Jumper

I enjoyed this short novel, and read it quickly, even though other responsibilities beckoned. That is what I wish for in a book. It moves quickly, and kept me turning the pages. The main premise is a stretch, but once you accept that, the story unfolds with interesting twists and turns. Davy is a believable and sympathetic person, although he tends to whine too much at times. He uses his gift in some clever and unusual ways. There are no weighty concepts or philosophies here, just a satisfying adventure tale. I have not seen the film version, but from the reviews I have concluded that the studio abandoned the plot at an early stage, and made up a story of their own. The book does have a plot, and only a few unbelievable elements. If you want uncomplicated science fiction that will keep you interested, Steven Gould is a name to remember.

Ignore the terrible cover art on this paperback edition. "Jumper" is one of the smartest young-adult novels I've ever read. And I'm happy to point out that a movie version is in production right now for release in 2007. With any luck they will get most of it right. This is a book that doesn't cut corners. The mechanics and the consequences of the hero's "gift" are thorougly examined. The emotional consequences in particular are beautifully described, part of what makes this book extraordinary. I was happy to add this and the author's other novels to my permanent collection. (They are on the shelf right beside Julian May's "Intervention" cycle.) Recommended for all readers age ten and up.

David Rice is not a quick study and he has a lot to learn about life in general. He can only jump to a place he has previously visited, with clear memory of what it looked like. Gould makes you feel sympathetic for this lonely, abused kid who has to deal with some nasty people that are interested in his "gift".

I love to read this book again and again. It is light and yet absorbing, fast paced and yet it gets to the root of your emotions. We are introduced to the main character, Davy Rice, as a young boy, escaping an abusive father. This is where the story starts because it is also the first time he experiences a Jump. Not that he believes it at first but this young lad has the ability to teleport. OK, I know what you are thinking. That this is a tired old theme, already used to death in Sci-Fi. Well you are wrong. Steven Gould, has taken a refreshing look at this subject and deals with it in a realistic way. Davy, as a character, is very easy to understand and empathize with and for this reason we truly believe what is happening to him. Before he can safely live a life away from his Father, Davy must get some cash, establish an identity, rent an apartment and all the things which you and I take for granted. This is made fascinating because he is a minor and has that special skill that no one is aware of. To complicate his life, Davy starts to fall for an older woman. A college girl who Davy impresses with his knowledge of the city and obvious wealth. Add to this the fact that his long lost Mother reenters the picture and Davy has a pretty full life. This is just where the adventure begins. His mother becomes embroiled in a plane highjacking but Davy's efforts to involve himself are threatened by a police officer who is curious about his wealthy life style and questionable ID. The pace moves up to a higher level as Davy falls into international intrigue and ruthless terrorism. This novel is a terrific first outing from Gould and I would recommend it to anyone who still has a little adventure left in their soul.

It's good to see this book back in print after being unavailable for a long time. Perhaps it is a sign that Steven Gould is finally getting the recognition he deserves as a writer. Jumper was a great book, and Gould's next few books were not marketed as widely as a writer of his calibre should be. Despite looking for something new from him every month or so at the local Borders book store, I never even knew about his third and fourth books until his fifth came out recently. Jumper was his first, and it was given to me by a friend who knew I was hard to please in my reading preferences. I have to say that this was one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. As you can read in the synopsis, the main character, Davey, gains the ability to teleport. But unlike many writers who would focus the story on how and why he developed this ability, Gould instead writes about how an intelligent but not-quite-mature teenager might react to having this new ability. The actual science of it is never explained, but that doesn't detract from the story. The story is not about the ability. It's about the young man who has the ability. Davey's reactions to suddenly finding himself with this ability are far more human than the urge to find out why. Unable to figure out why, he instead focuses on what to do with it. The early part is filled with self-serving trips to acquire stuff, and through the course of the story, Davey realizes that even these seemingly harmless actions have consequences. Some of the complications that arise later in the story are a direct result of his early endeavors with teleportation. But Gould does not center the entire story on Davey's power. Life goes on, and the world around Davey proceeds apace even as he experiments. But when something happens to his mother, Davey uses his teleportation abilities to get to the bottom of it, and ends up in a complex scenario that Gould resolve sensibly and surprisingly. To say any more would give away too much of the story. But this was a great book, I recommend it, and now that it's available again, I'm going to buy another copy (I gave mine away to another friend with discriminating reading tastes).