Probe

Rating:
Summary: An enchanting, enagaging mix of mystery, romance and sf
Review: Carole Nelson Douglas mixes genres masterfully in Probe. There is romance, mystery and science fiction in this story of a beautiful young woman lost to herself. Jane (Jane Doe) is both riveting and enraging as a character. She is a savant, a human computer and a child. The end result, romance between herself and the doctor assigned to her case, is brought about slowly as he and Jane realize the truth about her past

Rating:
Summary: 17 years after...
Review: I actually read this book in the late 1980's and bought another copy to re-read in 2003! Definitely a "girlie" SF book. I also highly recommend Carole Nelson Douglas Sword and Circlet series (starting with the "real" first book Six of Swords).

Rating:
Summary: 17 years after...
Review: I actually read this book in the late 1980's and bought another copy to re-read in 2003! Definitely a "girlie" SF book. I also highly recommend Carole Nelson Douglas Sword and Circlet series (starting with the "real" first book Six of Swords).

Rating:
Summary: 17 years after...
Review: I actually read this book in the late 1980's and bought another copy to re-read in 2003! Definitely a "girlie" SF book. I also highly recommend Carole Nelson Douglas Sword and Circlet series (starting with the "real" first book Six of Swords).

Rating:
Summary: Probe
Review: This is an extremely well-written, quite engaging "psychological sf" pick, which unfortunately does not end up leading anywhere particularly special (unless the sequal qualifies, and I haven't read it at this time).

A mysterious young woman found naked off the road in the midst of Minnesota farm country (Crow Wing, to be exact), and possibly responsible for the violent death of an investigating police officer--possible murder weapon: telekinetic powers causing explosions--comes under the care of Dr. Kevin Blake of the Probe Project. Blake is respected or envied by his colleagues for his ability to successfully probe the minds of any disturbed or distraught patients, especially those who have been previously brainwashed by cults. But right from the start, "Jane Doe", as the quiet woman from Crow Wing is called, proves to be a unique case--she claims to have no memories of an childhood whatsoever. She may not need "re-programming" or "de-programming"; it's possible she needs a start-up program, so to speak. Physically, she's also an enigma, because it's as if various parts of her body--teeth, sexual organs, etc.--are too perfect to suggest any kind of previous existence (she's as virgin as virgin gets, and her teeth are pristine too) before she turned up spreadeagled in the wilderness.

What follows is Kevin Blake's extended examination of Jane Doe, and the feelings they develop for each other. He comes to believe that she has true telekinetic powers once he lets a colleague, the ambitious and somewhat unfeeling Dr. Swanson, perform some para-normal tests on her. The tests only prove what has already become obvious to the reader, though; our Jane Doe is not exactly safe to be around when she feels threatened in any way, and she has at her disposal amazing mental powers that can be lethal and out of control if she is confronted. And suddenly, everyone seems to want to confront Blake's unpredictable, but very attractive patient, from an older couple claiming to be her parents (they also say they were once abducted by extraterrestrials), to rival doctors who want to use her for their own purposes or to bolster Probe's public relations, to the CIA, who learn what Jane Doe can do, and would like to control it even if she can't.

This novel has a strong pace, considering that the plot is not all that exciting, and it really helps that Douglas has a very enjoyable style. But, about that plot, it decides to lose steam towards the end, when it settles for being a love story above most else, complete with fairly predictable ending. I enjoyed watching the adventures of Jane Doe, as she learned more about herself and whether she has a place in the world, or had one before she was brought to Kevin Blake, but ultimately, Probe does not take us anywhere new. Equal parts Splash, Carrie, Star Man, and Firestarter, meaning that lots of this will be familiar. At least it's done well, while being done again.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: Wonderful story. I picked this up last night and couldn't put it down... it was written in 1985 - before the breakup of the Soviet Union.. in some ways, this dates the story and the actions of the CIA and the Probe researchers. It is easy enough to overlook though and does not distract from the main focus of the story - the struggle to unlock the mystery of one women's mind. Well worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: Wonderful story. I picked this up last night and couldn't put it down... it was written in 1985 - before the breakup of the Soviet Union.. in some ways, this dates the story and the actions of the CIA and the Probe researchers. It is easy enough to overlook though and does not distract from the main focus of the story - the struggle to unlock the mystery of one women's mind. Well worth the read.