Brain Ships

Brain Ships (2003) is an omnibus edition of the Brain Ships series, including The Ship Who Searched and Partnership. These novels are set in the far future within the universe of The Ship Who Sang. The Ship Who Searched (1992) is the third SF novel in this series. I know, this story is placed before the second book in the series. Don't ask me, but check the publication dates, the brainship numbers and the internal references. In this novel, Hypatia Cade is the daughter of an archaeological team. Doctors Pota Andropolous-Cade and Braddon Maartens-Cade are conducting an Evaluation dig at a Salomon-Kildare site. The three of them are alone on the planet except during the supply ship visits. Tia is alone in the camp during the day, except at mealtimes. She spends most of the day doing homework, watching holos and monitoring communications. Shortly after her seventh birthday, Moira -- TM-370 -- is an unexpected visitor. Moira has diverted a routine run to bring their supplies and a birthday present for Tia. On days when her parents are too busy for her to visit their dig, her parents let Tia don her vacuum suit and go play in her own dig. She carefully excavates pretend artifacts from the trenches. Then she digs up something that is a very real artifact. Tia catches some kind of disease from her first find and feels tingling in her feet and hands. Eventually, she loses sensation in all her extremities and is paralyzed from the neck down. Even her face is partially paralyzed. In this story, Tia becomes a shellperson. She is the oldest person ever admitted into the program. She does very well and eventually is installed in her brainship. Hypatia -- XH-1033 -- is now working for the Institute, delivering supplies to various archaeological sites. First she has to select a Brawn. None of the first six are suitable and the second six are not much better. Her supervisor is perturbed and wants her off the tarmac as soon as possible. Alexander Joli-Chanteu is one of the last set. Tia spends more time with him than the others, but finally decides that he is not quite the right person to be her Brawn. But then he comes back after dark and has a more candid conversation with Tia. Although she still sees some flaws in his character, Alex does have the right sort of attitude and an interest in archaeology. Tia decides to choose him as her Brawn. Tia and Alex become specialists in dealing with plagues and other sorts of diseases. While they are not doctors, they have run into more than their share of ailments and have learned to counter their effects until the medical personnel arrive. So MedCen preempts their services to hunt for smugglers who are bringing diseases into the Central Worlds. PartnerShip (1992) is the second SF novel in this series. In this novel, Nancia Perez y de Gras -- XN-935 -- is expecting her father to call her before she starts her new career as a brainship. Instead, her brother pays her a visit. He brings h

I knew from the title "Brain Ships" plural that this was probably an omnibus reprint of previous books. Easy enough to check if any book you are interested in is such a reprint. THE REAL CHEAT is "The Ship Avenged". The premise of human brains in starships is converted to a ship driven by an artificial intelligence program built by Joat (jack of all trades). SHAME on Stirling. Would have been a much better sequel if story was about Joat overcoming the big obstacles that disqualified her for a ship's brawn.

When I bought this book I had the feeling it might be an omnibus of old books (because most of the new Anne McCaffrey books lately have been). But I didn't mind since I am just now starting the Brain Ship series. This omnibus contains "The Ship Who Searched" and "PartnerShip". I enjoyed both stories and look forward to reading the others in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't already have these two books but is an Anne McCaffrey fan. Otherwise, you should probably skip the book.

I hate to see a book containing two great stories receiving negative reviews simply because these stories were published previously. There are hundreds of great science fiction stories that have gone out of print over time. I think that these books being made available again is wonderful opportunity for readers to explore and enjoy great works from sf's past.

First of all, if you already have the three stories in this book, you probably don't want it. If, however, you have not read these stories before, bundling them together in one binding certainly hasn't devalued the stories any.I'll admit, I usually either love a book, or hate it. This one falls into the former category. Three good stories for the price of one.