"Slipt" by Alan Dean Foster

 Toxic waste and super humans -- 4 stars

I picked up “Slipt” at a used book store, mainly because I remembered reading -- and enjoying -- Alan Dean Foster books when I was a younger man. While not the best book I’ve ever read (even by Foster himself), “Slipt” more than held my attention.

Written in the mid 80's, Foster weaves the story of an elderly man, his young niece, an evil corporation, and the issue of toxic waste. The corporation, driven by greed, has been disposing of their harmful waste in a valley near Riverside, out in California, and the story opens with a rushed, secretive cleanup of their mess, to try and dodge the county’s scrutiny. Above the valley in question, there are only poor citizens and immigrants. The corporation successfully bamboozles most of them by offering them jobs, to ensure that the county investigators have no one they can question about the previous dumping activities.

However, one man, Jake, a 71 year old with a heart condition, turns down a job offer. And the boss of the corporate cleanup crew, Huddy, worries that Jake might spill the beans and ruin everything.

So Huddy makes a final trip to see Jake, intending to bribe him into silence ... but during the visit, he learns that Jake possesses some extraordinary skills, such as removing bottle caps with his mind and “magically” tidying up an executive’s car (and, more secretly, Jake can communicate with his niece Amanda via telepathy!). Essentially, Jake can manipulate objects with his mind. While Jake shrugs off his own abilities, being able to “slipt” things, as mere party tricks for the local children, villainous Huddy envisions endless potential! 

Though the plot isn’t particularly original (especially for the 80's) -- toxic waste causes unusual changes in people -- Foster’s version offers a rather touching interpretation: Good ol’ Jake is simply trying to get along with everyone, and has a deep affection for Amanda ... but that darn Huddy is relentless in his efforts to have Jake subjected to “testing.”

Foster’s writing is solid and straightforward, and the story flows along smoothly. Overall, “Slipt” was an enjoyable read.