Jack of Eagles (Avon SF, S337)

"Jack of Eagles" is a good book about Danny Caiden who discovers that he has esp,i.e., psychic powers, and decides to learn more. He soon finds that the ratio of 'scientific' fact to psycobabble is rather small. However, he also crosses paths with a dangerous group of psychics and is forced to try to use his developing powers to 'save' the world. It is a good and satisfying story that ties up a lot of loose ends by the happy ending. The novel was written in the early 1940's or there about and has an air of the times about it. The 'girlfriend' who attaches herself to Danny is quite decorative and interestingly gypsy. At the time that WWII started, the normal card deck temporarily acquired a fifth suite of cards, called eagles. Since the eagles suite was an oddball, the Jack of Eagles would be even odder than the other Jacks, and, thus, even wilder than the phrase, "Jacks are wild." might suggest. In any case, this is the title used in Britain. A different title was used in the USA (possibly; "Esper". Though I am not sure my memory got it right.) I liked the story because it treats psychic powers with a 'scientific' mode of thinking, much like anything to which engineering might be applied. In that respect, the story is more of a science fiction story in concept than a fantasy. And, an actual science-based object is used as a central concept in the story. Whether you like science fiction or fantasy, read this story.

Danny Caiden is the Jack of Eagles. However, when the novel starts, Danny is just a writer working for a trade publication. He has always had the talent for finding things. An example is given of a drunk friend at a party ringing up and asking where he has put his ski wax, and Danny tells him immediately what it has fallen in to. Encountering another friend, he gets to talking about probability, and decides to see what else he can find. In a probability sense this means gambling, on the stock market, and horse racing. This brings him to the attention of some gangsters, and avoiding them he decides to find out more about psychic abilities, contacting some researchers. Soon, he learns there is a secret society, the Brotherhood, all composed of people like him. Danny's abilities are growing, making them want to recruit him. He opposes their politicals and ethics of superiority to normal humans, and escapes to discover there is an opposing force to these people. With abilities rapidly increasing, and the understanding of the mathematics of probability and psi abilities, Danny is able to venture through different realities to attempt to thwart his opponents, and get the FBI to believe he is not a criminal.

It's all about Danny Caiden, who discovers that he has ESP. But the Brotherhood of psychics wishes for him to be destroyed because of his enormous potential. HE goes through everything to stay away from them, and eventually solves his problem by destroying their headquarters. But that's not the end...

It's all about this guy who find's out he has esp, but he's attacked by these people who want to prevent him from growing his powers. When he meets a mathematician who creates formula's he can use to increase his powers and perceptions.