When critics discuss Anne McCaffrey's startling female characters, Killashandra Ree is a prime example. McCaffrey created Killashandra of the Heptite Guild of Ballybran in reaction to macho space operas, as well as in response to her own extensive knowledge of the opera world and its vocal standards. McCaffrey's female character has it all—a fulfilling career with extravagant perks and privileges, good looks, male attention, long life, and respect for her intelligence and power. But McCaffrey is also a foresighted reactionary. This maverick author (who admits to many similarities to Killashandra) honestly illustrates the drawbacks of this "success": the paradox of working hard to get away from crystal but being inextricably drawn back; and suffering infertility, debilitating memory loss, and alienation from other humans.

The Heptite Guild requires that applicants have "perfect and absolute pitch."

With this strange and stringent requirement, it is no surprise...