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serru's review against another edition
Sentient ships who have to be courted by their captains /o
kraley's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book a long time ago, but recently re-read it. I still enjoyed a lot of the premise, but it seemed much more dated by the 1960's. Still a pretty good book, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone new to the genre.
nanimao's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Medical content
alkora's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
cfrerman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
jimmacsyr's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting concept. Very different from the Dragon Riders series. I enjoyed the book
johnayliff's review against another edition
3.0
A personal anecdote: I distinctly remember *nearly* buying this book many years ago, when I was first buying science fiction books. I saw the cover read the cover copy, was intrigued by the premise--but for whatever reason decided to buy another Asimov book instead. Recently I finally decided to give the book a try...And, anticlimactically, I wasn't impressed.
I think this is a book that hasn't aged well. Mostly it is an articulation of one premise: a human brain placed into a mechanical and inhuman body (a space ship), with a human-but-inhuman mindset and human emotions, and the story being told from this brain's point of view. The trouble is, the idea of a human-like mind in an inhuman body has now become commonplace in science fiction, so the premise no longer seems interesting. The setting, apart from the presence of brainships, is standard-issue space opera reminiscent of E. E. Smith: Helva tears around the galaxy on missions from the occasionally dysfunctional but basically decent Central Worlds, performing diplomacy, delivering valuable cargoes, fighting villains, and so forth. Mostly this is a backdrop to the real stories about her relationships with her human partners.
I think this is a book that hasn't aged well. Mostly it is an articulation of one premise: a human brain placed into a mechanical and inhuman body (a space ship), with a human-but-inhuman mindset and human emotions, and the story being told from this brain's point of view. The trouble is, the idea of a human-like mind in an inhuman body has now become commonplace in science fiction, so the premise no longer seems interesting. The setting, apart from the presence of brainships, is standard-issue space opera reminiscent of E. E. Smith: Helva tears around the galaxy on missions from the occasionally dysfunctional but basically decent Central Worlds, performing diplomacy, delivering valuable cargoes, fighting villains, and so forth. Mostly this is a backdrop to the real stories about her relationships with her human partners.
perilous1's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating exploration of ideas--a story well ahead of its time.
In the distant future, humans born with body-limiting or destroying defects--yet adequate neural activity--can enter a costly government program where they are reared to become the central and controlling intelligence of starships. These "Brains" are paired with an able-bodied companion of their choosing dubbed "Brawns," who essentially become their hands and feet, in a partnership that may be either temporary or something closer to a marriage--ending only with the death of the Brawn, who lack the (potentially) many hundreds of years of longevity allotted to these "Brains."
While being a Brain offers both a career and a huge measure of freedom, all is not utopian idealism. These subjects are responsible for paying off their medical/program debts at whatever rate they can manage based on the assignments they accept. And in this story, we follow the progress of one particular Brain Ship--Helva--as she copes with the premature loss of her first beloved Brawn, and works off her debt at an accelerated pace.
For a bit of much-needed context, please note that this book was released in 1969--the year man first walked on the moon. And for all the faults that could now be construed by far newer (and more chronologically snobbish) generations, McCaffrey was inarguably something of a visionary. She confronts subtle questions of ethics, eugenics, and quality of life in a way that invites empathic thought, but never tells readers WHAT to think. And for that simple invitation, I would stridently encourage people not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
All in all, this is a plausible sci-fi that feels a bit like a cobbled-together collection of believable scenarios. (I believe it began as a collection of Helva short stories for some serial publication, and was later compiled into a single book.) The pacing and formatting are a bit janky as a result, but not altogether disagreeable. My biggest criticism would be the distance readers are often held at with the third-person POV--not because of it being third-person, per se, but because McCaffry's prose is a bit cold and emotionally reserved.
I would happily read on in the series.
In the distant future, humans born with body-limiting or destroying defects--yet adequate neural activity--can enter a costly government program where they are reared to become the central and controlling intelligence of starships. These "Brains" are paired with an able-bodied companion of their choosing dubbed "Brawns," who essentially become their hands and feet, in a partnership that may be either temporary or something closer to a marriage--ending only with the death of the Brawn, who lack the (potentially) many hundreds of years of longevity allotted to these "Brains."
While being a Brain offers both a career and a huge measure of freedom, all is not utopian idealism. These subjects are responsible for paying off their medical/program debts at whatever rate they can manage based on the assignments they accept. And in this story, we follow the progress of one particular Brain Ship--Helva--as she copes with the premature loss of her first beloved Brawn, and works off her debt at an accelerated pace.
For a bit of much-needed context, please note that this book was released in 1969--the year man first walked on the moon. And for all the faults that could now be construed by far newer (and more chronologically snobbish) generations, McCaffrey was inarguably something of a visionary. She confronts subtle questions of ethics, eugenics, and quality of life in a way that invites empathic thought, but never tells readers WHAT to think. And for that simple invitation, I would stridently encourage people not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
All in all, this is a plausible sci-fi that feels a bit like a cobbled-together collection of believable scenarios. (I believe it began as a collection of Helva short stories for some serial publication, and was later compiled into a single book.) The pacing and formatting are a bit janky as a result, but not altogether disagreeable. My biggest criticism would be the distance readers are often held at with the third-person POV--not because of it being third-person, per se, but because McCaffry's prose is a bit cold and emotionally reserved.
I would happily read on in the series.
ofearna's review against another edition
3.0
"The Ship Who Sang" Jan 18, 2014
"The Ship Who Mourned" Jan 19, 2014
"The Ship Who Killed" Jan 20, 2014
"Dramatic Mission" Jan 21, 2014
"The Ship Who Dissembled" Jan 22, 2014
"The Partnered Ship" Jan 21, 2014
"The Ship Who Mourned" Jan 19, 2014
"The Ship Who Killed" Jan 20, 2014
"Dramatic Mission" Jan 21, 2014
"The Ship Who Dissembled" Jan 22, 2014
"The Partnered Ship" Jan 21, 2014
quillathe_23's review against another edition
3.0
Overall I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my favorite. The premise was really strange, and definitely sci-fi. It was more like a collection of short stories than anything, and reminded me a bit of Dr. Who. I enjoyed Helva's wit and firey personality.