A review by brokebybooks
Psion by Joan D. Vinge

4.0

Recommendation: solid sci-fi novel about a street urchin turned caged lab rat turned hero. Fantastic settings, character progression, and ending with one small maybe plot hole.

Rating: 3 ½ stars for being above average but still missing something, though I can’t figure out what and did read the series out of order – so this maybe amiss if you read it chronologically.

Pros
Loved Cat’s character and progression, I really connected with him
Focused with a straightforward plot that never loses steam
Loved how Cat and Jule’s relationship works out
Loved the ending, realistic yet hopeful and enticing

Cons

Knew the gist of what would happen because I read the sequel first (but still enjoyed it)
Plot hole? – lose end that’s never followed through on though it might be Science Marches On excused


I read Catspaw (Cat #2) first on a recommendation from a friend. I loved it so much, I went back to read Psion before continuing to Dreamfall (#3).

Psion tells the tale of Cat, a street rat orphan and the small group of people he meets after being abducted into a government program. He’s ignorant, abused, and invisible trying to make it out while “screwing up” because of his upbringing. I really connected with his struggle with words, “always doing the wrong thing” according to others, the re-surfacing of childhood trauma, and the self-loathing

Oh god, the self-loathing. I know that path all too well. In a lot of ways, Cat’s re-homing and civilizing process mirrored my own experiences escaping abuse and later becoming a feminist.
Besides my personal clicking with Cat, it’s a rather average tale about a street rat becoming a hero. I think it’s well done and I can’t really name any detrimental flaws, it’s just not a big standout. It’s a straight and narrow plot with a dark hero and an interesting set-up.

I love the realistic ending, which really takes into account the reality of such an upbringing and what a happy ending for them would mean. I loved Cat’s character progression and reading it made me appreciate how far he’s come and then goes in Catspaw.

Unfortunately, I don’t have much else to say. It’s good and I enjoyed it but it simply feels average. There’s nothing I can say that’s wrong or wasn’t enjoyable to warrant 3 stars rather than 5. In the end, it just feels average though I’ll be damned if I can put my finger on it. I don’t think it’s because I read out of order because I was interested and engaged throughout since I didn’t know how events happened. But then again, I can’t rule it out.

Psion is worth reading and recommending but Catspaw is a must read.

Minor Spoiler Alert for Discussing the Possible Plot Ploblem

There is one thread left hanging: Cat’s parents. A simple test would be all it takes but that’s overlooked. Perhaps it’s Science Marching On since HLA was developed in the mid 1970s, and the first genetic test was still years away when this was written. But then again, you could argue it’s something that should’ve been included anyways. Or it’s something the characters didn’t really want the answer to and were okay with dropping the issue, that it wouldn’t change them or their situation so it was best to continue on. That’s certainly how I felt from it. Or maybe Vinge did really just forget or something. *shrug* I don’t think it impacts the story but your mileage may vary.