Written in the early 1970s and set in the early '90s, this novel describes the situation when paranormal talents have been identified and studied enough to be a political hot potato, but not enough for anyone to be used to them. I'm a bit sceptical about the timescale - I'd have thought at least another 20 years would have been needed, but apart from that...

The book tells the story of Vanessa, an orphan with psychic talents, who is struggling to find her place in the world, and make sense of all the political and personal ambition that lies behind various people's attempts to manipulate her or, failing that, destroy her. On the way, she meets Roland, a retired psychiatrist who befriends her, but who cannot quite protect her from the various forces involved.

The ending is bitter-sweet, but probably lays it on a bit too thick. (Every day? In perpetuity? Get real!)

I'll not release this just yet, but available to anyone who asks me for it.

(Oh yes. Hover cars? On our roads? With their lack of cornering ability? Again, get real!)

We walked into Devizes through these woods. (They were dredging the pond.) Next to the path was a little enclosure called the Peace Garden, so we left the book on the stone table in there.