In a single uncontrolled moment of panic, David Rice runs away from home, leaving behind his abusive alcoholic father and the memory of his missing mother. However, unlike most runaways, David (or Davy) has a very special talent, one which manifests out of his intense need for escape: he can teleport, or “jump.” And jump he does, crossing hundreds of miles in the blink of an eye.

The first time was instinctive, to escape his father. The second time was likewise reflex, to escape the perils of the open road. After that, though, he learns to control the power, and explores its limits. Anywhere he’s ever been, he can teleport to, whether it’s across the room or across the world. Suddenly, no boundaries, no walls, no security system can stop Davy Rice, and the world is his for the taking. After a few false starts, he begins his new life on his own, in New York City. A brazen bank robbery in the dead of night sets him up with all the money he’ll ever need, but money alone isn’t enough to get by, so he obtains a place to live, fake ID, and tries to leave the past behind.

Millie is the girl of his dreams, a beautiful and intelligent college student who appreciates him for his mind, not his money. Nothing can stand between Davy and Millie. Not the three year age difference (for he’s still just eighteen), and certainly not the distance between his home in New York and her apartment in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It seems as though everything is perfect. Davy even reaches out to find his long-lost mother, seeking the familial love he never knew from his father.

Then things go wrong. His misguided efforts to help put the police close on his trail. A devastating, horrifying tragedy shatters Davy’s worldview, pitting him against terrorists and the National Security Agency alike. In the end, he’ll come face to face with all of his fears and insecurities, and come to terms with his life. He ran away from home physically, but inside, he never stopped running, especially after his powers gave him the world.

Jumper is one of the inaugural books in the new Starscape imprint from Tor, which seeks to reprint some of the best science fiction and fantasy books aimed at young adults. It was originally published in 1992, and hasn’t lost any of its strength or compelling nature in the decade since. It’s several books wrapped into one. It’s a coming of age story, in which Davy stands up for himself, and becomes an adult in the world. It’s a story of family and the way they relate to one another, between David, and his alcoholic father, and his runaway mother. It’s a cautionary tale about the abuse of power. The transitions from one stage of Davy’s life to another are seamless, flowing into each other organically. The rage he feels after a senseless tragedy rips his life apart is all too real, and his instinctive reaction to lash out is a logical change from his initial running away. After all, he’s still running from his feelings, and their consequences, and what they mean.

I’ve always enjoyed this book, and am pleased to see it back in print with a handsome new cover (courtesy of Vince Natale). As a sampling of what we can expect from Starscape, it’s a wonderful representative. As a book on its own, it’s definitely recommended. Jumper satisfies, entertains, enlightens, and successfully mixes escapist fantasy with all-too-real situations. Some of the solutions may seem a little idealistic, some of the problems may seem a little too paranoid, but overall, it’s a good read and highly recommended.