girl-meets-and-falls-for-alpha-male storyline. I just couldn't get into it, though I did try.
I guess this book just wasn't for me. It could have been better after a few more revisions, I suppose, but it greatly disappointed met that it wasn't. It felt more like a first draft rather than a finished product.
Nevertheless, I wish Ryker well on his future works, and will give him another try at another time.
(posted to librarything, shelfari, and goodreads)
I guess this book just wasn't for me. It could have been better after a few more revisions, I suppose, but it greatly disappointed met that it wasn't. It felt more like a first draft rather than a finished product.
Nevertheless, I wish Ryker well on his future works, and will give him another try at another time.
(posted to librarything, shelfari, and goodreads)
August 1, 2016
Cornelius is lost and it is Natasha job to find him one way or another. Their psychic abilities are central to a Central Intelligence op lead by a sadistic team leader. The various other powers are pivotal to the battle between evil and merely bad. Although there is little depth to the main characters, they are interesting and create lot of action.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews