The Ship Who Sang: A Novel (Brainship Book 1)

The premise of this book is so controversial in many ways, and yet this is my favorite book by Anne McCaffrey and has remained so for years. The idea that people who are so disabled that their body is basically a shell, but that they retain their intelligence and need to be useful… Well, look at Stephen Hawkings… What if he’d had no way to communicate. Here, disabled people are made the brains of wonderfully powerful ships, of cities, etc. They are given a life where they can communicate, but perhaps they aren’t given all the freedom that they deserve. Many awesome topics, many amazingly cool ideas, and the world-building and characterization is some of McCaffrey’s best. Frankly, I think some of McCaffrey’s books have not aged that well, but the Menolly/Piemur books and especially The Ship Who Sang will always remain among my favorites and returned to now and then for a satisfying re-read.Highly recommended for anyone who loves science fiction, fantasy, or Anne McCaffrey.

This book was lent to me by a man I was dating at the time. Had never read science-fiction or fantasy before. After reading McCaffrey's The Ship Who Sang, I was hooked and I've been reading the genres periodically ever since. Have lost count of the number of times I've read this book, just wish that McCaffrey had continued their story. There is an "epilogue" to the book, called "The Honeymoon" in one of the short story collections of McCaffrey. It is well worth looking for as it continues the story, but always left me with a wish to hear more about them. A wonderfully creative book that has stood for decades as one of my favorite books. I highly recommend it.

One of my all-time favorite books! I bought this copy because my first copy needed to be retired before it fell apart completely. Editing errors and all, this is a wonderful wish fulfillment fantasy. Or is it? Is Anne McCaffrey actually in touch with the future, a parallel universe, or what?! Buy this one for your teenager, boy or girl, they may make it one of their favorites. Kind of spooky, but as you age the important parts, interpretation, and meanings change. I'm 69, and get as much enjoyment and meaning as I did as a sophomore in High School when I first read the story. Just different! I bought a copy of the book after I came back from Vietnam. It helped keep me (reasonably) sane. I still have that (worn out) book. If you've never read Anne McCaffery, this would be a great place to start.

Absolutely classic masterful Mcaffrey. Tight intelligent plot. World/universe detailed enough, and interesting, to satisfy. What isn't fleshed out just leaves you wondering "What if?" Characters that evolve. Characters that are human in ways we, the readers, can relate to. High emotion. A little bit of worthiness. A little bit of romance.A ripping good story.And also remember. It is fiction set in a slightly dystopian framework, as was a lot of the science fiction written at the same time. Fiction, both science and fantasy has changed considerably in the sixty (yes, 60) years since published. And it was originally five short stories that were then worked together as a novel.

I am going to go out on a limb on this one based on the many other G-rated novels I have read by Anne. This purchase is a used paperback. I was not able to find a legitimate ebook copy. After reading the Dragon Quest series and Crystal Singer series and many other novels by Anne McCaffrey, I have no doubt that this one will be worth reading also. This book has been out of print for a long time even though it is the first in a series of three and the other two are available. The publisher should scan this one and make it available as an ebook like the rest of the series, Duh.

This is the beginning of the Brain Ship series, and introduces us to the back story and the 1st of Ms McCaffrey's heroes I first read this wonderful book in the 1980s. I am currently on my 3rd paperback edition...I keep wearing them out. I bought a Hardback version for my library collection. The stories about Helva are ones of overcoming the odds, and managing to find love and happiness. There are thrilling suspense filled chapters and funny/happy times as well....just like real life. I wish I could get to know Helva in person..she is so real!! My BIG complaint...this is the ONLY one of her Brain Ship books NOT on kindle!!

This is one of those books that was a staple of my childhood days. I was in love with Helva ever since my friend who ran the local used bookstore pointed me towards this series, and if I read a series, I will do it all the way through. Helva is as real as any character can be, she just dresses in steel rather than cloth. Now if someone could just convert the Rowan it Kindle, it drives me crazy to have all parts of a series except One pivotal book!

Just finished reading this book and even after reading it before it is one of my favorite books by my favorite author. If you like science fiction and a good action story then this book is a must to read and have in your library.

The publisher didn't give this much of a blurb, but for one of the iconic books of the late 60s & 70s scifi, it says enough. I first read it in the 1970s, I think, and it was astounding.Anne McCaffrey’s invention of Brainships (this became number 1 in the Brainships series) was a masterstroke, and hard for other writers to ignore. It took all the consideration of AI becoming self-aware and taking over the ship (as in 2001: A Space Odyssey) and turned it on its head. McCaffrey let them populate all her worlds, and it is sometimes hard to leave them out of my own writing.In some ways, The Ship Who Sang shows its age. In others, it is still brilliantly ahead of its time. There is a mere nod to the possibility of female space pilots. The idea that human eggs could be fertilised outside the body and grown in special tanks was astounding - the first test-tube baby arrived in 1978. The first sheep wasn’t cloned until 1996.The development of space flight, and the networks of brain & brawn ships, as the unadjusted human partner was termed, are still mind-blowingly in the future… Attitudes of the men involved tend towards the seventies military/corporate business culture (to distinguish it from post-hippy culture). Women tended to be moving forward in the fight for equality. In some cultures they succeeded more than others; the book reflects this, with many female characters in leading scientist roles.The writing is of its time too. Easy to read, somewhat more descriptive than today’s fashion. The structure of the book is more episodic than continuous narrative divided by chapters. The book lends itself to episodes, since Helva’s work is in discreet projects, and mostly with different partners. The linkages develop, along with Helva’s personality, in the best Anne McCaffrey style. The voice of some characters (particularly those who are just voices through comms) develops beautifully. My only criticism? The making of the final partnership, which seemed so obvious to me, is somewhat drawn out.Is it still a five star read? Maybe it’s lost some of the sparkle, some of the originality, simply due to those we have seen since. I would dock it a star, these days, but it’s mainly style. One of the episodes is a bit stodgy, but it’s critical to the rest. I think some of the other Brainship stories are worth reviewing again, but I’ve read the Killashandra books so many times that I was up to date on many of the crossovers anyway. Maybe they should just stay in my heart, or read for reminiscence rather than review.

What more could happen in our future? Children born with fine minds but bodies that are not as with other humans. In the story we learn that such children are not simply got rid of, or kept in seclusion to have everything done for them. In this story, which is one of several that focus on the way forwards for these children to become what is known as brain ships. One such brain is priviledged to choose her own 'brawn' and then accepts assignments from around the worlds that the 'brain element' offering support and guidance to the brawn and those she takes with her. She is known as the title of the book because she does sing on long journeys and some situations.The book is a cracking good read which will have readers eagerly looking for and buying, the remaining set of books.

Ann McCaffery has a real knack for unique concepts & characters, & 'The Ship Who Sang' is no different.The concept is of 'Brain' ships; the idea of taking a heavily disabled, but intellectually sound baby & training them to eventually form the 'Brain' of a fleet of space ships who are partnered with an equally highly trained pilot or 'Brawn'.The idea of overcoming disability was the first thing that grabbed me, at no point do any characters, whatever the rank, consider the disabilities a disadvantage. In fact several times the primary character, Helva, talks about her advantages over the able-bodied.The plot charts Helva's many missions & successes, through what were originally six short stories, combined into one here. We are introduced to new characters, events etc. as the plot flows through the 'mission' before we move on to the next mission/story. It works wonderfully, you never feel like you're being overloaded with information, but you do get a vivid & full picture of everything that is happening around you.Having read other McCaffery stories that featured a 'Brain & Brawn' ship, I was delighted to find McCaffery had written a series on them & despite only having owned the book two days, I have already finished it.McCaffery's style is so easy to follow, despite her unique & quirky ideas, & the narrative flows brilliantly, the concepts are so full & rounded you realise very quickly that a lot of time & effort has been invested by the author. Her characters are always so full of live & personality, & are a big factor in making the story the master class it is.The Ship Who Sang is an amazingly fresh story for its age, that is easy to get involved with & McCaffery's style is one of vivid description, but fantastic pacing, in fact the only moment of real disappointment was when I finished the book. The fact McCaffery herself has said this is the story she is most proud of, should speak much higher volumes than I can give. Read it, love it.

A great, forgotten semi-masterpiece (though dated in alarming but interesting ways) - and VERY hard to get hold of in the shops...A great price too.CheersN

Lovely story well written, I love Anne mccaffrey, especially before her son started writing under her name. Definitely a book I will read again and again