Brain/Brawn: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences - A Meeting of Minds

Nina · Oct 19 2008, 03:57 PM

This is the first time that I have attacked the Brainship series in chronological order as kindly indicated by Cheryl in the Quest thread.

I must say it was exhillarating

to read about Helva and her brawns or lack thereof. First I read The Ship Who Sang, then Honeymoon and finally The Ship Who Returned.

Actually the title of the last one is not "The Ship Who Returned" but in my copy it says "The Ship That Returned". Same difference maybe, but I am wondering whether different copies of with different titles exist??? Anyone got an answer??

Well, I just wanted to say

Nothing can express my joy and exhillaration!

**Cheryl** · Oct 19 2008, 04:34 PM

It was supposed to be titled The Ship Who Returned, but they goofed it up. I guess I put it on the list with the title Anne wanted for it, rather than how it ended up...

GinnyStar · Oct 20 2008, 04:18 AM

Sound like the bit about DE/RSR to me.

P'ter · Oct 20 2008, 09:39 AM

No: it's more like "Get off the Unicorn" which was SUPPOSED to be "Get OF the Unicorn"!

AnnMarie · Oct 20 2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P'ter

No: it's more like "Get off the Unicorn" which was SUPPOSED to be "Get OF the Unicorn"!

Was thinking the same thing myself.

And Helva is the one Brainship who appears in at least MOST of the other BB books, even if she is only mentioned in passing.

Lady Maelin · Oct 25 2008, 12:26 AM

Nina...

I am so glad to hear that
you really enjoyed Helva, Niall
and all her stories... this time...for me they are the very best
that Anne created, in her long and lovely career as an author.
I have never yet read the *Ship Who Sang* with out tears. I
always cry with Helva's loss of Jennan, as my heart also breaks with
her sadness...but I also cry for joy when I know that Helva and
Niall are finally together as a team, like they were always meant
to be....forever.

I even had tears when I had the honor and privilege of hearing
Anne read it aloud in Copenhagen...now lets talk tears...there
wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Like Anne, this story truly helped me to get over the very deap
sadness that I felt, with the death of my beloved Father. I don't
think I have ever read a book for me, that covered so many of
the emotions, so well and so completely as the *Ship Who Sang*.
For me its the very best of all books

It's my most favorite books.

Nina · Oct 25 2008, 05:02 PM

Lady Maelin,

I am so happy that you understand my feelings in this

Anne's emotional depth, heart and the pure quality of her writing does not get much better than this

The following ship series present good stories but none as good as Helva's stories - in my opinion that is

Yes, it WAS a special moment hearing Anne read aloud here in Denmark. Thinking about it, I can still hear her voice and feel the mood of the moment.

The loss of dear ones gets you right down to the centre of living and the importance of love becomes clear and meaningful through the pain of the loss.

Lady Maelin · Oct 29 2008, 01:18 AM

Nina...because I have such an incredibly wonderful husband, I have most of Anne's reading that day of

*The Ship WHo Sang*

at Eurocon on video disc. I cried through most of it in person...so I really need a copy of it to listen to Anne and enjoy at home....over,

and over

again!!!

I am so happy that we were able to meet over there at that time...its such a shame that you weren't a MoMer then...I would've loved more time with you there. I don't know if you remember...but I

was the one that took a couple of photos for you, of you and your family with Anne at one of the private roundtable conversation with her.

***Hans*** · Oct 29 2008, 07:28 AM

Maelin, she'll remember you or us. We were the two "foreigners" that were in the private round-table conversation/meeting her family had with Anne!

(in which you asked your food/chicken question of Anne

I think she reacted most energetic to that one

Pity my PDA got stolen the next day or I would have been able to post audio files of parts of that nice meeting!)

AnnMarie · Oct 29 2008, 02:29 PM

My Mom has decided to read THE SHIP WHO SANG.
I couldn't get her into the Pern books. I don't know how she'll react to Helva, but she was interested in what I said about the Brain ships.

Nina · Oct 29 2008, 06:36 PM

Lady Maelin and Hans, I do remember you both at the roundtable at Eurocon. Hans was so kind as to ensure that everyone got their turn asking questions.

I am still grateful for the pictures which you took of me and my family.

You probably would not recall that I showed up to all Anne's appearances, including the reading of "The Ship Who Sang" and the book signing! You MoM'ers were slightly more visible in affection for Anne, photograhing, videoing, T-shirts and questioning

I do remember well. The time at Eurocon was very satuated and I was taking it all in. I still have the Eurocon 2007 poster hanging on my bedroom door.

Lady Maelin · Nov 2 2008, 01:51 PM

Nina...I am sad to have to admit, that no...I don't remember
you at any of the events other than the round table...but I
was in such a state of excitement the whole time, that half
of the time I don't think I couldremembered my own name
when asked...

.......

AnnMarie...OH thats wonderful. I am so happy that your Mother's
introduction to Anne will be by reading *The Ship Who Sang*...she
couldn't start out any better IMHO!!!
Bring her by MoM sometime, and well all be more than happy to
talk ships with her...

AnnMarie · Nov 2 2008, 09:49 PM

Maelin, she tried reading one of the Pern books, and just couldn't get into it. She's almost finished with THE SHIP WHO SANG, so tomorrow will be another trip to the library for the rest of ship books. As far as getting her in here... don't hold your breath, dear. Mom uses her computer for email and siolitair and that is IT.

Oct 19 2008, 03:57 PM	#1
Nina Talent Finder Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Denmark Gender: F Fan of: The Talent series Now Reading: almost a book a day	Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences This is the first time that I have attacked the Brainship series in chronological order as kindly indicated by Cheryl in the Quest thread. I must say it was exhillarating to read about Helva and her brawns or lack thereof. First I read The Ship Who Sang, then Honeymoon and finally The Ship Who Returned. Actually the title of the last one is not "The Ship Who Returned" but in my copy it says "The Ship That Returned". Same difference maybe, but I am wondering whether different copies of with different titles exist??? Anyone got an answer?? Well, I just wanted to say Nothing can express my joy and exhillaration! __________________ Nina The Rowan is my favourite! "The name rowan is believed to derive from the Norse runa - "a charm". It was often planted outside houses to ward off witches. On May Day a spray of rowan leaves was hung over doors to repel evil, and wells dressed with rowan to keep witches away. The rowan, or mountain ash, is found commonly in Scotland, sometimes clinging to a rock face."

Oct 19 2008, 04:34 PM	#2
Cheryl Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Paladin of Souls (Bujold)	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences It was supposed to be titled The Ship Who Returned, but they goofed it up. I guess I put it on the list with the title Anne wanted for it, rather than how it ended up... __________________ Visit one of the other sites of Cheryl's Anne McCaffrey Triad: Sariel's Guide to Pern: a detailed guide to the series The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey: largest fan site about Anne and ALL of her works McCaffrey Quest: annual trivia contest.

Oct 20 2008, 04:18 AM	#3
GinnyStar Dolphineer Craftmaster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wausau, WI USA, Central Standard Time Gender: F Fan of: Pern, other SF works Now Reading: Dragonback Bargain	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences Sound like the bit about DE/RSR to me. __________________ Lover s s, s and friends Lover of and beads, http://www.change.org/profiles/GinnyStar Dragoncave GinnyStar2 Jellied Dragons Lair of Dragons http://dragcave.net/user/GinnyStar2 Thanks! Others: None at this time WIP http://archiveofourown.org/works/252259 http://www.daisy.org/learning-difficulties

Oct 20 2008, 09:39 AM	#4
P'ter Crafter Craftmaster Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Gender: M Fan of: Favorite? Now Reading: avidly	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences No: it's more like "Get off the Unicorn" which was SUPPOSED to be "Get OF the Unicorn"! __________________ "Truth is stranger than fiction: fiction has to make sense." Leo Rosten. "When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." C. S. Lewis "I find television very educational. Whenever somebody switches it on I go in the other room and read a book." (attributed to Groucho Marx) The Pedants are revolting! (against bad grammar)

Oct 25 2008, 12:26 AM	#6
Lady Maelin Master Artist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Gender: F Fan of: Pern,The Ship Who Sang Now Reading: Anne's Pern EVERYTHING !	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences Nina...I am so glad to hear that you really enjoyed Helva, Niall and all her stories... this time...for me they are the very best that Anne created, in her long and lovely career as an author. I have never yet read the Ship Who Sang with out tears. I always cry with Helva's loss of Jennan, as my heart also breaks with her sadness...but I also cry for joy when I know that Helva and Niall are finally together as a team, like they were always meant to be....forever. I even had tears when I had the honor and privilege of hearing Anne read it aloud in Copenhagen...now lets talk tears...there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Like Anne, this story truly helped me to get over the very deap sadness that I felt, with the death of my beloved Father. I don't think I have ever read a book for me, that covered so many of the emotions, so well and so completely as the Ship Who Sang. For me its the very best of all books It's my most favorite books. __________________ "To the Horsehead Nebula and back we shall make beautiful music"..."Together!" The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression,and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cut out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived........Howard Pyle

Oct 25 2008, 05:02 PM	#7
Nina Talent Finder Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Denmark Gender: F Fan of: The Talent series Now Reading: almost a book a day	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences Lady Maelin, I am so happy that you understand my feelings in this Anne's emotional depth, heart and the pure quality of her writing does not get much better than this The following ship series present good stories but none as good as Helva's stories - in my opinion that is Yes, it WAS a special moment hearing Anne read aloud here in Denmark. Thinking about it, I can still hear her voice and feel the mood of the moment. The loss of dear ones gets you right down to the centre of living and the importance of love becomes clear and meaningful through the pain of the loss. __________________ Nina The Rowan is my favourite! "The name rowan is believed to derive from the Norse runa - "a charm". It was often planted outside houses to ward off witches. On May Day a spray of rowan leaves was hung over doors to repel evil, and wells dressed with rowan to keep witches away. The rowan, or mountain ash, is found commonly in Scotland, sometimes clinging to a rock face."

Oct 29 2008, 01:18 AM	#8
Lady Maelin Master Artist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Gender: F Fan of: Pern,The Ship Who Sang Now Reading: Anne's Pern EVERYTHING !	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences Nina...because I have such an incredibly wonderful husband, I have most of Anne's reading that day of The Ship WHo Sang at Eurocon on video disc. I cried through most of it in person...so I really need a copy of it to listen to Anne and enjoy at home....over, and over and over again!!! I am so happy that we were able to meet over there at that time...its such a shame that you weren't a MoMer then...I would've loved more time with you there. I don't know if you remember...but I was the one that took a couple of photos for you, of you and your family with Anne at one of the private roundtable conversation with her. __________________ "To the Horsehead Nebula and back we shall make beautiful music"..."Together!" The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression,and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cut out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived........Howard Pyle

Oct 29 2008, 07:28 AM	#9
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences Maelin, she'll remember you or us. We were the two "foreigners" that were in the private round-table conversation/meeting her family had with Anne! (in which you asked your food/chicken question of Anne I think she reacted most energetic to that one Pity my PDA got stolen the next day or I would have been able to post audio files of parts of that nice meeting!) __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

Oct 29 2008, 02:29 PM	#10
AnnMarie Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: On the Edge Gender: F Fan of: Pern and Talent Now Reading: The Name of the Rose	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences My Mom has decided to read THE SHIP WHO SANG. I couldn't get her into the Pern books. I don't know how she'll react to Helva, but she was interested in what I said about the Brain ships.

Oct 29 2008, 06:36 PM	#11
Nina Talent Finder Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Denmark Gender: F Fan of: The Talent series Now Reading: almost a book a day	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences Lady Maelin and Hans, I do remember you both at the roundtable at Eurocon. Hans was so kind as to ensure that everyone got their turn asking questions. I am still grateful for the pictures which you took of me and my family. You probably would not recall that I showed up to all Anne's appearances, including the reading of "The Ship Who Sang" and the book signing! You MoM'ers were slightly more visible in affection for Anne, photograhing, videoing, T-shirts and questioning I do remember well. The time at Eurocon was very satuated and I was taking it all in. I still have the Eurocon 2007 poster hanging on my bedroom door. __________________ Nina The Rowan is my favourite! "The name rowan is believed to derive from the Norse runa - "a charm". It was often planted outside houses to ward off witches. On May Day a spray of rowan leaves was hung over doors to repel evil, and wells dressed with rowan to keep witches away. The rowan, or mountain ash, is found commonly in Scotland, sometimes clinging to a rock face."

Nov 2 2008, 01:51 PM	#12
Lady Maelin Master Artist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Gender: F Fan of: Pern,The Ship Who Sang Now Reading: Anne's Pern EVERYTHING !	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences Nina...I am sad to have to admit, that no...I don't remember you at any of the events other than the round table...but I was in such a state of excitement the whole time, that half of the time I don't think I couldremembered my own name when asked.......... AnnMarie...OH thats wonderful. I am so happy that your Mother's introduction to Anne will be by reading The Ship Who Sang...she couldn't start out any better IMHO!!! Bring her by MoM sometime, and well all be more than happy to talk ships with her... __________________ "To the Horsehead Nebula and back we shall make beautiful music"..."Together!" The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression,and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cut out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived........Howard Pyle

Nov 2 2008, 09:49 PM	#13
AnnMarie Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: On the Edge Gender: F Fan of: Pern and Talent Now Reading: The Name of the Rose	Re: Exhillarating reading about Helva's experiences Maelin, she tried reading one of the Pern books, and just couldn't get into it. She's almost finished with THE SHIP WHO SANG, so tomorrow will be another trip to the library for the rest of ship books. As far as getting her in here... don't hold your breath, dear. Mom uses her computer for email and siolitair and that is IT.

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