Story: So, this time, our time traveling gang of sleuths in their mystery machine land on a frontier world in the far future. The settlers have contracted a virus which gives them all manner of psychic powers. You know…telekenesis, pyro-kinesis, telepathy, and I believe one of them can predict fashion trends a decade in advance. And so, the Doctor manages to catch this “disease,” but after some work, he is cured. The rest of the population, however, is not so lucky. Not only do they aquire these “powers” (I wish I had the power of mind-over-sci-fi-clichè) but they also have a compelling drive to run into the forest. They have this voice in their heads telling them to do… nobody’s sure what, exactly.
Review: Warning: the contents of this book DO NOT cause drowsiness.
Kate Orman has done well to write a very clean, un-complicated, story. Once again, I am pleased by the lack of sprawling city-scapes filled with countless intricate “characters.” There is a time and place for both kinds of writing, but this is a simple tale, warranting simple prose. There are about two layers to this story, and both are quite easy to follow. Motives are not hidden. Secrets are not kept for very long. and everything gets sorted out in the end. No big revelation there, so I’m not really spoilng anything for you. 8 out of 10.
Year: 1995
Author: Kate Orman
Publisher: Virgin
Pages: 288