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Psychomancer

by Alan Ryker (Goodreads Author)

3.62 of 5 stars 3.62 · rating details · 8 ratings · 4 reviews

Science scoffs at the concept of luck. The lottery is called a tax on people who are bad at math, and Vegas rakes in cash based on precise odds, not good fortune.

But what if good luck were a scientific reality? An evolutionary trait?

Cornelius Worthington, the luckiest man in the world, washes up on a beach in Miami with no knowledge of where he is.

Natasha Barrett, the most...more

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Published June 15th 2011 by Sucker Punch Press

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Jun 29, 2011 Tammy ~NovelOpinion rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-request, sci-fi, fantasy-horror-suspense, indie-self-pubbed

Summary: Science scoffs at the concept of luck. The lottery is called a tax on people who are bad at math, and Vegas rakes in cash based on precise odds, not good fortune.

But what if good luck were a scientific reality? An evolutionary trait?

Cornelius Worthington, the luckiest man in the world, washes up on a beach in Miami with no knowledge of where he is.

Natasha Barrett, the most gifted psion the government has ever trained, is tasked with capturing or killing him.

Seymour Zimmerman, a freelanc...more Summary: Science scoffs at the concept of luck. The lottery is called a tax on people who are bad at math, and Vegas rakes in cash based on precise odds, not good fortune.

But what if good luck were a scientific reality? An evolutionary trait?

Cornelius Worthington, the luckiest man in the world, washes up on a beach in Miami with no knowledge of where he is.

Natasha Barrett, the most gifted psion the government has ever trained, is tasked with capturing or killing him.

Seymour Zimmerman, a freelance journalist who writes a syndicated column about strange deaths, follows their path of destruction and winds up with a bigger story than he could have ever imagined.

Then things really start to get weird.

Psychomancer is alternatingly funny and horrific, philosophical and explosive. It asks: When good luck is real, what happens if we end up on the wrong end of someone else's?

As the summary promises, this book does deal with the question of good luck and what the consequences are if you aren't the one with it but it is no where near as simple as that. Natasha, as one of the most powerful Psion's in the CIA, senses another more powerful Psion which doesn't feel quite right, not quite human. Standard procedure in this case assumes the new Psion is rogue and must be dealt with by a team containing firepower as well as other CIA trained Psions. If the rogue is powerful yet able to be trained, then they will recruit. If not, they will eliminate.
Natasha has no idea what this new entity is or if it's a threat. It seems to be co-habitating with a human but can manipulate events to work out in it's, or the humans, favor. Years in advance. Everything this entity does affects those around it and benefits this man. Natasha also realizes that she is being 'allowed' to remote view by design and senses she has a place in his manipulation of events.
Natasha's personality is very cold and arrogant. She feels superior to those around her and has spent all of her time honing her abilities. No friends, no family, her only motivation is to be powerful. You don't get a true sense of her as being a hero in any way. At first.
Cornelius has lived his life on an island, isolated from society and unaware if there even is anyone else left. Books and his late parents have taught him the basics but he is lonely and bored and tries several time to kill himself. Everytime something intervenes and he is left unharmed and unaware of the power within him that is keeping him safe. Finally successful in jumping from the cliffs of his island home, Cornelius washes ashore in Miami. Having no idea how to interact with society, knowing he is there for a purpose and realizing Natasha is involved somehow, Cornelius and the 'power' within him leave a trail of death and destruction as he follows her.

An important player in the story is Seymour. A bitter and jaded journalist who has a rare condition in which he doesn't feel pain. Although horrified by Cornelius's lack of empathy he is compelled to go with him.

I found the most important aspect of this story to be self-discovery. It was fascinating to watch the characters come to terms with who they really are. Their motivations. Natasha discovers forgiveness and acceptance. Seymour discovers fear and pain while Cornelius shows them a realistic approach to thier lives they cannot refute.

I do not have the background in philosophy to truly analyze this story but it still made me think. On the outside, Psychomancer is a thriller that takes it's reader on a ride into hell and chaos; Violence and the evil inherent in us all but once you are done reading you realize there was also the story of human weakness, fear and vulnerability.(less)

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Nov 15, 2011 James Everington rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've read a number of Ryker's books (do check out his short story collection [[ASIN:B004TCJIFI Pulling Teeth]]) and it's safe to say this is the most straight forward: a thriller involving a number of characters with psychic powers. It's well written, exceptionally well paced, and moves to a great climax. And you could read it as a hot little page turner and not be disappointed...

... BUT there's a lot of depth here too, for those looking for it. There's a pleasing ambiguity around all the centra...more

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Aug 05, 2011 the golden witch. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, arc-galley, spies-and-thieves-and-the-mob, scifi, reviewed, sexy-tiems

The first chapter was awesome - lots of showing, I could practically smell the ocean and vomit and everything, and it was great. After that, it kind of went downhill. It felt like there was a lot of stuff snatched from Torchwood and other similar scifi series, and then it went into a lot of long descriptions with telling over showing, cliches galore, and a predictable girl-meets-and-falls-for-alpha-male storyline. I just couldn't get into it, though I did try.

I guess this book just wasn't for m...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Psychic Assassin Natasha Barrett has been working with the CIA for years honing her skills. One day she feels the presence of someone more powerful than she and sets out to capture him. Enter Cornelius Berterm Worthington XV. He has been exiled on a small island until his unknown powers lead him to Natasha. Will she kill him or will he get to her first. Great storyy and excellent action through out. A great way to spend an afternoon in the sun.

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Mar 31, 2013 Michael marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: hd

Jan 06, 2013 Deanna marked it as to-read

Shelves: science-fiction, free, fantasy-paranormal, ebook

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Nov 24, 2012 Rebekah rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Oct 23, 2012 Kelly S added it · review of another edition

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Shelves: free-or-cheap, e-book, eye-catching-title, only-on-my-kindle, standalone

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Aug 06, 2012 Carrie Penney marked it as to-read

Shelves: freebie

Aug 06, 2012 Anthea marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy, freebie, sci-fi

Jun 22, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jun 18, 2012 Charlene marked it as to-read

Shelves: loanable-kindle-books, to-be-read-i-own

May 24, 2012 Kim Gallegos rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 15, 2012 Anghara marked it as to-read

Shelves: on-my-kindle

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May 11, 2012 Ambyr marked it as on-kindle-haven-t-read · review of another edition

Shelves: cover-copy

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Shelves: wishlist

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Jul 22, 2011 Jenn of Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: own, for-review, t-b-r-2012

Jan 10, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

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