Rating: 
Summary: SF done right
Review: I picked up Jumper at a used book sale on half off day - strictly on blurb alone, never heard of it nor the author. One idea - one person could teleport - and the rest of the book was exploring what that means. This is exactly what sf at its absolute best is about. Except the main character was much more developed. And certainly not a perfect character. An amazing find. I can't wait to try another one.
Rating: 
Summary: Good to see it back in print
Review: 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).
Rating:
Summary: Jumpstart
Review: Book review: Jumper, Steven GouldThis book is a rare find, well written by Steven Gould in a style that we have come to expect from this master of the word. The book is about a young man that comes into an ability, an ability that takes him to the far corners of the earth. As he comes into better understanding of his newfound ability he is faced with the consequences of his unique talents and abilities. He finds life both easier and harder to deal with as his talent grows and his circumstances change. This book is a very rare find in today's markets and I would encourage anyone to pick it up and read it. Definitely one for the years ahead and destined to become a classic!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Book
Review: Jumper is quite simply one of the best books--not just science fiction books--ever written. The characters are believable and the plot is entertaining. This book presents serious issues such as alcoholism and abuse without being preachy. It is a moving, memorable quick read.
Rating:
Summary: Front cover non-stop to back cover
Review: "Jumper" turned my brain into a television. It completely absorbed me. The book and I were one.I opened the cover and the story just sucked me in. I actually stayed up all night reading the book and had to call in sick to my work just so I could finish it."Jumper" could be a major hollywood production
Rating:
Summary: I was mesmorised.
Review: I read this book on a friends recomendation several years ago and couldn't find it again untill now. Definitely a great book and a must read.
Rating:
Summary: A well-written and insightful book about life.
Review: "Jumper" falls in the realm of SF because its protagonist discovers he can teleport himself to places that he has seen or visited previously. The origin of this power is no less mysterious than faster-than-light travel in space operas. Given this one leap of faith, Gould goes on to create a truly exceptional novel about people, relationships, hopes and fears; in short a book about life. In this regard, the novel is like any other good work of fiction. Gould uses teleportation to explore issues in new ways. Davey, the protagonist, discovers his ability early in the novel, and the power never is fully explained. The first half of the novel includes some banal uses of teleportation. This is a set up for the second half in which Davey faces major moral dilemmas involving the power. From its outset, however, the novel addresses some major social ills, including alcoholism and drug abuse, abuse of women and children by husbands and fathers, and issues of young men getting in touch with their feelings. In the wake of recent school tragedies, many people are asking whether we allow young men too little latitude with their emotions. Davey provides some interesting insights into the issue. Overall, this is well-written and thoroughly enjoyable book.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent "Coming of age" Story..
Review: This is truly an excellent story of discovery. Gould is able to deftly paint the story of a tortured young man who discovers in an act of abuse, the most wonderful of gifts. You are allowed to follow this young man in a great adventure of self discovery and healing. As he comes to terms with his new power and then takes full control of it. This is truly a great read. I read it in one sitting, (about four hours) and it left me wanting more. This is a must read! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A classic book that more people need to discover.
Review: I loved this book. When I first finished reading it I called the now defunct Sci-Fi channel show, Sci-Fi buzz and recommended it for their viewer section of "best bets" I got my recommondation on the air with a picture of the book. I hope it got more people to read it. The main character is a teenager that seems very real, unlike many books and movies today. It has solid writing throughout, and all the steps of learning and utilizing the Jumping ability was very interesting. I reminded me somewhat of Memoirs of an Invisible Man (the book of course). We need more books like this and Wildside. While there is a glut of Sci-Fi books with 48 characters with twelve apostrophes in their names set on 3 different planes of reality and nothing interesting going on, Jumper if a welcome breath of fresh air. Sequel, PLEASE.
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT!!!!!!
Review: I'm always looking for that book that you can't put down and this is DEFINITELY one of those books. I had just read Wildside which I thought was great but this one is even better. I only wish there were more like it...
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