Joan D. Vinge Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: cobweb SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"Cat is a half-alien street kid and petty criminal who experiences racism. He does not remember his family, and he does not know of his alien heritage, or why it is that people discriminate against him. He is found by law enforcement and detained to be used in slave labor. However, because of his alien heritage, he gets an opportunity to instead volunteer himself at a center for psionic research. Although he doesn't think he has psionic powers, he agrees.
Cat finds out about his latent psionic abilities at the research center, run by Dr. Siebling. He has a difficult time because of cultural shock - he is a streetkid in a world of rich corporate pawns. He also looks different from the other psions as he is half Hydran. He learns that he is half Hydran (alien), and how to use his psionic ability. He becomes close friends with a woman, Jule. It is there that the true reason for the research is discovered. They are both being trained as spies by the government to infiltrate and turn in the psionic crimelord Quicksilver.
Cat is betrayed by his patron Dr. Siebling, forced into slave labor and tempted to join forces with the utterly inhumane Quicksilver. Despite his hardships he always manges to act with courage and integrity."
cobweb, Resident Joan D. Vinge Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 20% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- great mental powers person
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture
Yes
Culture clash-
- one human from different culture of other humans
Main Character
Identity:
- Male Alien
Profession/status:
- thief/con artist
Age:
- a teen
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- mind reading
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- spy
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- mind reading
Eccentric:
Yes
- deluded
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Mountains
Earth setting:
- medium future 22-24th century
Spaceship setting:
- a space station
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Takes place in spaceship?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to torture
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a fair amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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