Psion — Joan D. Vinge

Without warning, Cat becomes a hunted pawn in a three-sided mind-war, and every deadly faction is determined to use him-or destroy him.

A secret government project wants Cat to join a suicide psion-commando squad-or die, enslaved to hard labor in radioactive hell. An army of terrorists wants Cat to help lead the Revolution-or face a sadistic psychopath whose thoughts can kill. And a race of lost aliens wants Cat to be their vengeful Messiah-or burn, soul and body, in a communion of cosmic flame.

Now, to survive, the young streetfighter must command talent beyond his wildest dreams, confront private terrors beyond his worst nightmares...and pay a price beyond mortal understanding.