Helva had been born human, but only her brain had been saved—saved to be schooled, programmed, and implanted into the sleek titanium body of an intergalactic scout ship. But first she had to choose a human partner—male or female—to share her exhilirating excapades in space!Her life was to be rich and rewarding . . . resplendent with daring adventures and endless excitement, beyond the wildest … wildest dreams of mere mortals.
Gifted with the voice of an angel and being virtually indestructable, Helva XH-834 antipitated a sublime immortality.
Then one day she fell in love!
more
I prefer her Pern novels, but she writes well and tells riveting stories.
One of my favorite author , have read this a few times
love,LOVE the author, have all of her books!!!
This is a long time favorite author. Have read and re-read everything she’s ever written.
This book meant a lot to me growing up and I’ve reread it many times. I’d never read anything like it years ago. It was the first SF book I read with the concept of a ‘mind ship’ and I found it fascinating. Most importantly, the characters came alive for me and I hung on every word.
First book in McCaffrey’s other best series – the one is a true classic! The central character, the brain-ship Helga, is original, amazing, and fully human! If you like sci-fi with a fantasy edge, don’t miss this one.
I love all things McCaffrey, but the books with the Ship Who Sang characters just keep you up and turning pages long after you should have been turning out the lights!
one of my favorite all time Anne McCaffery stories. So very original (putting a human into a spaceship as a brain and pairing them with a normal human)–she always stretches the imagination. Perhaps a bit of “mind candy” and fun more than deep but deep enough to be memorable, readable and I’ve read it mulitple times (starting from 16 through 40’s lol)
Great series from a great writer!
The first of McCaffrey’s Ship series and still the best.
A friend recommended this book and now I’m looking forward to reading the entire series.
If you’re after space marines and shoot-em-ups, don’t read this book. That said, this is a really engaging, little bit sad tale but still uplifting tale about a girl who is also a ship.
Read it. Love it.
Interesting premise
One of her best! This is a very unique book and based on something I wish was real. Who wouldn’t like to live on, exploring and loving someone, while helping them.
Who thinks this stuff up!?! That’s right! Ms McCaffrey’s who! And what a job she’s done. I can’t recommend this book enough to anyone who would welcome new ideas and possibilities. No it doesn’t represent anything we currently know about; that’s why it’s called science FICTION. Consider this: when Star Trek showed flip communicators, it was just science fiction too.
(Previously reviewed through Barnes & Noble 4 Apr 2018.)
I read this decades ago. I remember it well…read it, better yet read all the “ Ship Who Sang “ books! Then read All of her other wonderful books….you will be delighted and endlessly surprised!!
A Classic!
loved the whole series wish their were more
I love this Anne McCaffrey book. She can bring out the humanity and pull you into her characters So you feel with them. Be they humans or methane breathing energy beings. These series of stories in future world’s expand horizons and have you feel the love, despair, injustice and growth of the marvelous characters in a series of chapters that are more like short stories of the human brain ship Helva.
I love everything sci-fi and fantasy that she ever wrote