Brainship Series by Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey, Margaret Ball, Jody Lynn Nye, S.M. Stirling, Connie Willis, Sheila Williams, Ursula K. Le Guin, Nancy Kress, Sarah Zettel, Pat Murphy, Vonda N. McIntyre, S.N. Dyer, Katherine Anne MacLean, Octavia E. Butler, John Joseph Adams, Lois McMaster Bujold, Orson Scott Card, George R.R. Martin, Alastair Reynolds, Robert Silverberg, Harry Turtledove, Genevieve Valentine, K. Tempest Bradford, Catherynne M. Valente, James Alan Gardner, L.E. Modesitt Jr., Robert J. Sawyer, Alan Dean Foster, S.L. Gilbow, Jeremiah Tolbert, John C. Wright, Kevin J. Anderson, Doug Beason, George Guthridge, Yoon Ha Lee, Allen M. Steele, Mary Rosenblum, Georgina Li, Trent Hergenrader

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 exhilarating escapades in space!Her life was to be rich and rewarding . . . resplendent with daring adventures and endless excitement, beyond the wildest dreams of mere mortals... moreHelva 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 exhilarating escapades 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 indestructible, Helva XH-834 anticipated a sublime immortality.Then one day she fell in love! less

Andre Deutsch, 1981. British hardcover with dustjacket. Omnibus collection of three McCaffrey novels: "Decision at Doona" (1969); "The Ship Who Sang" (1969); "Restoree" (1967).

Short story in Get Off the Unicorn by Anne McCaffrey

From Star Trek to Star Wars, from Dune to Foundation, science fiction has a rich history of exploring the idea of vast intergalactic societies, and the challenges facing those living in or trying to manage such societies. The stories in Federations will continue that tradition... moreFrom Star Trek to Star Wars, from Dune to Foundation, science fiction has a rich history of exploring the idea of vast intergalactic societies, and the challenges facing those living in or trying to manage such societies. The stories in Federations will continue that tradition. What are the social/religious/environmental/technological implications of living in such a vast society? What happens when expansionist tendencies on a galactic scale come into conflict with the indigenous peoples of other planets, of other races? And what of the issue of communicating across such distances, or the problems caused by relativistic travel? These are just some of the questions and issues that the stories in Federations will take on.Contents:Introduction / John Joseph Adams --Mazer in prison / Orson Scott Card --Carthago delenda est / Genevieve Valentine --Life-suspension / L.E. Modesitt, Jr. --Terra-exulta / S.L. Gilbow --Aftermaths / Lois McMaster Bujold --Someone is stealing the great throne rooms of the galaxy / Harry Turtledove --Prisons / Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason --Different day / K. Tempest Bradford --Twilight of the gods / John C. Wright --Warship / George R.R. Martin and George Guthridge --Swanwatch / Yoon Ha Lee --Spirey and the queen / Alastair Reynolds --Pardon our conquest / Alan Dean Foster --Symbiont / Robert Silverberg --Ship who returned / Anne McCaffrey --My she / Mary Rosenblum --Shoulders of giants / Robert J. Sawyer --Culture archivist / Jeremiah Tolbert --Other side of Jordan / Allen Steele --Like they always been free / Georgina Li --Eskhara / Trent Hergenrader --One with the interstellar group consciousnesses / James Alan Gardner --Golubash, or wine-blood-war-elegy / Catherynne M. Valente less

She was born human... reborn as much, much more.Her name was Nancia Perez y de Gras. Like the other five young people aboard, she was an aristocrat... a member of one of the illustrious High Families. And, like the others, she was a new graduate, just starting out on her own career... moreShe was born human... reborn as much, much more.Her name was Nancia Perez y de Gras. Like the other five young people aboard, she was an aristocrat... a member of one of the illustrious High Families. And, like the others, she was a new graduate, just starting out on her own career.But while the rest were bound for less-than-glamorous assignments—for reasons they preferred to conceal—on planets in a remote sector of the galaxy, Nancia was already on duty and proud of it: as a brain-ship for the Courier Service. less

A young woman becomes paralyzed and must become a brainship—and find her Brawn, her human soul mate, so that she can discover a cure for her illness.Tia Cade is a headstrong, smart, and very normal girl until she contracts a terrible illness that leaves her with the bare semblance of life. Tia's only hope: to become the oldest person ever to train to be one of the legendary star travelers, the brainships... moreA young woman becomes paralyzed and must become a brainship—and find her Brawn, her human soul mate, so that she can discover a cure for her illness.Tia Cade is a headstrong, smart, and very normal girl until she contracts a terrible illness that leaves her with the bare semblance of life. Tia's only hope: to become the oldest person ever to train to be one of the legendary star travelers, the brainships. But now that Tia is free of her ravaged body, there still remains the task of finding the right partner to be her Brawn, the human element every brainship requires. And when the disease that debilitated Tia threatens thousands more, selecting a Brawn who is her true soul mate may allow Tia to find the origin of the terrible plague—and perhaps even a cure. less

Includes PartnerShip by Anne McCaffrey with Margaret Ball and The Ship Who Searched by Anne McCaffrey with Mercedes Lackey complete with a cover by Tom Kidd.

Simeon was a shell-person - the brain who ran Space Station SSS-900, on the fringes of human space. But things hadn't been going too well lately, and he was more than a little discontented. Though normally he enjoyed his work, these days it seemed boring. To make matters worse, his long-time parner had just retired and he was having a hard time adjusting to his newly assigned brawn - a strong-willed woman named Channa Hap, who seemed to feel it her duty to keep him in line... moreSimeon was a shell-person - the brain who ran Space Station SSS-900, on the fringes of human space. But things hadn't been going too well lately, and he was more than a little discontented. Though normally he enjoyed his work, these days it seemed boring. To make matters worse, his long-time parner had just retired and he was having a hard time adjusting to his newly assigned brawn - a strong-willed woman named Channa Hap, who seemed to feel it her duty to keep him in line.Simeon's love of wargaming would find unexpected uses when the brutal Kolnari attack the nearby colony planet, Bethel. Sheltering the colony's refugee's brought "the city" an invitation to serious trouble with Kolnari pirates. less

Two novels in one large volume, both set in the same universe as The Ship Who Sang: The City Who Fought: Simeon was bored with running the mining and processing station that made up his "body." Then the invaders came. If anyone was to survive, somehow he must transform his wargaming hobby into the real thing and become The City Who Fought. The Ship Avenged: Ten years later, Joat, the eleven year old techno-demon heroine of the first novel is now an adult herself... moreTwo novels in one large volume, both set in the same universe as The Ship Who Sang: The City Who Fought: Simeon was bored with running the mining and processing station that made up his "body." Then the invaders came. If anyone was to survive, somehow he must transform his wargaming hobby into the real thing and become The City Who Fought. The Ship Avenged: Ten years later, Joat, the eleven year old techno-demon heroine of the first novel is now an adult herself. She and her ship are on the trail of the Kolnari space raiders, trying to stop them before they can spread an infectious, mind-destroying disease among the inhabited stars and destroy civilization throughout the galaxy. less

Like Helva, the Ship Who Sang, (and Nancia from PartnerShip, Tia from The Ship Who Searched, and Simeon, who runs The City Who Fought) Carialle was born so physically disadvantaged that her only chance for life was as a shellperson. And again like those others, Carialle decided she would strap on a spaceship. Her brawn is a guy named Keff. Their mission: to search the galaxy for intelligent beings, to travel where no shellperson and her brawn have gone before.. moreLike Helva, the Ship Who Sang, (and Nancia from PartnerShip, Tia from The Ship Who Searched, and Simeon, who runs The City Who Fought) Carialle was born so physically disadvantaged that her only chance for life was as a shellperson. And again like those others, Carialle decided she would strap on a spaceship. Her brawn is a guy named Keff. Their mission: to search the galaxy for intelligent beings, to travel where no shellperson and her brawn have gone before...Alas, intelligent life is thin on the galactic ground, so when Carialle and Keff arrive on a very nice little world with very nice little aliens, fuzzy and polite and eager to please, they are overjoyed. But their joy does not last: their fuzzy friends turn out to be virtual slaves to a race of sorcerers, sorcerers who really do seem to possess magical powers of frightening potency, and who are neither fuzzy, polite, nor the least bit eager to please. less

In the sequel to The Ship Who Won, written by Nye with Anne McCaffrey, Carialle and Keff, the brainship and brawn who discovered intelligent life on the planet Ozran, now serve as couriers for the "globe-frogs", to return their new friends from whence they came. But to get there, they must transit a sector where Carialle experienced a trauma so intense it nearly destroyed her mind... moreIn the sequel to The Ship Who Won, written by Nye with Anne McCaffrey, Carialle and Keff, the brainship and brawn who discovered intelligent life on the planet Ozran, now serve as couriers for the "globe-frogs", to return their new friends from whence they came. But to get there, they must transit a sector where Carialle experienced a trauma so intense it nearly destroyed her mind.And now all the evidence is indicating that the slime who caused Carialle such pain in the first place may be the very Globe-frogs she and Keff have just become friends with... less

Two Top-Selling Sequels to Anne McCaffrey's The Ship Who Sang in One VolumeOn a mission to search the galaxy for intelligent beings, Carialle and Keff encounter a bizarre alien race ruled by powerful sorcerers in The Ship Who Won, while in The Ship Errant, targeted by an Inspector General who believes she has been damaged by a past trauma, Carialle finds support from her human partner Keff and the globe-frog race they discovered.

It's ten years later, and Joat, the eleven-year-old techno-demon from "The City Who Fought," is an adult herself, and by hook, crook, and blackmail (with an assist from Rand, her very own Artificial Intelligence), she's become one of the youngest commercial ship owners in human space.Using the good ship WYAL (for While You Ain't Looking) for various motley "transport" jobs, she has quickly gained a reputation as a trustworthy courier with a flexible approach to the rules... moreIt's ten years later, and Joat, the eleven-year-old techno-demon from "The City Who Fought," is an adult herself, and by hook, crook, and blackmail (with an assist from Rand, her very own Artificial Intelligence), she's become one of the youngest commercial ship owners in human space.Using the good ship WYAL (for While You Ain't Looking) for various motley "transport" jobs, she has quickly gained a reputation as a trustworthy courier with a flexible approach to the rules. Which is why Centrals Worlds Security has recruited Joat and the WYAL to determine the present whereabouts of the Kolnari space raiders, with whom Joat has an old score to settle.But Belazair of the Kolnari has his own plans for revenge through an incurable and highly infectious disease that quickly destroys the higher brain functions, leaving the body a mindless husk. Belazair needs to find a carrier ship to spread the infection - and the carrier he has hired is Joat, who is completely unaware that she is receiving a deadly cargo which could destroy civilization throughout the galaxy! less

These ten classic stories, each featuring well-developed, strong female characters, have garnered numerous literary awards and span every style and theme in speculative fiction.Contents:Inertia / Nancy KressEven the Queen / Connie WillisFool's Errand / Sarah ZettelRachel in Love / Pat MurphyOf Mist, and Grass, and Sand / Vonda N. McIntyreThe July Ward / Sharon N. Farber (as S.N. Dyer)The Kidnapping of Baroness 5 / Katherine MacLeanSpeech Sounds / Octavia E... moreThese ten classic stories, each featuring well-developed, strong female characters, have garnered numerous literary awards and span every style and theme in speculative fiction.Contents:Inertia / Nancy KressEven the Queen / Connie WillisFool's Errand / Sarah ZettelRachel in Love / Pat MurphyOf Mist, and Grass, and Sand / Vonda N. McIntyreThe July Ward / Sharon N. Farber (as S.N. Dyer)The Kidnapping of Baroness 5 / Katherine MacLeanSpeech Sounds / Octavia E. ButlerThe Ship Who Mourned / Anne McCaffreyA Woman's Liberation / Ursula K. Le Guin less