To Ride Pegasus
Encyclopedia
To Ride Pegasus is a collection of four science fiction
stories by Anne McCaffrey
, published by Ballantine Books
in 1973 and later under its Del Rey imprint
.
Alternatively, "To Ride Pegasus" is a novella
, the first chapter of the book, and the one of four stories that was original to the collection.
To Ride Pegasus originates the fictional premise of the Talents universe, the setting for seven novels published 1990 to 2000: two more "Pegasus" books and five "Tower and Hive" books. All eight books feature so-called Talents, people with psionic powers such as empathy
, telepathy
, teleportation
, telekinesis, clairvoyance
, precognition
, and the ability to find what is lost ('finders').
Pegasus
is a symbol for Talent, early adopted by Henry Darrow: "You'd see a lot from the back of a winged horse ..." (p. 11). "When you ride the winged horse, you can't dismount. ... We'll find our bridle, I think, with time and training and more practice at riding".
to the three previously published stories. It explains the fortunate scientific discovery of psionic powers and the earliest establishment of the Talents in human society, in Greater New York
late during the 20th century. The 'precog' Henry Darrow does not avoid his own foreseen automobile accident. In the hospital, a talented nurse notices his unusual electroencephalograph (EEG)
recordings and they complete the discovery together. Darrow recognizes the crucial breakthrough:
Darrow turns from high-price consultation about the future (astrology) to his lifework, setting the Talents surely on the way to a personally respected, legally protected, and highly-paid status. Important early tasks are demonstration of scientific validity and detectability, private fund-raising, and creation of a coordinating and protective institution.
Darrow comes to direct the nonprofit
North American Center for Parapsychic Talents. In his lifetime the Center identifies many Talents and begins to train them and place them in appropriate jobs. It secures a sheltered but conveniently located headquarters: a research, public relations, and residential campus. Darrow recognizes his successor as Director. He envisions crucial steps in the professionalization
of Talents but their achievement is left to the future.
The three older stories feature the Center and its community of resident Talents, under Darrow's successor Daffyd op Owen.
Each one features particular Talents, active or latent, within or without the community, but the big picture the continuing establishment of Talents in society by internal reform, social education, and legislation. Owen, his staff, and public officials are important players and the play is about recruitment, training, registration, public education, professional ethics and liability.
"A Womanly Talent", Analog
, Feb 1969
"Apple", Crime Prevention in the 30th Century, ed. Hans Stefan Santesson, Walker & Co., 1969
"A Bridle for Pegasus", Analog, Jul 1973
The books feature three generations of the most powerful Talents when human society is far-flung in the galaxy and interacts with alien interstellar species.
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database
catalogues "The Talents Universe" in two subseries.
Talents
Tower and Hive
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
stories by Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey
Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American-born Irish writer, best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. Over the course of her 46 year career she won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award...
, published by Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
in 1973 and later under its Del Rey imprint
Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn since 1998, by Bertelsmann AG. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It specializes in science fiction and fantasy...
.
Alternatively, "To Ride Pegasus" is a novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
, the first chapter of the book, and the one of four stories that was original to the collection.
To Ride Pegasus originates the fictional premise of the Talents universe, the setting for seven novels published 1990 to 2000: two more "Pegasus" books and five "Tower and Hive" books. All eight books feature so-called Talents, people with psionic powers such as empathy
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings that are being experienced by another sapient or semi-sapient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. The English word was coined in 1909 by E.B...
, telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
, teleportation
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
, telekinesis, clairvoyance
Clairvoyance
The term clairvoyance is used to refer to the ability to gain information about an object, person, location or physical event through means other than the known human senses, a form of extra-sensory perception...
, precognition
Precognition
In parapsychology, precognition , also called future sight, and second sight, is a type of extrasensory perception that would involve the acquisition or effect of future information that cannot be deduced from presently available and normally acquired sense-based information or laws of physics...
, and the ability to find what is lost ('finders').
Pegasus
Pegasus
Pegasus is one of the best known fantastical as well as mythological creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged divine horse, usually white in color. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing...
is a symbol for Talent, early adopted by Henry Darrow: "You'd see a lot from the back of a winged horse ..." (p. 11). "When you ride the winged horse, you can't dismount. ... We'll find our bridle, I think, with time and training and more practice at riding".
Novella
The novella "To Ride Pegasus" is a prequelPrequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to the three previously published stories. It explains the fortunate scientific discovery of psionic powers and the earliest establishment of the Talents in human society, in Greater New York
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
late during the 20th century. The 'precog' Henry Darrow does not avoid his own foreseen automobile accident. In the hospital, a talented nurse notices his unusual electroencephalograph (EEG)
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG measures voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain...
recordings and they complete the discovery together. Darrow recognizes the crucial breakthrough:
Now we can prove parapsychic powers exist and who has them. We can discredit the charlatans and clowns who've given the rest of us a bad name. The real Talents will be registered with the Center and we'll have graphs to prove they've had valid Incidents. The Center will supply them with the specialized jobs that utilize their Talents.
Darrow turns from high-price consultation about the future (astrology) to his lifework, setting the Talents surely on the way to a personally respected, legally protected, and highly-paid status. Important early tasks are demonstration of scientific validity and detectability, private fund-raising, and creation of a coordinating and protective institution.
Darrow comes to direct the nonprofit
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
North American Center for Parapsychic Talents. In his lifetime the Center identifies many Talents and begins to train them and place them in appropriate jobs. It secures a sheltered but conveniently located headquarters: a research, public relations, and residential campus. Darrow recognizes his successor as Director. He envisions crucial steps in the professionalization
Professionalization
Professionalization is the social process by which any trade or occupation transforms itself into a true "profession of the highest integrity and competence." This process tends to involve establishing acceptable qualifications, a professional body or association to oversee the conduct of members...
of Talents but their achievement is left to the future.
Collection
- "To Ride Pegasus", original to the collection (Aug 1973)
- "A Womanly Talent", AnalogAnalog Science Fiction and FactAnalog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
, Feb 1969 - "Apple", Crime Prevention in the 30th Century, ed. Hans Stefan Santesson, Walker & Co., 1969
- "A Bridle for Pegasus", Analog, Jul 1973
The three older stories feature the Center and its community of resident Talents, under Darrow's successor Daffyd op Owen.
Each one features particular Talents, active or latent, within or without the community, but the big picture the continuing establishment of Talents in society by internal reform, social education, and legislation. Owen, his staff, and public officials are important players and the play is about recruitment, training, registration, public education, professional ethics and liability.
"A Womanly Talent", Analog
Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
, Feb 1969
- The campaign to win professional immunity for Talents is underway with a comprehensive BillBill (proposed law)A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
under consideration by a committee of the US Senate. The story at the Center features a young husband and wife who soon win permission to reproduce. Lajos is a precog specialist in fires; he is employed privately by the insurance industry and works with the Center to prevent or mitigate public disasters. Ruth's talent is barely detectable and unknown in nature.
"Apple", Crime Prevention in the 30th Century, ed. Hans Stefan Santesson, Walker & Co., 1969
- The Bill providing comprehensive legal protection for Talents is now expected to pass in a few weeks. The story at the Center concerns a theft by teleportation from a Manhattan department store window, which is undeniably the work of some unknown Talent. Relations between the Center and Law Enforcement are strained at best and public relations disaster may be anticipated.
"A Bridle for Pegasus", Analog, Jul 1973
- Ethnic tension is high in Greater New York and a summer of strife is feared. The story at the Center concerns another wild Talent, a musical performer unaware of her ability to manipulate the emotions of a crowd. She might be registered and trained by the Center, or recruited by the leader of one ethnic faction, or even kidnapped.
Series
During the 1990s McCaffrey made To Ride Pegasus the first book in a series that is otherwise set after greater psionic talents have been discovered or developed and their employment has become vital. Pegasus in Flight (1990) and its sequel Pegasus in Space show how the Talents enabled human society to extend beyond planet Earth, primarily by assisting space transportation and communication. The Rowan (1990) takes up the Talents and the author's second published story, "The Lady in the Tower" (1959), to initiate the Tower and Hive subseries. Essentially, the title character, the Rowan, is both a Talent and the lady in the tower.The books feature three generations of the most powerful Talents when human society is far-flung in the galaxy and interacts with alien interstellar species.
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database
Internet Speculative Fiction Database
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database is a database of bibliographic information on science fiction and related genres such as fantasy fiction and horror fiction. The ISFDB is a volunteer effort, with both the database and wiki being open for editing and user contributions...
catalogues "The Talents Universe" in two subseries.
Talents
- To Ride PegasusTo Ride PegasusTo Ride Pegasus is a collection of four science fiction stories by Anne McCaffrey, published by Ballantine Books in 1973 and later under its Del Rey imprint....
(1973) ISBN 0-345-33603-8 —collection of stories from 1969 and 1973 - Pegasus in FlightPegasus in FlightPegasus in Flight is a science fiction novel by Anne McCaffrey set in her "Talents Universe". It is the sequel to a 1973 collection of short stories, To Ride Pegasus, and its 2000 sequel Pegasus in Space completed a trilogy....
(1990) ISBN 0-345-36897-5 - Pegasus in SpacePegasus in SpacePegasus in Space is a science fiction novel by Anne McCaffrey, set in her "Talents Universe". It is the sequel to Pegasus in Flight and it completed a trilogy initiated in 1969....
(2000) ISBN 0-345-43467-6
Tower and Hive
- "The Lady in the Tower", The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Apr 1959
- "A Meeting of Minds", The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Jan 1969
- The RowanThe RowanThe Rowan is the first book in "The Tower and the Hive" series by Anne McCaffrey. It is set in the universe of the "Pegasus" trilogy, against a backdrop of a technologically advanced society in which telepathy, psychokinesis and other psychic Talents have become scientifically accepted and...
(1990) ISBN 0-441-73576-2 —partly based on the 1959 "Lady" - DamiaDamia (novel)Damia is a 1991 science fiction novel by Anne McCaffrey; it is the sequel to The Rowan, and the second book of the Tower and Hive series.-Plot:...
(1991) ISBN 0-441-13556-0 —partly based on the 1969 "Meeting" - Damia's ChildrenDamia's ChildrenDamia's Children is a 1993 science fiction novel by Anne McCaffrey, forming part of the Talent series. Damia's Children forms a two-part story with the novel Lyon's Pride.-Plot:...
(1993) ISBN 0-441-00007-X - Lyon's PrideLyon's PrideLyon's Pride is a 1994 novel by Anne McCaffrey, which continues the storyline begun in Damia's Children.Humans and their alien allies the Mrdini slowly begin to get the upper hand in their war against the voracious Hivers, with the help of the powerful psychic Talents of the Raven-Lyon family...
(1994) ISBN 0-441-00141-6 - The Tower and the HiveThe Tower and the HiveThe Tower and the Hive is the conclusion to the series of novels by Anne McCaffrey which began with The Rowan.The war against the alien Hivers is finally concluded, as humans discover a solution that does not involve wiping out the species. A similar solution is found to the main social problem of...
(1999) ISBN 0-441-00720-1
- The Rowan