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!
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The original B & B story. Started as a short story. Now it is a full story, and has its own place that has been incorporated in son of her other stories an nd series as well. She was ahead of her time.
I love it! I’ve read it many times. I wish the author had continued Helva’s adventures! I like all the brain/brain stories, but Helga was the book that hooked me!
McCaffrey’s talent for drawing characters shines in this, which is the first of ‘The Ship Who…” books. Helva is a human being born imperfect, not suited to life on future Earth. For those unfortunates, though, there is a way of being useful and living a life of importance. She, and others like her, are raised, trained, and physically altered and enhanced to be the “brain” of an Interstellar Starship, paired with a normal human “brawn” as a partner. An excellent and exciting adventure.
Nice original characters and good job of taking a very unique perspective for the title character
A little dated but still a great read.
Anne McCaffrey is one of my favorite authors. She has written about worlds that you wish you could be in, whether it be going between planets in outer space, or riding dragons in Pern. This book draws you in, and you find yourself both mourning and cheering the heroine on.
Ann Caffree’s books always delight me
It is a great read. Will read it again
Well, I love most everything by McCaffrey
Have read many books by this author never disappoints.
Wonderful writing!! This author never fails to please. You really get to know and love the characters.
Fist in McCaffrey’s Brain and Brawn Series. ” …Sang” was her favorite of her books
This was an easy to read, very plausible future world with characters who were real, with all the emotions and personalities I could understand. It flowed from one experience to the other with ease and when I can immerse myself into a character or scene, then I know I’ve hit pay dirt!
I’ll read almost anything by McCaffrey – and I love all her “ship/city” books. Of course, I have a tender place in my heart for Helva.
Classic Sci-fi at its finest in this collection of short stories from Anne McCaffrey.
Ms McCaffrey is always a great read, no matter the book.
I loved all the book but the end. Somehow after all the creative and interesting things the author devised for the plot, the ending seemed flat. The end wasn’t bad but it disappointed me.
I love Anne McCaffrey’s books, whichever series it is.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’ve enjoyed many of her books!
Hearkens back to more innocent days when such stories were still viable in the face of numerous factual and theoretical errors. McAffrey had the magic touch, even then.