In The Universe Against Her, the adventures of a brilliant young telepath are set in a future civilization clustered about the galactic core, called the Federation of the Hub. Telzey Amberdon's discovery, exploration, and, finally, application of her telepathic gifts make for entertaining reading but also a well-thought-out presentation of how an intelligent young person makes use of a highly unusual and potentially dangerous new ability. In this modern age of rapidly advancing and sometimes frighteningly powerful technology, many readers, particularly adolescents with a creative bent, can identify with both Telzey's ambition and caution. She learns that her high intelligence and will to use it have earned her the jealousy of others not so gifted; her emerging extrasensory talents threaten to get her looked upon as a freak even by those in her life who accept her intellect.

She is reluctant to take the path of...