Parts of Nimisha's Ship are reminiscent of the melodramatic intrigue
and romance among lords and ladies in Anne McCaffrey's first SF novel,
Reestoree (1967). Here, though, danger and drama are downplayed
while the course of true love--plus the joy of friendship--moves to
center stage. Nimisha, heir to her mother's wealth and high status,
tomboyishly prefers the spaceship yards of her absentee father. She
sneaks off to work with him and emerges as a gifted ship designer. One
day, testing a splendid new space-yacht, she falls through a wormhole
to a far-off region of the galaxy. This contains a planet of
unfriendly beasties--mostly leathery-winged avians, easily shot down
by Nimisha's yacht AI--and stranded wormhole victims: a haggard human
party easily put right by medical treatment, and midget aliens who are
easily befriended. Romance soon blooms for Nimisha, and she settles
down to have the nicest human castaway's babies (twins, then
triplets). Meanwhile, rescue missions are on the way, one by the long,
slow route and one by accidental wormhole encounter. Happy family
reunions follow, with a certain twinkly charm but no real suspense or
surprise. It's a comforting, unthreatening read: McCaffrey addicts
will love it, but newcomers may prefer to start with her tougher,
grittier SF adventures like the classic Dragonflight.