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This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.
That said, on to the review!
Kaitlyn Fairchild has a special talent: what she draws often comes true. Unfortunately, more often than not what she draws are terrible disasters. Her prophetic sketches force her into an isolation which only the promise of learning about and mastering her gift at the Zetes Institute in California can draw her from. She looks forward to it all, including the promise of there being other psychically gifted students with her. Then she learns the truth about her new residence and the dark purpose Mr. Zetes has in mind for her and her fellows. Can she--along with Rob the healer, Gabriel the telepath, Anna the thought projecter, and Lewis the psychokinetic--survive long enough to warn the proper authorities?
Dark Visions--The Strange Power is the first volume of a trilogy that explores the study of psychic abilities. More importantly, it studies the dark side of studying psychic abilities. It's nothing we as jaded '90s readers haven't seen or heard of before, albeit in exploiting scientific breakthroughs, UFO wrecks, and other such things. This time, though, we get to slip inside the minds of those being exploited. We get to see how Kaitlyn feels about allowing Mr. Zetes to manipulate her previously chaotic talent and, through the psychic link that joins the five students, how the others feel as well.
Another excellent characteristic of the book is the way we see that the students, for all their special talents and skills, are still teen-agers with teen-ager problems and concerns. We don't see Kaitlyn freezing her heart to master her powers: she's ready and willing to explore romance with Rob and Gabriel...and they with her. There's still the problem of sharing a bathroom with several other members of a household, as well as responsibilities like washing and wiping the dishes to keep her feet on the ground. You see Kaitlyn and her friends as real people, making the reading that much more enjoyable.
Although a YA novel, Dark Visions--The Strange Power and its two companions are enjoyable reads. They explore a subject not often touched upon except in an advanced, futuristic way. The immediacy--the nowness--of the book makes everything seem that much more plausible, as if it might be happening this very minute! Read it and experience it yourself!
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