The Rowan (original 1990; edition 1991)

I used to love this series when I was younger and it did stand up to re-reading for me.

The Talents are spread out over the Nine Star League using their psionic abilitiies to help things along. Among these abilities there's a lot of variety and power, but there are very few high-powered telepaths, the ones who can help push cargo, and onto a small mining colony one is born. Orphaned at an early age and known as The Rowan she's trained by the Prime on her planet. The first part follows her youth. Her life changes when she comes into contact with another telepath, male and needing her help. She discovers more about herself and her abilities and has to face some of her fears.

I liked it, there were some casually sexist moments in it but it was published in 1990, and the author is of an age where some of that was normal. Still the attitudes have improved from the first book, I do want to continue with this series and see where and how it continues to entertain (I hope) ( )

This book is good as far as sci-fi novels go. I didn't like how the Rowan's lover just kinda popped up and all the sudden they were in love and everything was mushy and lovey-dovey. That kinda killed it for me, actually. She's also referred to as his wife, but there's never any ceremony. If it wasn't for that, I would have thoroughly enjoyed the book and would probably read all the rest of the books in the series. As it is now, I'm not sure if I want to keep reading the unreal romantic garbage. On the other hand, it isn't writted to be sexy, to the point where the characters will be having sex, and you're wondering if maybe they're just touching hands. Yeah. ( )

A fun mix of science fiction and romance novel that I think will remain popular for some time to come.

http://allbookedup-elena.blogspot.com/2011/12/rowan-anne-mccaffrey.html ( )

I've read and reread this book several times. The title character is telekinetic and pathic, and finds her niche assisting in interstellar travel. ( )

"The Rowan" and its sequel, "Damia," are far superior to the further entries in the series. I believe this is due to spreading the narrative thin across too many protagonists as the Rowan's progeny multiply. However, I am getting ahead of myself. On its own merits, "The Rowan" is a highly inventive love story of possibly the loneliest woman in the galaxy and the one man who might be able to match her. Isolated due to her incredible telepathic powers above and beyond anything that anyone has ever seen, as well as her orphaned upbringing, the Rowan becomes the force behind the galaxy's transportation system, which is based on the teleportation talents of the Rowan and her ilk. One day she hears a call from a powerful unidentified telepath of a distant solar system, which is under attack from an unrelenting alien menace. Unless she can render aid, she might lose her chance for companionship with the one person with whom she's ever felt a deep connection, as equals. And she's never even met him! Gasp! Tell me that doesn't pique your interest. Rest assured, the entire book is not just a love story. It's a detailed fleshing out of a neat concept, wherein telepaths are not oracles or magic-wielders, but are seamlessly integrated into commerce as the engines of galactic transportation.
This book is good pulpy fun and I return to it every couple of years. Try it, you might like it. ( )