Rating: 
Summary: A story that literally changed my life...
Review: ... as in, it gave me hope to go on. Helva's struggles as she loves, loses, and grows were like an atomic blast to a 15-year old -- "I'm *not* a cripple!" -- in 1968. Here was a truly disabled person -- heck, the 1st line of the book is "She was born a thing..." -- who took her handicap and turned it into superiority. Her love for Jennan, and her monumental loss when he dies, are too-well documented. Helva's refusal to let that loss destroy her turns her life in a new direction, and helps her become a legend in her own time ... although that's the least of her concerns.And she gets the man in the end -- the *right* man -- which doesn't hurt, either. Not a spoiler, just an affirmation that life can be wonderful for a "thing" who might have been tossed away or warehoused as useless...
Rating:
Summary: A story that literally changed my life...
Review: ... as in, it gave me hope to go on. Helva's struggles as she loves, loses, and grows were like an atomic blast to a 15-year old -- "I'm *not* a cripple!" -- in 1968. Here was a truly disabled person -- heck, the 1st line of the book is "She was born a thing..." -- who took her handicap and turned it into superiority. Her love for Jennan, and her monumental loss when he dies, are too-well documented. Helva's refusal to let that loss destroy her turns her life in a new direction, and helps her become a legend in her own time ... although that's the least of her concerns. And she gets the man in the end -- the *right* man -- which doesn't hurt, either. Not a spoiler, just an affirmation that life can be wonderful for a "thing" who might have been tossed away or warehoused as useless...
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!!!
Review: A wonderful book. I feel at a loss now that I've finished it. I really identified with Helva. I wish I was her. Sharp-tongued, intelligent, funny, artistic, and sings too. Remarkable! I'm sorry I already finished one of the best books I ever read. Thank you, Anne McCaffrey
Rating: 
Summary: The Ship Made of Cheese
Review: As a future literature teacher, I read The Ship Who Sang as part of a methods course. I was informed that there are some high schools in the area that are using this book in the classroom. As I read, I found myself searching for one reason The Ship Who Sang should be taught. I have to be honest. I found absolutely no literary merit in this book. Here are just a couple of the problems I have found. I consider myself a good reader. However, as I read this book I found myself stumbling over words. Word are wonderful tools to illustrate meaning, but in The Ship Who Sang, McCaffrey is drunk with words. She mumbles on and on for pages and pages about nothing at all. I can't imagine high school students being able to understand what she is talking about. I can't imagine this book holding anyone's attention. Another thing that I did not like is that there are heavy sexual references throughout the book. Here is an example of one. This is the one that I find to be the strongest. It occurs near the end of the book. "He'd moved, fighting the drive of his body every inch, until he was eaglespread against her column, his cheek pressed against the cold metal, his fingertips white with the effort to penetrate the unyielding surface. One hand slid slowly toward the control panel." For those of you who have not read this, keep in mind that this passage is talking about a man being eaglespread and trying to penetrate the metal surface to get to a brain. The brain is connected to a lifeless body. What's up with words with such sexual connotations as eaglespread and penetrate? I am not suggesting censorship, but I can't find any reason why I would use this book in my classroom. This is the type of book that the adult film industry is probably looking into. Freud would have a field day with this book. It amazes me that it can be called literary. The ship, Helva ends up with the man she hated as her partner. The sexual tensions have been buliding between them. People have the right to read what they want, but I swear this book is a Harlequin with a science-fiction facade. I have one word that describes this book-CHEESE!
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful McCaffrey book!
Review: I am a huge Anne McCaffrey fan. I have been putting off reading this book though. I shouldn't have. It was wonderful. I did not realize the book was written in the early 60's. I expected it to be dated in some of its technology. It was not. Anne McCaffrey was way ahead of her time. A light easy read that pulls you into the story of Helva and compels you seek out the following books. A great introduction to Anne McCaffrey that leaves a reader wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ FOR MCCAFFREY FANS!
Review: I am a second generation McCaffrey fan, raising the third generation. My 15-year old daughter and I both thouroughly enjoyed "The Ship Who Sang". I just looked over some of the other reviews, and feel that perhaps those folks that compared this novel to a Harlequin should stick to reading cheesy romances. The characters in this book truly come to life, and the only disappointment for me, was when I was finished, because there was no more book left! Who cares if the word "undulate" was used three times! Helva is a character that really makes you want to read more ...
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ FOR MCCAFFREY FANS!
Review: I am a second generation McCaffrey fan, raising the third generation. My 15-year old daughter and I both thouroughly enjoyed "The Ship Who Sang". I just looked over some of the other reviews, and feel that perhaps those folks that compared this novel to a Harlequin should stick to reading cheesy romances. The characters in this book truly come to life, and the only disappointment for me, was when I was finished, because there was no more book left! Who cares if the word "undulate" was used three times! Helva is a character that really makes you want to read more ...
Rating: 
Summary: nothing out of the ordinary
Review: I am a senior education major at Kent State University and soon to be a language arts teacher. My class had to read this book because it was selected as a book for the local language arts festival (high school and middle school students) which KSU is hosting. I will be one of the people responsible for composing an essay question on selected books and judging the essays. Unfortunately, I am disappointed in the festival's organizers for selecting this book. Although it has some interesting questions about life in the future, it struggles to develop these issues. The short stories aren't bad by any means, but also are nothing out of the ordinary. The book contains interesting references to "Dylanistic" people from the "atomic age" and intriguing looks at the future of religion, for example, but leaves the reader wanting more and instead neglects the reader by returning to the overly-wordy, often-uninspired plot. As a rule, science fiction should contain intersting science (fact) and interesting fiction. This novel only provides brief glimmers of brilliance, while mainly losing its reader (especially in the case of younger readers)in an abundance of stale jargon. Furthermore, it is very difficult to tackle the many ridiculously lame passages that make a mockery of excellent writing. If this book were to be compared to a state it would have to be compared to Wisconsin because no other state is more known for its cheese. I can see how certain parts of this book could stand alone as quality literature; however, as a whole it does not have many redeeming characterisitics. Frankly, it is just not worth the effort (and an extreme effort it is) to trudge through the thick muck of this novel in an attempt to hopefully stumble across a few brief moments of inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: The prose companion to Madonna's "Ray of Light"
Review: I cannot listen to "Ray of Light" without thinking of this book, because what goes on in that song -- Madonna's warm mature organic vocals woven with William Orbit's shimmery space-synthesizer -- is what I imagine Helva to BE. Helva is our organic consciousness wed with the body of a ship, with pure technology, wed without struggle or fight. She is proof of what we can become if we use technology for good, for its power to make us smarter and stronger and more beautiful, if our evolution can include it. "Ray of Light" to me is what Helva's mind sounds like in its rejoicing, in its soar through space. Read _The Ship Who Sang_ and listen to Madonna's song.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!!
Review: I first read this book several years ago, and I loved it then, and I love it now. The plot is wonderful, telling different stages of her development as a person, and adjusting to loss of her brawn. To all those reviews in whick people said it was not appropriate for younger people, I think it is perfectly appropriate for anyone to read. I read it when I was eleven or twelve. Everyone should read this book.
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