Synopsis: 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 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! (from the online description)Review: This novel is actually a collection of five short stories, written between 1961 and 1969, strung together into a coherent single narrative. Although slightly choppy to read due to that, it does come together in the end, with each single episode contributing something the ending that matters.
This book also begins the series, some written by McCaffrey.
As for the story itself, it is excellent speculative fiction.
What if the minds of people with severe physical disabilities could be taken
from the body and put into computers, or in Helva’s case, into a space ship.
How would those very real human emotions withstand a life so outside human
experience?
Intriguing, with fast-paced plot, complex characters, and a
balance between action and thought, this book is classic sci-fi at its best. At
the center is Helva’s search for a true partner, her “Brawn” and what that
means to a mind encased in a rocket ship – where walking on a planet is
impossible but hurtling through the stars is the norm.
For anyone who enjoy solid sci-fi, this is a must read.
Bookmarks: 4 of 5
Awards: None
ISBN: 345-24823-6-150
Year Published: 1961-1969 (See Note Above)
Date Finished: 6-3-18
Pages: 248
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