Jumper: Griffin's Story

If you liked the previous books, you'll like this one as well. Same compelling story, but with different characters. The story is much darker than the prior novels. But seeing how Griffin triumphs over the "Jumper Hunters" is very interesting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's not a novelization of the movie (those usually stink). Instead he tells the story of Griffin who is a character in the movie. After seeing the movie and reading Jumper and Reflex, I was very curious to find out what Griffin's background was and I was left very satisfied. Incidentally, I enjoyed the movie but found the ending lacking.

I am a huge fan of Steven Gould. I read the first Jumper book several years ago, and followed it immediately with the sequel, Reflex. When I heard last year about a movie being based on the books, I was excited, and yet a little leery. I haven't seen the movie yet, but was thrilled when Gould wrote a 3rd book solely to support the inclusion of a 2nd jumper in the movie. This book is the story of Griffin, from his childhood through his late teens, and his survival tactics and struggles as a teleporter. I'm sure it sets the stage for the movie to pick up where the books leave off, although from the previews, while there are portions of the movie lifted directly from the 1st book, the rest looks entirely different from the books. In all of Gould's books, his characters seem so alive and the stories are completely believable - I'm led to never question the teleporting because the characters deal with it in such a rational way. In the first book, the main character first discovers he can "jump" in the local library - and I love how throughout the book, even years later, when threatened he automatically winds up back in the stacks. In "Griffin's Story", a similar circumstance occurs, and I adore it because it makes the story believable. Gould is a young adult writer, yet his books appeal to all sci-fi readers. His book Wildside, about an alternate world and the battle to preserve/destroy it, deserves a closer glance

This is an excellent book. I also read his other Jumper book and loved it. I wish Steven Gould would write 100 more books so I could read them.

I've just finished Gould's reworking of the Jumper series. At first, having read the, "Note about the Novel," I felt a little cheated. Had I just paid for a re-hash of one of my favourite novels? In short, the answer is, 'no'. Despite having a completely new setting, plot and characters, I loved Griffin's Story as much as the first Jumper novel. I was expecting a story about Davy and Millie's child but, instead, was taken into a world that had no connection with the earlier books and had a slightly different take on the main premise, (teleportation). In the original novel I felt the whole aeroplane high-jacker angle was a little bit of a conceptual stretch, although it admirably served to explore Davy's abilities. Many fans will not be able to let go of the original Jumper universe. After a brief struggle, I did just that and fell deeply into the new story. This novel doesn't require the "Jumper" to be quite so unique. It also manages to throw frightening challenges Griffin's way, without any improbable coincidences. In fact, Griffin is almost always in defensive mode because his opponents keep him that way. They achieve this due to their impressive resources, competence and experience. By contrast Davy always had plenty of time to regroup, consider his options and then take control. As a nine year old boy, Griffin is nowhere near that comfortable. This is a darker tale and yet the central character, Griffin, is just as warm and likeable as Davy ever was. The story as a whole, as well as the wide open ending, seem to be setting up for a TV series to follow the film adaptation. The shadowy group which is pitted against Griffin, has barely been described. We still have plenty to learn about their abilities, structure and purpose. And what of the implied existence of other Jumpers? Why are they such a threat. Do any work for the enemy? I can't wait to find out.