Nimisha’s grew up on Vega III in an aristocratic society where she had the best of everything. On her father’s tragic passing she is left in charge of her father’s Ship Yard to everyone’s surprise. She builds a space ship called the Mark 5 and takes it on a solo test run for what was supposed to be six weeks. Something unexpectedly goes wrong and she ends up light years away from home on this planet she named Erehwon. She there finds the true meaning of love with no contract. While she is coping with a new life enemies make attempts to ruin what she has left behind on Vega III.Nimisha Boyton Rondymense is a strong female lead character that is a beautiful feminine woman that is as smart and talented in a field that is considered to be for men. She was always encouraged by her father, Lord Tionel Rondymense, to follow her talent that she had with putting apart and assembling robotic things. Tionel Rondymense is a man who had always aided Nimisha on her interest with tinkering with robotic things. He saw past her gender and encouraged her talent and hard work which in turn granted her the entire Rondymense Ship Yard. Nimisha’s mother, Lady Rezalla, apprehensive to the whole thing still ensured that her daughter know about fashion and decoration like a woman should but she also made sure that Nimisha was well educated, protected and not taken for a fool. Rezalla is very feminine and believes a woman should behave like a lady at all times, but she knows that a woman should have a good head on her shoulder with good education to hold a long lasting position in as aristocratic society. Jeska Mlan a young woman who is Nimisha’s bodyguard and good friend learns as much as Nimisha about space ships and is as interested as she is in mechanical things. She works side by side with Nimisha in the Ship Yard and they are very talented women who are in control and head of the Ship Yard. They are in high positions and their gender did not dictate what they would do in life but their own talents, wit, effort and intelligence which now a days is very true in life and the author does a very good job in portraying that.The book for me was ok, I did like it but I wished it had a little more adventure, and it was somewhat of a slow read. I would recommend the book to someone else because I think it is a good start into science fiction and a good way to ease into it because Anne McCaffrey is a witty, funny, and imaginative writer. The story is relatable because some women still have the issue of gender roles controlling some aspects of their lives and this book sheds light on the fact that women can have a job, be smart, talented, and are able to handle family life with having a partner that views you as an equal.
Set in the future when space travel is commonplace, Nimisha's Ship is a light and enjoyable scifi book. Nimisha is the Body Heir of a powerful woman who has the courage and ability to separate herself from what is expected of one of her class and birth.She shows talent for designing space ships and is able to have the life she wishes, doing so.On a trial run shakedown cruise of her latest design, she is lost in space. The book deals with how she copes with her new, alternate lifestyle.This book is pleasant, nonviolent, very very minimal sexual references that are necessary for plot development (definitely low PG) that would offend only the very strictest Evangelical families. It is a good portrayal of a strong self sufficient but not obnoxious woman.I recommend it highly for ya's over 10-12 depending upon maturity and also for adults who like a good, fast moving, light read.
What do You think about Nimisha's Ship (2000)?
This is one of Anne McCaffrey's 'Robinson Crusoe' stories, and much as I love the early books, I found this one dull because it recycled her favourite motifs: a place you get stuck in with a chap, lots of lovely stuff you can use on the planet and loot from the spaceships, people who become your pals, some horrid people who don't understand and some super aliens. (I'm not saying there's anything wrong with all this, you understand, it's just all there was.)I did like the idea of the heroine's family tattoo around her neck. On the 14th birthday a real necklace is put on the neck in a debutante-type ceremony. No weddings in this world. There is nothing wrong with the book, really - so if you like her later books, and don't want a plot, you'll like this one.
—Louise Armstrong
I didn't want this one to end! What an old sook I am. I thoroughly enjoyed this little Planetary Romance. The biggest source of tension for me was not whether plucky Nimisha and the smelly castaways would ever get found on challenging Erehwon, but whether steadfast Caleb, taking four long years to find her, would only arrive to get his heart broken upon discovering she'd shacked up with a stud! (And become the mother of the nation, what's more. What astonishing fecundity.) Mercifully, testosterone and boredom took their course on the way there and some other little space tottie kept that spot warm. A tad convenient really. Rather like the bull dyke captain's itchy exit. Not that I'm splitting body heirs. This was very entertaining. A testament to the late Anne's excellent storytelling really, because this is a story without an antagonist. Her cosmetic surgery-addled half brother didn't count because we never actually met him. He was only ever referred to. Ditto Lady Whats-her-name, his bitch mother. I guess the pterodactyls behaved antagonistically, along with the giant slugs, but they weren't strictly characters, lets be honest. No, basically, this is book full of people - and Shim - acting well. Noble behaviour followed by yet more noble behaviour. And it works. I loved the Shim. Temporarily forgotten how to spell them but that hasn't reduced my affection any. Also loved Nimisha's glamorous mum. She deserves her own planetary romance, I say. More power to her.
—Luke Devenish
Anne McCaffrey is one of my favorite authors. While I'm fairly sure I've read this book, it's been a long time. I had a difficult time getting into the book with its third-person perspective. Nimisha and Cuiva were just a little bit too perfect. I liked the side characters but I disliked that the mystery of who was trying to kill Cuiva was left unsolved. I would have liked to have learned more about the alien species... and the raising of Tim.It's a good book but not one of McCaffrey's best.
—Laura
