valjeanval's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A foundational science fiction piece that while very progressive for its time, doesn’t really hold up to modern lenses of feminism and disability. Worth a read, but with more than a few grains of salt.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Ableism, Grief, and Sexism
essie_'s review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
joa_price's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The basic premise of this story is deeply uncomfortable from a modern perspective. The time this was written and the context of that time cannot be ignored. There are many more in-depth conversations about the way womanhood, disability and slavery are discussed and dealt with in this book and I’d encourage readers to take these into account for this wonderfully clever book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Torture, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Misogyny, Abandonment, Medical trauma, and Grief
classicbe's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book. Such an interesting concept
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
This book will be discussed at the Powells Beaverton SF group on Tuesday January 11 at 7pm. Not a bad book especially considering it was from 1969 and it was only her third book published. Some interesting ideas still - the universe is a bit unformed - it was a bit jarring to have Bob Dylan and Shakespeare and classical music be such a major part of a book placed considerably in the future. 4 of 5.
pagesofash's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
erin_mair's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
essinink's review against another edition
3.0
The late Anne McCaffrey was a giant in the field, one of those authors that everyone's heard of, even if they haven't read her books. Somehow, though, I've managed to completely bypass her work until now.
The Brainship books were brought to my attention a little while ago by way of random internet reference. You know the kind. Someone makes a throwaway post about a book they read in childhood, someone else commiserates, and they're off. I wish I could remember who it was.
The Ship Who Sang is the story of Helva (XH-834), a woman locked into a cyborg shell in infancy to become the 'Brain' of a starship. Like all brainships, Helva chooses a mobile human partner to act as her 'Brawn' to undergo missions across the Central Worlds.
It's a neat story, though it feels as retro as the cover looks. Helva is a well-rounded character, and her search for a permanent partner is a touching, if somewhat uneven, read.
Before being published in 1969, the first five chapters of The Ship Who Sang were originally published as independent novelettes (and one novella). They underwent some minor edits and the addition of a 6th, new chapter to make the book. The writing steadily improves as the book goes on, but the final product doesn't feel cohesive to me; there's just too much skip between "chapters" for events to settle.
On a less likeable note, certain aspects of the world have not aged well, especially the story's treatment of disability, and its related eugenicist themes.
The fundamental problem shows up in the first two paragraphs, where Helva's parents are given the option between euthanizing their disabled daughter, and effectively selling her to the government for use as a cyborg 'brain.' The modifications that the infant Helva undergoes are expensive, and she is bound to Service until such time as she pays off her debt. The only persons in the book who seem to have a problem with this concept quickly come to the conclusion that the shell-people (as those like Helva are called) are better-off as they are than attempting to navigate the abled world.
(In fairness, McCaffrey might have been trying to be subversive when she wrote the first bit in 1961, but the out-of-sight/out-of-mind approach is more appalling than anything now.)
Still, it was a quick and interesting throwback read. I don't think I'll read the other Brainship books, but I'm glad I took the time to read this one.
The Brainship books were brought to my attention a little while ago by way of random internet reference. You know the kind. Someone makes a throwaway post about a book they read in childhood, someone else commiserates, and they're off. I wish I could remember who it was.
The Ship Who Sang is the story of Helva (XH-834), a woman locked into a cyborg shell in infancy to become the 'Brain' of a starship. Like all brainships, Helva chooses a mobile human partner to act as her 'Brawn' to undergo missions across the Central Worlds.
It's a neat story, though it feels as retro as the cover looks. Helva is a well-rounded character, and her search for a permanent partner is a touching, if somewhat uneven, read.
Before being published in 1969, the first five chapters of The Ship Who Sang were originally published as independent novelettes (and one novella). They underwent some minor edits and the addition of a 6th, new chapter to make the book. The writing steadily improves as the book goes on, but the final product doesn't feel cohesive to me; there's just too much skip between "chapters" for events to settle.
On a less likeable note, certain aspects of the world have not aged well, especially the story's treatment of disability, and its related eugenicist themes.
The fundamental problem shows up in the first two paragraphs, where Helva's parents are given the option between euthanizing their disabled daughter, and effectively selling her to the government for use as a cyborg 'brain.' The modifications that the infant Helva undergoes are expensive, and she is bound to Service until such time as she pays off her debt. The only persons in the book who seem to have a problem with this concept quickly come to the conclusion that the shell-people (as those like Helva are called) are better-off as they are than attempting to navigate the abled world.
(In fairness, McCaffrey might have been trying to be subversive when she wrote the first bit in 1961, but the out-of-sight/out-of-mind approach is more appalling than anything now.)
Still, it was a quick and interesting throwback read. I don't think I'll read the other Brainship books, but I'm glad I took the time to read this one.
eyesofkc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think it was a fun book and premise. There’s a few outdated notions but this is an old book. I enjoyed the premise of a, sort of, nonhuman narrator and the situations presented in this world. Some of it was a little weird, a bit of squick, but It’s still a decent read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
raxus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0