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wyvernfriend's review against another edition
4.0
Though sometimes outdated by modern tech, it was published in 1992. Written by two of my favourite writers, this is one of my favourites of the Ship Who sequence.
Hypathia Cade is a young precious kid who lives with her family on a small archaeological dig. The worst possible thing happens when she contracts a virus that causes her to become paralysed from the neck down. At seven she really isn't a candidate for the Brain project, where young children with incurable conditions are offered a chance to become enclosed brains who are living computers who run ships and other large complex spaces. She adapts well and finds herself finding a lot of freedom among the stars. She's only missing one freedom.
I read it when it first came out and re-reading wasn't an unpleasant experience. I also loved the names of the Investment firm: Friesner, Sherman, Stirling and Huff... I got a smile while thinking where they got those names from!
Enjoyable, if a little dated.
Hypathia Cade is a young precious kid who lives with her family on a small archaeological dig. The worst possible thing happens when she contracts a virus that causes her to become paralysed from the neck down. At seven she really isn't a candidate for the Brain project, where young children with incurable conditions are offered a chance to become enclosed brains who are living computers who run ships and other large complex spaces. She adapts well and finds herself finding a lot of freedom among the stars. She's only missing one freedom.
I read it when it first came out and re-reading wasn't an unpleasant experience. I also loved the names of the Investment firm: Friesner, Sherman, Stirling and Huff... I got a smile while thinking where they got those names from!
Enjoyable, if a little dated.
beaundarrows's review against another edition
4.0
Another lovely story about two souls meeting and falling perfectly for each other.
There's no real 'bad guy' in this one. Just a string of adventures and a happy ending for a child who, at one point, thought it was all over before she'd even begun.
I'd be happy to continue on with Tia and Alex to find the EsKays.
Overall, a good edition to the Brain and Brawn series. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
There's no real 'bad guy' in this one. Just a string of adventures and a happy ending for a child who, at one point, thought it was all over before she'd even begun.
I'd be happy to continue on with Tia and Alex to find the EsKays.
Overall, a good edition to the Brain and Brawn series. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
nanimao's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
perilous1's review against another edition
5.0
Note: While this book actually stands alone just fine, I appreciated having some of the previous worldbuilding info from The Ship Who Sang for this to build upon.
A precocious young girl named Tia suffers the terrible degradation of her body after unwitting exposure to an alien virus. And though she's officially much too old for the potential freedom offered by the Brainship program, a few well-placed people are taken enough with her situation, charm, and intellect, that an exception is eventually made. She takes to the program, and her eventual ship, as well as anyone could have hoped. But her goals are higher than merely paying off her debts to the program and buying her freedom. And with the help of a carefully selected brawn, she has a chance of gaining all she wants out of her new lease on life.
Much like the first book in the series, a chunk of the book is made up of our MC brainship going on various missions/assignments, where she learns more about her own capacities and those of her Brawn. But because she has had the experience of both having and remembering a tangible body AND being the master controlling mind behind an entire spaceship, hers is a different perspective. She, unlike the rest of those in the program, knows what she's missing. And that lack of a body becomes a point of longing and limitation when she realizes the depths of her feelings for her chosen Brawn.
This story was truly brilliant. Mindfully well-paced, emotionally engaging, and rich with interesting characters one doesn't mind investing in. Currently the best in the Brainship series, in my opinion (and likely to remain so.) All thanks to the exceedingly agreeable collaboration of Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey. Lackey seems to add a bit more heart and humor to McCaffrey's vision. I wish I could find more books co-authored in this way, but from what I can tell, this was sadly the only one they did together.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND KNOW OF ANY OTHER MCCAFFREY/LACKEY COLLABORATIONS, PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS. I WANT TO BE WRONG!!!
A precocious young girl named Tia suffers the terrible degradation of her body after unwitting exposure to an alien virus. And though she's officially much too old for the potential freedom offered by the Brainship program, a few well-placed people are taken enough with her situation, charm, and intellect, that an exception is eventually made. She takes to the program, and her eventual ship, as well as anyone could have hoped. But her goals are higher than merely paying off her debts to the program and buying her freedom. And with the help of a carefully selected brawn, she has a chance of gaining all she wants out of her new lease on life.
Much like the first book in the series, a chunk of the book is made up of our MC brainship going on various missions/assignments, where she learns more about her own capacities and those of her Brawn. But because she has had the experience of both having and remembering a tangible body AND being the master controlling mind behind an entire spaceship, hers is a different perspective. She, unlike the rest of those in the program, knows what she's missing. And that lack of a body becomes a point of longing and limitation when she realizes the depths of her feelings for her chosen Brawn.
This story was truly brilliant. Mindfully well-paced, emotionally engaging, and rich with interesting characters one doesn't mind investing in. Currently the best in the Brainship series, in my opinion (and likely to remain so.) All thanks to the exceedingly agreeable collaboration of Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey. Lackey seems to add a bit more heart and humor to McCaffrey's vision. I wish I could find more books co-authored in this way, but from what I can tell, this was sadly the only one they did together.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND KNOW OF ANY OTHER MCCAFFREY/LACKEY COLLABORATIONS, PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS. I WANT TO BE WRONG!!!
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
4.0
I've lost track of the number of times I've read this book, and yet Tia's story still makes me cry every time.
moki's review against another edition
4.0
aside from the funky pacing of the second half of the book and the emotional development, this is such a solid book lmao. the prose is GREAT. fun, quick read
fastfinge's review against another edition
4.0
I've noticed a strong pattern in all of the Anne McCaffrey books I've tried to read. If she wrote the book herself, I never like it. If, however, the book[return]has a co-author, I usually find it at least good. This book, co-authord by an author who's solo works I've already liked and read, is excelent. I've read[return]all of the other books in the ship series, and this is by far the best of the bunch. If you don't plan on reading the entire series, at least read this[return]book. It stands just fine by itself; don't worry that it's book 3. The rest of the series isn't bad either, but I could take it or leave it.