Telzey Amberdon

I first encountered Telzey long ago, perhaps in the 1970s or even the 1960s; and I have some affection for her and for Schmitz's work in general.

However, this is old-style sf and not really great fiction by modern standards. If you don't mind old-style sf, the Telzey stories are still quite readable and entertaining; the couple of non-Telzey stories added at the end of this volume are duller stuff.

Telzey is a 15-year-old genius (we're told!) who is also a powerful telepath, though untrained and inexperienced. A supergirl, in fact, although her powers are mental rather than physical.

Having created this supergirl, Schmitz then had to find situations and opponents difficult enough to challenge her, which in his own way he managed to do.