Rachel in Love

Pulphouse Short Story Paperbacks #48

by Pat Murphy

Winner of the 1987 Nebula Award!

Rachel has the mind of a teenage girl, but the body and the innocent heart of a young chimp. Sometimes when she looks at her gnarled brown fingers, they seem alien, wrong, out of place. She remembers having small, pale, delicate hands with painted fingernails. Memories lie upon memories, layers upon layers, like the sedimentary rocks of the desert buttes.

Aaron Jacobs, the man Rachel calls father, was a neurologist who discovered how to capture the electrical pattern of a living brain’s thoughts and memories. When his daughter died unexpectedly, the grieving father imposed the electrical pattern of the girl’s brain on a young chimp, creating Rachel, a chimp he recognizes as his daughter.

Rachel knows that she is a real girl – but when Aaron Jacobs dies, she must make her way in a world that treats her as nothing but an animal.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Animals, Science Fiction Fantasy

46 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1987

About the author

Pat Murphy’s latest short story collection is called "Women Up to No Good," a title that describes Pat’s attitude in general. Pat writes about strong women who are not afraid of making trouble.

Pat's fiction has won multiple awards for her science fiction and fantasy works, including the Nebula Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Philip K Dick Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Award, and the Christopher Award. Her latest novel, "The Adventures of Mary Darling," is a historic fantasy -- a subversive take on Peter Pan (with a side helping of Sherlock Holmes). It will be out in May 2025 from Tachyon Publications.

Reviews

[Simon]

This was such an interesting and poignant story, I really was blown away by it.

[jo]

this is a short story. i don't know why someone decided to publish it as a book. maybe because it's so good? it's good and sweet and adorable.

[H.K. Stubbs]

I love this highly acclaimed story that deals with scientific ethics in a moving way. I recommend it to anyone who loves animals or is interested in scientific ethics or likes sci-fi.

[OpenBookSociety.com]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/ra...

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro

Spoilers!

I remember, very blurry, as a child watching a movie where chimps were being exposed to radiation through top secret experiments. At the end, they are saved by two human friends who help them escape by using a military plane. And, for those who know what Fullmetal Alchemist is, I’m sure you remember an emotional episode where Ed and Alphonse come across a chimera that was once a little girl they had met before. All of these, even more reason to read this. Rachel in Love by author Pat Murphy is a story whose plot goes somewhat along those lines, revealing an amazing little adventure which I can’t describe with the proper words how good it was to read.

This is one of those stories that deserve a happy ending after all the difficulties the characters go through and for a moment I was afraid that the author wouldn’t give her leading role one. Throughout these few pages, we feel sympathy for Rachel who is taken away from what she has come to know as her home, into a world of humans that don’t seem to understand her plea that she is a real girl like them.

I became very fond of this story, not just because of the author playing with the idea of working with the brain and its memories, but also because of the transformation of Rachel’s personality of a child watching movies and reading bedtime stories to a mature female embracing the cruel reality of the world.

Among those bad moments, the author also gives Rachel happy ones that for a moment, in my opinion, make the reader think that she will be driven away from her goal, when she becomes friends with the night janitor by communicating with ASL you see her get used to the secret comfortable life of a chimp at a lab at night, giving the impression that she wants to stay there after all.

But, where do we find the “love” in Rachel in Love? Everywhere if you read well The author brings back the theory of the brain and its memories making me remember that I once heard that smells activate memories. After being so much with the janitor, Rachel mentions that he reminds her of her father, of tobacco and whiskey, a reason why she later feels attracted to him. While Johnson, a male chimp, falls for the new girl just to be ignored.

My favorite part of this little chimp adventure, was definitely the ending, I couldn’t have asked for a better one. This is where you realize the maturity Rachel has come to acknowledge, finally leaving behind the teenage girl and both chimp and human, growing up.

If you’re in the mood for something refreshing and full of love, in its many ways, then this is the book for you. And if not, it won’t hurt you to give it a try. With a story as amazing as this, it won’t even take you less than an hour to enjoy a good read.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews]

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...

What does it mean to be a person? If the brain patterns of a human child are successfully transferred into a chimpanzee does that mean the subject deserves all of the rights and responsibilities of a human being? Imagine what it would be like navigate a society that doesn’t yet know it needs to grapple with these questions!

Rachel may not look like other girls her age but she experiences the same emotions: grief, love, fear, and hope. Her identity may be confusing to others but Rachel has integrated her memories of life as a human child with her new body. It was delightful to see how quickly she can jump from the strengths given to her by her chimpanzee side and the ones that came after the operation.

In certain ways Rachel was disabled by this experiment. She is quite intelligent but can only communicate through sign language due to how chimpanzee larynxes are positioned in their throats. She also lost some behaviours and instincts that inform chimpanzee behavior. Yet the same physiological and psychological differences that hold her back from fully participating in human society also enable this character to accomplish tasks that would normally be almost impossible.

I would have loved to learn more about the neurological experiment that takes place before the plot begins. Exactly how Rachel ended up with a humanlike brain was never described in great detail but as a lay person I wondered if the information the author did provide would make sense to readers who have backgrounds in neurology. The idea of preserving a personality after their death by transferring it to a new mind is fascinating. Often science fiction predicts medical advances years before they take place and I finished this story wondering if a future generation’s breakthrough was foreshadowed when this tale was originally released in the late 1980s.

The plot is so exciting and well-paced that this is a small criticism, though. The fate I thought Rachel would meet is not quite the one that ended up awaiting her. From the first page to the last I was caught up in what was happening to her and hoping that she’d find a way to master every obstacle in her past. Some plot twists were easy to predict but others were more surprising.

By the end of Rachel in Love I was asking myself an even better question that the ones that I asked at the beginning of this review: should human rights be restricted to humans? Sometimes ethical codes shift in a heartbeat for excellent reasons. What better way to explore them than by meeting someone as unforgettable as Rachel?

[Michelle Hofacker]

This is a very beautiful and powerfully written coming of age story. At times I forgot I was reading about a chimpanzee and not a teenage girl. The emotions evoked through the writing left me speechless and wanting more.
The fact that we are seeing everything through the eyes of young Rachel; as she experiences the consciousness of a teenage girl in her chimp body; then the death of her creator father, who has raised her, we watch as she experiences first love and has to find her way through all the changes thrust upon her; gives the story the unique perspective that it needs to draw you and keep you in Rachel's world.
This is an amazing story that in a way reminded me of a very soft, feminine and, of course, chimp-view version of Micheal Crichton's "Next".

[A. Dawes]

Rachel is a chimpanzee with very human memories of being a daughter to a man she lives with. When he passes, Rachel meets the outside world. A new-age story of science, and love, the human, and the animal. Achingly beautiful and a story I'd recommend to anybody. Murphy's finest work.

[Dave Harmon]

a short story of particular note

[San Dee]

what IS this, effin MONKEY PORN? i get that the author was trying to be all sci-fi by having a monkey with a "transplantation" of a teenage girl's conciousness, but..wtf? monkey-girl wears eye-shadow and drinks whiskey? monkey-girl writes to Ann Landers about how get the deaf, alcoholic janitor to have sex with her? monkey-girl presents her genitals to janitor in hopes of his "mounting" her?!! OH MY GOD!! 42 pages of total weirdness!

oh, and thanks, Justin, for loaning me this nice book. you can come over and pick it up, just look in the fireplace.

[Deborah Sastroredjo]

This was a very nice read. My only complaint is that it was short.
It is from a very different perspective and somehow it's about coming of age and growing up. I really recommend you pick this up

[Glen Engel-Cox]

I love this story. Strangely enough, I have a fondness for stories about primates gaining intelligence, this being one of the first that I read. What Murphy creates here is a version of “Flowers for Algernon,” except she puts both characters into one and drops off the part where the intelligence dissipates. That makes the story both painful in some ways and hopeful in others. Rachel, a chimpanzee who thinks she is human because of what her scientist “father” did to her brain, is captured after her father dies and placed in a Primate Research Facility. Her journey is marked by her ability to be both resourceful and suspicious, as she learns the about the facility, its inhabitants, and its keepers. Eventually, she makes a decision to escape, partly accompanied by a growing understand of herself. It’s an amazing story, done deftly. Highly, highly recommended.

[P Pits]

It's no surprise that this story won the 1987 Nebula Award. It's gutsy, poignant, clever, and beautiful. It blew me away and has stayed with me ever since.

Rachel is a young chimp, who also has memories of a teenage girl, curtesy of her mad scientist 'father' trying to preserve memories of his own lost human daughter. There is plenty of confusion with her hybrid nature, and Murphy controls this hybridity with mastery.

When her 'father' dies, Rachel has to make it in the real world, where not many recognise that she's more than your average simian.

This story has it all: imprisonment, notions of freedom, coming-of-age themes and so much more. It truly is one of the all time great stories. Do yourself a favour and read it!

[Anthony Buck]

Wonderful story, really enjoyed it

[Ramiro Barberena]

I loved this story. Beautiful and thoughtful.

[Hannah Wolfson]

Nice, strange little exploration of gender and humanity.

[Lynn]

Spoilers: What defines a human being, and how does the story explore this topic? What are Rachel's feelings about being "human" versus being "chimpanzee?"

When I look up the definition for human being as cited by Wikipedia, it is as follows: “Humans are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and large, complex brains. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, and language.” That being said, a human being, scientifically, is a primate/mammal that has the ability to decipher information on a certain level. In this story, my interpretation of this question is that the definition of a human is that of a compassionate thinking and feeling being.

This story explores this topic by utilizing first person narration from the perspective of a young female chimpanzee.

There seems to be a constant struggle through the chimp’s perspective in determining what/who she is. The mind (that of a teenage girl) would say that she is no different than Aaron or Jake, however appearances and biology are different. Rachel has been told that she is a girl (“a real girl”) her whole existence. In fact, her mind is of a young woman’s. Though she hasn’t necessarily agreed with this sentiment, it’s what she has been told. Once Aaron dies and she is exposed to “the real world”, it is only then that she really experiences what she is. A girl’s mind in the body of chimpanzee with the innocent heart of a chimp.

Rachel is bred from two vastly different worlds. The one of a caged animal superimposed with that of human girl. It seems that she is battling these polarized worlds the whole narrative, and that she cannot fully reconcile with one or another, until she finally decides to be with Jake/Johnson. Then they abruptly run away, as if to run away from her problems, much as a human teen would.

By the end of the story she seems to have come to terms with admitting to the world what she is. A human chimpanzee, neither one or the other. A so called “coming out” by going home and approaching the television crews.

And so, I believe that Rachel feels she is a human chimpanzee. Neither one or the other. Stuck between two worlds and having to decides what she can keep from one versus the other.

From the the information we receive, she seems to be the most human element in the story. It is evident that most of the human’s are incredibly selfish. Jake, the drunk janitor, the woman who almost didn’t report the chimpanzees (fighting her own selfishness to hold back information as not to be blamed for drinking on the job), even her father, though loving and capable, created Rachel out of his own human suffering and selfishness to further time with his daughter.

The selfishness is not limited to humans, however, and some is noted in the old chimp who doesn’t speak to Rachel and only does things for fruit from Jake. The other reversal is the human woman who offers Rachel water and fruit while she and Jackson are roaming in the desert. However, Rachel does indulge in her own selfishness by joining with Jackson and then escaping with him.

All in all, as a character, Rachel has all the nuances, struggles, complexities, emotional components (if not more) than any human struggle, reinforcing my belief that she is the MOST human element in this story. And I think she ultimately realizes this, and comes to terms with it by returning home.

[Myridia]

A very poignant story that tugs gently but persistently at your heartstrings. I was completely in love with Rachel, the innocent, intelligent young chimp with the imprint of a human girl's mind, trying to balance her two sets of memories and experiences in a world that starts out cold.

Perhaps the way she transcends her human/animal challenges come from the evolutionary relationship between the two species, but perhaps it's also due to a capacity for curiosity and compassion inherent in humans/animals in general... and maybe the line between the two was not all that clear anyway to begin with, and both deserve the same kindness and respect. Thankfully, despite the callous scientists who keep Rachel under lock and key for most of the story, there is enough kindness in the world that she finally regains her freedom while finding her identity along the way. I love how unique yet universal this story is in its themes - it will have an enduring place in my heart.

[Akemi G.]

I read this in Daughters of Earth: Feminist Science Fiction in the Twentieth Century. I love it. The protagonist, a chimpanzee with a teenage girl's mind and memory, is so endearing. When she is caught and detained, she goes full cycle of confusion, fear, negotiation, and finally independence. The story makes us think what it is to be a human, the relationship of love and sexuality, and so on, while it's totally interesting and adventurous.

[Jonathan Locke-Vincent]

Such a fascinating read and a wonderful piece in the history of women in sci fi. Asks questions about what it means to have your self and your subconscious memories put inside of an animal, and what from that other body's memories and self sticks around. Lots of discussions of consciousness, womanhood, gender, scientific ethics, animal ethics, disability, etc. Loved that there wasn't a clear antagonist throughout. Everything was left to the reader to weigh, and it made the story more powerful.

[Also, reviewing so that I can use this very short book for my 30 book goal. God bless being in a lit class, helps me reach my 30 books for the year!]

[Viky]

well, that was a ride...

[Tam Bowles]

Very classic sci-fi, with some very poignant and uncomfortable scenes, as a girl whose consciousness has been written into an ape's brain is left to learn how to cope on her own.

[Victoria]

WOW so weird.

[Carmella Coseo]

why am i reading about monkey sex from the perspective my a teenage girl/monkey

[S.J.]

After Rachel’s accidental death, her father, Aaron, who is somewhat of a rogue neuro-scientist, imposed the recorded electrical patterns of her brain onto the brain of a chimp. Rachel, in the chimp’s body, and Aaron live together in the desert, in seclusion, with no one aware of what was done. The rest of the novelette deals with the immediate aftermath of Aaron’s death.

I’m going to set aside the very sketchy, flawed, and scientifically unsatisfying explanation of how Rachel’s psyche is transferred into the chimp. That isn’t important to Rachel’s story. What is important is how she deals with the challenges and, most importantly, the feelings that are thrown at her. Most notably, Rachel has to deal with the powerful hormones of primate adolescence while she is never quite clear on her own identity. Straight as an arrow, the writer send us along with Rachel as she deals with what nature and her father have cobbled together for her. The simplicity of the story suits.

I enjoyed Rachel in Love. Besides keeping me engrossed and wondering what would happen next, it made me think about the meaning of love. What more can we ask for?

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a non-reciprocal, honest review. Goodreads Making Connections Group.

[Adinda]

Achter een wat goedkoop ogend omslag (voor lezers vanaf 13 jaar) schuilt een ontzettend goed, bevreemdend verhaal. De kleine chimpansee Rachel heeft de neurologische afdruk van een overleden tienermeisje geïmplementeerd gekregen, maar dan overlijdt haar 'vader' en staat ze er alleen voor. Ook psychisch sterk.

[Rick]

Unique story of girl in monkeys body.

[Justin]

An interesting little story. Dealt with issues of identity, social standards, and feelings of inadequacy. Also monkey-on-man seduction, so it's a definite must-read!

[Valentina]

very odd.

[Mace]

An interesting sci fi short story that could have easily been drawn out into a fantastic novel.

[Alexander Theofanidis]

Γλυκό, πικρό, τρυφερό, σκληρό, ένα διαμαντάκι της σύγχρονης (ελπίζω ακόμη να θεωρείται συγχρονη!) λογοτεχνίας πέρα από τα στενό κορσέ που έδινε κάποτε ο χαρακτηρισμός "Ε.Φ."