Dragon's Fire (The Dragonriders of Pern)

Book Description

Bringing fresh wonders and dangers to light in the skies of Pern, Anne McCaffrey and her son, Todd, who demonstrated his writing talents in the bestselling novels Dragon’s Kin and Dragonsblood, return with their second collaboration: a thrilling adventure of discovery and fate.

Pellar is an orphan taken in by Masterharper Zist. Though born mute, Pellar is a gifted tracker, and when Zist sets off to take over as harper for Natalon’s coal-mining camp, Pellar–along with his fire-lizard, Chitter–joins him on a secret mission of his own: to find out if reported thefts of coal are the work of the Shunned, criminals condemned to a life of wandering and hardship.

Halla is one of the children of the Shunned. Though innocent of their parents’ crimes, these children have inherited their cruel punishment. Lack of food, shelter, and clothes is their lot; hope is unknown to them. And what future would they hope for? Without a hold to call their own, there will be no protection for them when the lethal Thread inevitably falls again. Life is even tougher for Halla. Her family gone, she must fend for herself. Yet despite the brutality of her surroundings, Halla is kind and gentle, devoted to those more helpless than she.

As depraved as Halla is good, Tenim is in league with Tarik, a crooked miner from Camp Natalon, who helps him steal coal in exchange for a cut of the profit. But Tenim soon realizes there is a lot more to be made from firestone, the volatile mineral that enables the dragons of Pern to burn Thread out of the sky. Tenim doesn’t care what he has to do, or whom he has to kill, in order to corner the market.

Cristov is Tarik’s son. Dishonored by his father’s greed and treachery, the boy must make amends somehow, even if it means risking his life by mining the volatile firestone, which detonates on contact with the slightest drop of moisture.

When the last remaining firestone mine explodes in flames, a desperate race begins to find a new deposit of the deadly but essential mineral, for without it there can be no defense against Thread. But Tenim has a murderous plan to turn tragedy to his own advantage, and only Pellar, Halla, and Cristov can stop him–and ensure that there will be a future for all on the world of the Dragonriders.

Customer Reviews:

A disappointment.......2007-09-26

I love the Pern novels and was quite excited to see a new one. What a disappointment! Too much crammed into one book and none of it done well. The story lines would have made great books on their own (the firestone problem, the shunned, the mute harper, the watchweirs) but by trying to include it all in the same book, the story lines lost any impact they may have had. The characters were not well devleoped, the timelines became confused. What a mess!

Better would have been to create multiple books with overlapping characters and better develop the story lines. Anne has certainly done it before and it has worked really well.

While it is in my collection, I doubt I will read it very often.

Reads like microwaved leftovers taste.......2007-08-28

I'm sorry to say this is by far the worst writing I've read in a long while. Calling it a young adult's book is no excuse, as there are many worthy titles in that category. As another reader describes it, the characters, timeline, and locations are impossible to follow...and what's worse, I am halfway through and I don't really care to finish. Perhaps I should at least try, as at least the two main characters are likeable even if I have no idea where they are, where they've been, or what their purpose is. (Having finished reading now, I can confirm that the book remains poorly written through to the end.)

well, it isn't the best.......2007-07-24

Since following the first serialized episodes of the Dragons of Pern trilogy in the late 1960's, I have looked forward to the Pern books (novels, short stories, etc). This one falls below the usual quality, and altho's I gave it 4 stars initially I think that it might rate 2 stars on reflection. (It has been a long interval since my last read of a book on Pern!)

The first think that I reacted to were the egregious typographical errors. Then there are the grammatical errors--missing words, scrambled sentences, additional nonsensical words...often requiring the reader to use context to make some sense of the sentence (or even, paragraph). Then there is the herky-jerky way the book is put together. This is reminiscent of the collaborations between Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon (books I have avoided like the plague) where it is painfully obvious that 2 different authors are colliding in the same book.

Next, character development is sketchy. The "personae" page lists 2 characters (Cayla and Carissa) whose parts in the book are brief and who contribute nothing more to the storyline except a brief insight into who and what Pellar is. And Pellar, who should have been a strongly developed character, is, despite his presence throughout the book, strangely 1 dimensional. The same holds for Tenim. And the denouement between Pellar and Tenim lacks any real drama or ability to engage the reader. Much the same can be said for almost all characters. Halla is the best developed, but still tends to be sketchily drawn.

Overall the book is like an ensemble TV series that tries to do too much with too many "stars"; some get their moment(s) while others come and go or just languish in the scenery until they are dismissed. To fully develop this book and its cast would have taken maybe 2 books--something that Anne McCaffrey has not been afraid to do in the past. I'll try the other books (Dragon's Kin, Dragonsblood and Dragonholder) I haven't yet read. I'll get back to you on those.

Why????.......2007-06-17

Is Anne Mccaffrey losing her falculties that she is just aggreeing to allow her son to write these "stories"? Anne, take your meds and open your eyes, your son is destroying the Pern series. Stop agreeing with him. Stop writing with him. He is ruining your masterpiece. Everytime I see a new Pern book with todd McCafrey's name on it, I cringe. I read it in the store first. If I like half the story, then I will buy it. This story is ridiculous. A mute harper? harpers are supposed to teach through song. How does a mute harper do this, through sign language? The "Shunned" reminds me of the "others" in Lost. I miss my heros, Lessa, F'Lar, Brekke, Menoly, Robinton, F'Nor, T'gellan, etc. I miss my heros.

Long live Pern, it was great while it lasted. May it rest in peace.

Worst Pern Book Ever.......2007-05-28

I found this book to be the worst of the Pern series. How the same author (Anne McCaffery) who brought us the incredible Dragonriders of Pern original series could put her name on such a lame novel is beyond me. Although many of the spin-off books have not been of the same quality as the original, they were still highly enjoyable and generally believable. This book however, relies on gimmicky cliches, obvious devices to effect the reader's emotions and is just unbelievable: 4 days to create a working mine with three shafts and an entire Hold? Sort like Genesis...;-)

The hit-you-over-the-head social commentary about the "shunned" is also pretty unbelievable as is the redemption of several of the characters and the ultimate turnaround in the end. The very real world of Pern created in the earlier books is shattered by weak plot lines, one dimensional characters and poor writing. It seems like this book was merely written so Todd McCaffrey could benefit financially from the Pern franchise.

MasterHarper of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern)

Average customer rating:

The Masterharper of Pern
Finally, background on the Masterharper
Great if you like Sci Fiction
If you love Robinton...
Favorite

MasterHarper of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern)
Anne Mccaffrey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345388232
Release Date: 1998-01-12

Book Description

Pern: a beautiful world colonized by humans, terrorized by the deadly spores called Thread, and defended by magnificent flying dragons. Anne McCaffrey's bestselling tales of this planet have yielded a multitude of unforgettable characters. And now, after years of urging by devoted readers, one of the most popular denizens of Pern takes center stage in a novel that chronicles his extraordinary life.

Along with the dragonriders, perhaps none are so revered on Pern as the harpers, whose songs record history, warn of the coming of Thread, and prepare Pern's people for the future. And no one is more influential than the Masterharper of Pern. The son of renowned composer Petiron and gifted singer Merelan, Robinton is a prodigy from birth and enjoys a special rapport with the telepathic dragons. But it is a time when Thread has not been a threat for centuries, the harpers have fallen into disfavor, and one despotic man is plotting to take over Pern. In this climate of unrest, Robinton will come into his own . . . driven by his belief in music, in the dragons, and in the salvation of his beloved Pern.

Download Description

In a time when the deadly scourge Thread has not fallen on Pern forcenturies -- and many dare to hope that Thread will never fall again --a boy is born to Harper Hall. A musical prodigy who has the ability tospeak with the dragons, he is called Robinton, and he is destined to beone of the most famous and beloved leaders Pern has ever known.

It is a perilous time for the harpers who sing of Thread -- they arebeing turned away from holds, derided, attacked, even beaten. In thisclimate of unrest, Robinton will come into his own. But despite thetragedies that beset his own life, he continues to believe in music andin the dragons, and he is determined to save his beloved Pern fromitself -- so that the dragonriders can be ready to fly against thedreaded Thread when at last it returns.

"At last, Robinton has his own book... McCaffrey adds another absorbingchapter to dragon lore... Readers will revel in this compellingcharacterstudy of a fascinating personality."
    ROMANTIC TIMES

"The story takes wing... when McCaffrey's beloved dragons roar and theirriders soar upon the beasts' mighty backs... Fans of Pern will likely beenthralled."
    PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"McCaffrey succeeds again in depicting the serenity and beauty ofdragons in their symbiotic relationship with humanity on a world calledPern."
    BOOKPAGE

Cover art by Brom

Customer Reviews:

The Masterharper of Pern.......2007-10-02

Very enjoyable. Not a book easily put down even if you are not a Pern fan.

Finally, background on the Masterharper.......2007-05-23

I found this history of Masterharper Robinton to be interesting, although some of it seemed contrived (the last chapter). It does fill in many of "the blanks" that we had about the Masterharper, and it explains some of Sebell's background as well.

Overall, I liked it. It is a great addition to the Pern series.

Great if you like Sci Fiction.......2007-05-13

The Pern series of books from Anne McCaffery are great. Better if you read them in order, (look online at her website for recommendations). This is futuristic science fiction, but if you liked Aregon, you would probably like this series too

If you love Robinton..........2007-04-26

There are so many good reviews of this book already. I will only say this: if you love Robinton as so many Pern fans do, this is his long-wished for background story. As well as one of the best Pern books, IMHO.

Favorite.......2007-04-09

I have read all of Mrs. McCaffrey's books and I totally Love them! This one though, The MasterHarper of Pern, is my favorite. It might be just because MasterHarper Robinton is one of my favotite characters, but I think it is the most well written and emotional book out of all of them. If you even partially like her other books I think you will love this one. It is a very good read, especially if you have read or plan on reading all of her other books about Pern.

Average customer rating:

Pleasurable and wonderous!
There be Dragons!
Excellent Book
Great book
EXCELLANT

Dragonriders of Pern
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0345340248
Release Date: 1988-10-12

Amazon.com

Anne McCaffrey's Pern is one of the most memorable worlds in science fiction and fantasy. Humans and their flying dragon companions live in fear of thread, a caustic, deadly material that falls sporadically from space. But when the thread doesn't fall for a long time, people become complacent, forgetting that it is the brave dragonriders who can save them from the periodic threat. But when the thread falls, human and dragon heroes must fight the scourge. This edition encompasses the first three unforgettable novels of McCaffrey's epic series: Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon.

Book Description

Finally together in one volume, the first three books in the world's most beloved science fiction series, THE DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN, by Anne McCaffrey, one of the great science fiction writers of all time: DRAGONFLIGHT, DRAGONQUEST, THE WHITE DRAGON. Those who know these extraordinary tales will be able to re-visit with Lessa, F'lar, Ruth, Lord Jaxon, and all the others. And for those just discovering this magical place, there are incomparable tales of danger, deceit, and daring, just waiting to be explored..

Download Description

Here, finally together in one volume, are the first three books in theworld's most beloved science fiction series by one of the great sciencefiction writers of all time, Anne McCaffrey: Dragonflight,Dragonquest, and The White Dragon.

Those who know these extraordinary tales will be able to re-visit withLessa, F'lar, Ruth, Lord Jaxon, and all the others. And for those justdiscovering this magical place, there are incomparable tales of danger,deceit, and daring, just waiting to be explored....

Cover design by Richard Aquan
Cover painting by Michael Whelan

Customer Reviews:

Pleasurable and wonderous!.......2007-09-10

This trilogy and the Harper Hall trilogy were the first adult SF-Fantasy I read as a voracious 7th grader. I felt so very grown up, even when I had to look up words and re-read pages to understand the socio-political machinations. I loved the world of Pern and it set a benchmark in my mind that few authors have met since then. I recently rediscovered these books in my childhood cache. Twenty-five years later, I'm as enthralled as I was then. Now that's good fiction!

There be Dragons!.......2007-08-24

I have had a lifelong love of all things dragon and have long been a fan of Anne McCaffrey and her Dragonriders of Pern series. Such a fan, that I've read my paperback versions again and again until the only thing holding them together were rubber bands! Thus began my quest to find hardbound copies and thanks to Amazon this became a reality. Anne McCaffrey's Pern, dragons, and their riders capture the and imagination of young and old. I recommend this series to avid SciFi/fantasy readers as well as anyone that enjoys a well written, action packed story. After all, just yesterday, space flight was considered Science Fiction!

Excellent Book.......2007-07-31

The concept of genetically altered Dragons so that a colony can prosper is an amazing concept. I love these books!

Great book.......2007-07-27

I have been reading the the Dragonrider books for many years. I never tire of them. Great story, great writing.

EXCELLANT.......2007-06-14

As with all the Dragonrider books """***EXCELLANT***"""!!!!!!!!!!

All the Weyrs of Pern: Dragonriders of Pern, Vol. 11

Average customer rating:

A time for every purpose under heaven
Great if you like Sci Fiction
A Nice Return To Pern
An epic book
Very Satisfying

All the Weyrs of Pern: Dragonriders of Pern, Vol. 11
Anne Mccaffrey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345368924
Release Date: 1991-10-08

Download Description

For generations, the dragonriders had dedicated their lives to fightingThread, the dreaded spores that periodically rained from the sky toravage the land. On the backs of their magnificent telepathic dragonsthey flew to flame the deadly stuff out of the air before it could reachthe planet's surface. But the greatest dream of the dragonriders was tofind a way to eradicate Thread completely, so that never again wouldtheir beloved Pern be threatened with destruction.

Now, for the first time, it looked as if that dream could come true. Forwhen the people of Pern, led by Masterharper Robinton and F'Lar andLessa, Weyrleader and Weyrwoman of Benden Weyr, excavated the ancientremains of the planet's original settlement, they uncovered thecolonist's voice-activated artificial intelligence system -- which stillfunctioned! And the computer had incredible news for them: There was achance -- a good chance -- that they could, at long last, annihilateThread once and for all!

Cover art by Michael Whelan

Customer Reviews:

A time for every purpose under heaven.......2007-05-25

Overall, I have really enjoyed reading the Dragonriders of Pern series. I must say though that this particular tale didn't do a whole lot for me at first. The story builds on the events related in an earlier book, "Dragonsdawn", a book I found rather dull and slow going. In the first hundred pages so many characters were mentioned that I seriously considered making a flowchart to help me keep them all straight. I felt the Artificial Intelligence Voice-Address System did far too much talking, and I wasn't keen to see the Aivas implement the industrialization of Pern.

But about half way through the book, the dragons take flight and the story really kicks into high gear. You'll need to tighten your riding straps as Aivas sets in motion a chain of events that literally changes the future of Pern. I stayed up way too late just to see how the story ended.

This is definitely a must read book in the series. It is also a satisfying read with a bittersweet resolution that leaves a lump in your throat.

Great if you like Sci Fiction.......2007-05-13

A Nice Return To Pern.......2006-12-24

This is the fourth Pern book I've read, the first three being Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon. I skipped Renegades of Pern on the advice of Amazon reviewers, and I was able to slip back into the Pern universe without any trouble at all. Really, the only thing I missed seemed to be the digging up of the nearly sentinent computer, Aivas, and within the first few pages of All the Weyrs of Pern McCaffrey begins to describe what this will mean for her planet of telepathic dragons and their riders.

Aivas is full of more knowledge than the people of Pern have held for a long time, and is more than willing to share it. Most importantly, he knows a way to eliminate Thread from Pern forever- a plan that will take nearly five Turns to play out. All the Weyrs of Pern tells the story of those five Turns. Some Holders and Craftsmen are hesitant to trust Aivas, even going so far as to refer to him as "the Abomination", and try and vandalise things the Craftsmen make as a result of Aivas's teaching.

Characters that were secondary, like Piemur and Sharra, grow in All the Weyrs of Pern, and some light is shed on some that we've known in the Pern universe for a long time, such as Masters Robinton and Fandarel. F'lessan also gets a brief chance to narrate, and his few chapters were one of my favorite parts of the entire book. Still, there was one character that continued to annoy me to no end- Jaxom.

He was spoiled and arrogant in The White Dragon, but that was easier to shrug off, as it didn't do anything to the plot. In All the Weyrs of Pern Jaxom gets even more spotlight, as his white dragon Ruth proves that his good qualities far outweigh the bad. Jaxom seems to take this as a reason to be openly haughty to characters like Lessa and F'lar, and you can't help but wonder how he gets away with it, especially when he turns around and orders Ruth not to "show off", exactly what he himself is doing. It's annoying the no one can seem to do anything without Jaxom and Ruth's help, and how Jaxom somehow ends up as the leader of sorts of Landing. What made him so much more capable than the other young characters that were also learning from Aivas? At least back in The White Dragon I didn't care about Sharra...now it seems that Jaxom doesn't even deserve her.

All the Weyrs of Pern leaned more closely towards science fiction than fantasy, unlike most of the Pern books before it. Since McCaffrey considers her works as science fiction, this is to be expected, and I didn't mind. Though this wasn't my favorite Pern book, it was a very nice closing to the former Pern era, with flying Threadfall as the main plot point. I'm looking forward to reading The Skies of Pern, and seeing what happens next.

An epic book.......2006-08-28

I read this book right after Dragonsdown, and I found it really good. It shows you quite a different background from the Pern Series, but it is nevertheless a really good book in which old Pern and today Pern meet to give birth to a new Pern. I suggest it to every fan of the Dragonriders.

Very Satisfying.......2006-08-10

This is a better follow up to the Original Dragonrider series overall than the Renegades of Pern. It focuses on the attempts of most of the major characters from the original Dragonriderand Harper Hall series to alter the course of the red star to end the threat of thread for future generations with the help from AIVAS, the intelligent computer undearthed at the original settlers' landing area. It jumps around between characters a lot like Renegades, but it has a more cohesive story line. The ending is poignant and somehow fitting.

The only complaint is that there are some inconsistencies between this and the earlier books and also even within the books. For instance, Jancis and Piemur share their first passionate embrace (and perhaps a bit more) literally only a day or two before they help to unearth Aivas in Renegades. Yet in the opening scene of All the Weyrs (which is a continuation of the closing scene of Renegades), everyone knows them as a couple. Also, Jancis is a Journeywoman smith at the end of Renegades, but is introduced as a master in the opening chapter of All the Weyrs. Later people refer to her as a Journeywoman again and later again as a master. That seems like something that should have been caught by editing.

There are some other inconsistencies as well. In earlier books (Dragonquest and the White Dragon) it was impled that all dragons could travel in time if their riders knew when they were going and could visualize it (and the visualizations were often pretty vague like the rainforests of Nerat at Dawn in Dragonflight). Later it was suggested that some dragons (like Ruth) were better at doing it on their own intuition, but it was still implied that all dragons, even inexperienced ones, could do it if their riders knew when they were going. N'Ton even said in the White Dragon that "He didn't know of a weyrling who didn't use that trick occasionally to be on time somewhere." In All the Weyrs it is implied that only some of the bronzes and queens (and Ruth) could time it at all unless given very clear coordinates by another dragon with a good time sense and in fact, they were kept in the dark about the fact that they were timing it during some of their missions to the red star (even though this draconic ability was no secret thanks to Lessa's adventures in Dragonflight). Aside from this bing different from what was implied in earlier books, there is a bit of an elitist notion that crops up from time to time in these books of "only telling most people what they really need to know" that is a little irksome to me, but that is a personal bias. Interestingly, this societal predilection is also blamed in the books for the loss of so much of the ancients' knowledge, so maybe this dilemma is not lost on the author.

One question I have is that in the earlier books it was implied that the "red star" stayed in the inner soalr system (and was quite visible) spinning out thread for the entire 50 year pass. McCaffrey changed it so that the Red Star came in and out somewhat more quickly but left thread ovoids behind crossing Pern's orbit. Neither explanation is completely satisying from a astronomical view as comets and with siliar periods are in and out of the inner planetary area within a few months and Pern's orbit would only intersect the path of the red star a couple of times per year at most. But some scientific license is needed in most science fiction books.

Still it is a good book that should satisfy Pern fans. It is not a good book for someone who hasn't already read all or most of the earlier Pern books, however, but that is the case with later books in most series.

Average customer rating:

Dragon's Kin
Great if you like Sci Fiction
Watchwhers can do *what*?
Well, Todd has to start somewhere
A fan of McCaffrey & Pern

Dragon's Kin (The Dragonriders of Pern)
Anne McCaffrey , and Todd J. McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345462009
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Book Description

Beginning with the classic Dragonriders of Pern, Anne McCaffrey has created a complex, endlessly fascinating world uniting humans and great telepathic dragons. Millions of devoted readers have soared on the glittering wings of Anne’s imagination, following book by book the evolution of one of science fiction’s most beloved and honored series. Now, for the first time, Anne has invited another writer to join her in the skies of Pern, a writer with an intimate knowledge of Pern and its history: her son, Todd.

DRAGON’S KIN

Young Kindan has no expectations other than joining his father in the mines of Camp Natalon, a coal mining settlement struggling to turn a profit far from the great Holds where the presence of dragons and their riders means safety and civilization. Mining is fraught with danger. Fortunately, the camp has a watch-wher, a creature distantly related to dragons and uniquely suited to specialized work in the dark, cold mineshafts. Kindan’s father is the watch-wher’s handler, and his son sometimes helps him out. But even that important job promises no opportunity outside the mine.

Then disaster strikes. In one terrible instant, Kindan loses his family and the camp loses its watch-wher. Fathers are replaced by sons in the mine–except for Kindan, who is taken in by the camp’s new Harper. Grieving, Kindan finds a measure of solace in a burgeoning musical talent . . . and in a new friendship with Nuella, a mysterious girl no one seems to know exists. It is Nuella who assists Kindan when he is selected to hatch and train a new watch-wher, a job that forces him to give up his dream of becoming a Harper; and it is Nuella who helps him give new meaning to his life.

Meanwhile, sparked by the tragedy, long-simmering tensions are dividing the camp. Far below the surface, a group of resentful miners hides a deadly secret. As warring factions threaten to explode, Nuella and Kindan begin to discover unknown talents in the misunderstood watch-wher–talents that could very well save an entire Hold. During their time teaching the watch-wher, the two learn some things themselves: that even a seemingly impossible dream is never completely out of reach . . . and that light can be found even in darkness.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

Young Kindan has no expectations other than joining his father in the mines of Camp Natalon, a coal mining settlement struggling to turn a profit far from the great Holds where the presence of dragons and their riders means safety and civilization. Mining is fraught with danger. Fortunately, the camp has a watch-wher, a creature distantly related to dragons and uniquely suited to specialized work in the dark, cold mineshafts. Kindan's father is the watch-wher's handler, and his son sometimes helps him out. But even that important job promises no opportunity outside the mine.

Then disaster strikes. In one terrible instant, Kindan loses his family and the camp loses its watch-wher. Fathers are replaced by sons in the mine -- except for Kindan, who is taken in by the camp's new Harper. Grieving, Kindan finds a measure of solace in a burgeoning musical talent... and in a new friendship with Nuella, a mysterious girl no one seems to know exists. It is Nuella who assists Kindan when he is selected to hatch and train a new watch-wher, a job that forces him to give up his dream of becoming a Harper; and it is Nuella who helps him give new meaning to his life.

Meanwhile, sparked by the tragedy, long-simmering tensions are dividing the camp. Far below the surface, a group of resentful miners hides a deadly secret. As warring factions threaten to explode, Nuella and Kindan begin to discover unknown talents in the misunderstood watch-wher -- talents that could very well save an entire Hold. During their time teaching the watch-wher, the two learn some things themselves: that even a seemingly impossible dream is never completely out of reach... and that light can be found even in darkness.

Customer Reviews:

Dragon's Kin.......2007-07-17

It was just a minor challenge to switch to Todd's writing style as opposed to Anne's. Todd deffinately was familiar with the whole of Pern, and after the first chapter or so, you can just cruise through the story. A fitting following for the next generation.

Great if you like Sci Fiction.......2007-05-13

Watchwhers can do *what*?.......2007-02-09

I bought this book with high hopes for the continuing saga of Pern. All I can say at this point is that Todd obviously has a "get out of canon free" card. The characters were mildly interesting, but I found myself shaking my head over the number of times he "Mary Sues" the watchwhers. Part of what makes Pern, Pern, are the dragons, whers and firelizards. When the basic design and function are changed, and extra abilities are added to the unique creatures (like the whers), it makes me not want to continue reading the series.

I have just about *every* Pern book out there (including the hard-to-find "The People of Pern") but I will not be adding any of these collaborations to my collection of Pernese gems.

Well, Todd has to start somewhere.......2007-02-01

What a legacy for a son and new author. A ready made world to work with. Anne McCaffery has created a fantasy world that has entertained me since the very first book. And she is passing that torch on to her son.
As his first attempt, Todd did a pretty good job. Howerver, it seems that whenever a book is co-authored, the results are a little mixed. And in this case, they had a tough challenge. Are there any new story lines for this planet?
What I loved about this book is the Watch whers have been ignored, by the author and the characters. And Wind Blossom has been reviled for not being as good as her mother when she created these ugly creatures that were not as cool as dragons.
Dragon's Kin tells the story of how watchwhers were originally used and what their talents are in the role of protecting Pern and it's people. I was excited to learn that they can be impressed and bonded to humans and that they can fly and kill thread. What a "revelation". But just how did this information ever get lost? That is a little off.
I like the book as I like most of the Pern series. I am willing to see what Todd can do on his own.

A fan of McCaffrey & Pern.......2007-01-21

This book is "in the tradition" of the great saga of Pern & it's dragons. For all of us McCaffrey fans the book/the story fills in the gap between significant events and storylines in the lives of "dragonfolk" and those that they protect. For fans who found the books that delt with discoveries and pioneers of "First Landing" in the Southern area of Pern the story is plausible and pleasing.

I'm far from being a child, I am a fantasy fan who prefers not to read about odd ugly creatures(to me the dragons are odd but exempt from "ugly") so the stories of pern create another world that is not too bizarre to be entertaining. As a former libray assistant I got hooked because McCaffrey's books were in both the children's collection and the adult collections. I started reading to find out why. I'm hooked for life. I hope that Mom And Son persevere.

Average customer rating:

Dragonquest
Not Free SF Reader
Great if you like Sci Fiction
Dragonquest audio CD
Dragonquest, by Anne McCaffrey

Dragonquest (Dragonriders of Pern)
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345335082
Release Date: 1986-10-13

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Dragonfire

Another Turn, and the deadly silver Threads began falling again. So thebold dragonriders took to the air once more and their magnificent flyingdragons swirled and swooped, belching flames that destroyed theshimmering strands before they reach the ground.

But F'lar knew he had to find a better way to protect his beloved Pern,and he had to find it before the rebellious Oldtimers could breed anymore dissent... before his brother F'nor would be foolhardy enough tolaunch another suicide mission... and before those dratted fire-lizardscould stir up any more trouble!

Cover art by Michael Whelan

Customer Reviews:

Dragonquest.......2007-10-02

Explains how dragons and their riders managed to combat thread and what happened when thread ended.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

In Dragonquest, generational tensions abound between the old generation of Dragonriders brought from past to help fight off the threads, and also the current generation.

The various F guys try to ameliorate this with mixed success, and violence and death does happen.

Some technological advances to let one brave pair try and check out the source of the Thread menace in space.

Great if you like Sci Fiction.......2007-05-13

Dragonquest audio CD.......2006-08-25

Dick Hill, as on other Pern audio CDs does a masterful job. I've read the books, but listening to this CD, particularly as I drive to and from work, is a joy. This series by Anne McCaffrey is my all-time favorite and I never tire of it. This audio CD brings it to life beautifully.

Dragonquest, by Anne McCaffrey.......2006-07-17

This sci-fi classic has long been one of my favorites. The whole Pern series in fantastic! Anne McCaffrey has created a world that most readers will find so engaging that they will find themselves thinking about it and its characters as if it were some real place and real people/creatures "out there". I still find myself wishing that there were real fire lizards and Pernese dragons here on Earth! Having started reading the Pern series while in college, I am now passing on my enthusiasm for these books to my teenage children.

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Dragonflight
Not Free SF Reader
Again Anne Creates a wonderful Fantasy
Original and wonderful
Hurrah for Dragonflight!

Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern)
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0345484266
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Book Description

HOW CAN ONE GIRL SAVE AN ENTIRE WORLD?

To the nobles who live in Benden Weyr, Lessa is nothing but a ragged kitchen girl. For most of her life she has survived by serving those who betrayed her father and took over his lands. Now the time has come for Lessa to shed her disguise—and take back her stolen birthright.

But everything changes when she meets a queen dragon. The bond they share will be deep and last forever. It will protect them when, for the first time in centuries, Lessa’s world is threatened by Thread, an evil substance that falls like rain and destroys everything it touches. Dragons and their Riders once protected the planet from Thread, but there are very few of them left these days. Now brave Lessa must risk her life, and the life of her beloved dragon, to save her beautiful world. . . .

From the Paperback edition.

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After ten long Turns, Lessa was ready to come out of hiding, to reclaimher birthright and to impress the young dragon queen and becomeWeyrwoman of Benden.

Suddenly, the deadly silver Thread once again threatened all Pern withdestruction. But the mighty telepathic dragons that for centuries haddefended Pern were now few in number, not nearly enough to protect theplanet in its hour of greatest peril. So Lessa hatched a daring anddangerous scheme: Rally support from people who had long ago ceased toexist.

Customer Reviews:

Dragonflight.......2007-10-02

Very good read. You will like thsi book; adds to the story of Pern in a logical way; although it can stand on it's on as a stand-a-lone story.
Recommend you check the flyleaf to find other stories about Pern

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Every few hundred years the planet of Pern suffers from an astronomical blight. Nasty fiery stuff rains from the sky, laying waste to the civilisation.

That is, if the Dragonriders and their associates can't stop it by using their sentient huge flying lizard partners, who can handily teleport.

Keeping this animals and their pilots trained and housed costs money, and given the Threads have not fallen for a long time, no-one likes to donate this money anymore, and Dragon and Rider numbers are too low.

Again Anne Creates a wonderful Fantasy.......2007-07-18

I'm not a big reader of fantasy type books, but when I want a great fantasy that will send me to another world then I read Anne McCaffrey's books. In this story she has created an awesome, delightful tale that is a super read for all Pern fans. The plot, the characters, the scenes make this book a top-notched novel for my collection. I highly recommend this novel.

Original and wonderful.......2007-07-17

I read Dragonflight when I was about fourteen, and at first couldn't get into it. It wasn't that the plot was boring, it just started out slow, and it wasn't that the writing was BAD, exactly -- it was more that it was just there, without many insights into the characters' minds, without any small jokes or amusing phrases. It wasn't bad, it just seemed rather dry.

That's not to say the first half of the book wasn't good. It was. I particularly liked the scene where Lessa is bonded to Ramoth (gory though it may be) and you feel it with her, the confusion at loving such a brutal creature, but also the knowledge that you can't stop loving it -- I suppose, in that regard, that the writing fulfilled its job nicely. I also enjoyed the characterization of Lessa as she somehow manages to get her teachers to leave her alone every time they start to argue -- I did think that was funny. But it wasn't until the second half that my eyes were glued to the page.

McCaffrey pulls of time-changing quite well, at once clearing up the mystery of the first half and providing a solution for the second. It's a masterful ending for the whole thing, and brought my rating up from three and a half stars to a full five, which isn't easy to do. In case anyone here HASN'T read this book, I won't give it away, but trust me when I say: even if you dislike the beginning, the book is worth reading simply for this one twist.

Oh, one more thing. While the story is fantastically original in everything from the dragons to the planet of Pern to the Threads -- I really have to congratulate McCaffrey on the concept of *between*. (*Bemoans lack of italics*.) She pulls it off excellently, along with the terror being trapped in *between*, and it was one concept I can honestly say I've never read about. Good work!

Highly recommended.

Rating: Very Good

Hurrah for Dragonflight!.......2007-06-07

I'm so frustrated with noninformative and somewhat shallow reviews I've read here, that I've decided to write one of my own. (Yes, like F'lar, I am completely arrogant). No really, I think there is so much more to this book than has come to most folks' attention.. -- if you're just going to say "good story but kinda boring so i'm not sure that I liked it and i think its a stupid story", it seems like a waste of space, but that's just me.

I read Dragonflight first when I was eleven. I didn't get most of the subtleties, but I enjoyed the story, and was spurred to continue on with McCaffrey's Pern series -- mind you, not exactly an appropriate choice for a barely-preteen, but neverthess... When I was, say, fourteen or so I found a copy in the bookstore, and remembering my once-favorite series, dug into it voraciously, this time paying more attention to the finer points of the Lessa/F'lar relationship, noticing things for the first time that I hadn't picked up on as a less mature human being. I was so excited and felt so grown up. :) Now I'm in my late teens, and in this latest read my perceptions are shifted even again. I'm totally fascinated by the power of the personalities of our two main characters -- their intelligence, their comprehension, their ability to manipulate events successfully without the other charries knowing it (outside from the canonical psychic abilities already bestowed upon the dragonriders). However, the point of that monologue was to impress upon you, dear reader, that Dragonflight is an intelligent and multifaceted book which, aside from being an exciting read, has a enough substance that it can be enjoyed from many differerent angles, as can many of our favorite classics.

Which raises the question -- is Dragonflight a classic? Believe it or not, it did come out in 1968, the same year as the infamous TV series Star Trek's second season. By most accounts, TOS is classic. But when we compare with Anne McCaffrey's wonderful novel, one thing comes to light -- DF doesn't "feel" old. Ok, so then I didn't grow up in the sixties, but that said I watch far too much Turner Classic Movies to not be able to accurately place a decade to a work. For all I knew DF came out sometime in the 90's. This I feel, is due to the difference of gender roles between the two. While in TOS, the big three are all men, and out of all those extras, only one woman is ever in any working position on the bridge, in DF I never had the sense that Lessa had been exposed to even the smallest taste of that expected model... I feel, in fact, that there is a backlash to such, as typified in countless postfeminist novels aimed for thirteen year old girls. Girls can ride dragons too! Actually, according to the back flap of my copy, Anne McCaffrey made it her business to overturn the ridiculous characterizations of women in SF. If so, bravo for her; she's done an excellent job.

I feel like a lot of people see this book in light of the rest of the Pern novels, and I would like to posit that DF stands alone in a certain sense. Firstly, it was written without conception (or so I'm guessing) of the long series to follow -- this is one that I could read as a stand alone and be satisfied that it had really, really ended. In the second installment it was pretty obvious that the author had to create some new problems so that she could actually have a plot. Also, stylistically, it feels different, and fresh. As is inevitable when book after book is churned out on the same place/subject, certain cliches begin to form... Also, there is something about the way she places information which wasn't repeated later on, where I feel the books began to get more literal -- but that's just how it seems to me drawing from five year old impressions...

In conclusion, if this is a classic, then may I state here that it is not one in the way of Terry Brooks, or even JRR Tolkein (*resists impulse to state divisive opinion about LOTR*). It's so much more fresh and readable and applicable to real life. If you didn't enjoy it, I'm sorry, but I hope you'll read it again later and get more out of it.

Now wasn't that a wonderful, concise, entertaining and informative review...? Just kidding. In most things, I'm pretty modest, I promise. :)

The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern Vol 3)

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The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern Vol 3)
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345341678
Release Date: 1986-11-12

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A fantasy of a time when...

Never had there been as close a bonding as the one that existed betweenthe daring and adventurous young Lord Jaxom and his extraordinary whitedragon, Ruth. Pure white and incredibly agile, Ruth was a dragon of manytalents, though almost everyone on Pern thought he was a runt that wouldnever amount to anything.

But Jaxom knew better, knew he could teach his dragon to fly and todestroy the deadly silver Threads that fell from the sky. Disobeying allrules, Jaxom and Ruth trained in secret. Their illicit flights seemedbut a minor disobedience -- until they found themselves in the path ofdanger and in a position to prevent the biggest disaster of all!

"At last we have the long-awaited tale of Jaxom, a ruler who became adragon-friend by chance, and Ruth, the white dragon, alone of his kind.If only one could hunt up a spaceport and invest in a ticket to Pern! Atleast The White Dragon gives us the illusion of such a joy."
    ANDRE NORTON

"The White Dragon is a triumph!"
    MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY

The Renegades of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern Series)

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The Renegades of Pern
Great if you like Sci Fiction
The Renegades of Pern
Renegades of pern
Pern readers, don't miss this one!

The Renegades of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern Series)
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0345369335
Release Date: 1990-08-13

Book Description

As long as the people of Pern could remember, the Holds had protected them from Thread, the deadly silver strands that fell from the sky and ravaged the land. In exchange for sanctuary in the huge stone fortresses, the people tithed to their Lord Holders, who in turn supported the Weyrs, whose dragons were Pern's greatest weapon against Thread.

But not everyone on Pern was part of that system of mutual care and protection, particularly those who had been rendered holdless as punishment for wrongdoing. And there were some, like Jayge's trader clan, who simply preferred the freedom of the roads to the security of a hold. Others, like Aramina's family, had lost their holds through injustice and cruelty. For all the holdless, life was a constant struggle for survival.

Then, from the ranks of the criminals and the disaffected, rose a band of renegades, led by the Lady Thella. No one was safe from Thella's depredations, and now her quarry was Aramina, reputed to have a telepathic link with dragons. But when Thella mistakenly vented her rage on Jayge's family, she made a dangerous mistake. For Jayge was bent on revenge . . . and he would never let her have the girl who heard dragons!

From the Hardcover edition.

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As long as the people of Pern could remember, the Holds had protectedthem from Thread, the deadly silver strands that fell from the sky. Inexchange for sanctuary in the huge stone fortresses, the people tithedto their Lord Holders, who in turn supported the dragonriders, Pern'sgreatest weapon against Thread.

But not everyone on Pern was protected. Some had been rendered holdlessas punishment for wrongdoing. Some, like Jayge's trader clan, simplypreferred the freedom of the roads to the security of a hold. Others,like Aramina's family, had lost their holds. And they all feared theoutlaws who preyed on holds and holdless alike.

The Lady Thella's renegades were the most dangerous yet -- all theyneeded was Aramina, whose telepathic link with dragons could help themevade the dragonrider patrols. But Jayge was out to stop Thella... andhewould never let her have Aramina!

Customer Reviews:

The Renegades of Pern.......2007-10-02

Very good. I knew I was hooked on the Pern stories when I started buying them in hardback instead of waiting 6-8 months for the paperback.

Great if you like Sci Fiction.......2007-05-13

The Renegades of Pern.......2004-07-04

I was somewhat dissapointed by this book. This is the 2nd one in the Pern Series I read, I had just finished all the Wyers of Pern before. I really enjoyed the large role the dragons got to play in Wyers of Pern, this book lacks it. You don't really get to see into the telepathic relationship the riders have with their dragons. It's exciting, but I really miss the dragons. The wyers are put into a bad light early on, and I was confused about the Leadership of Benden Wyer, when did F'lar and Lessa take over? The book is okay, but she's done better.

Renegades of pern.......2004-05-29

I recomend this book if you are reading the entire Pern series in chronological order. Renegades will seem choppy if you read it alone and most of the secnes will not make sense if read before the other books. Renegades fills in a lot of time gaps that reading the others leave out. I recomend this book to all Pern fans.

Pern readers, don't miss this one!.......2004-05-11

When I first read this book, years ago, I remember being a little disappointed. It wasn't as good as the Dragonflight trilogy or even as good as the Harper Hall trilogy. I'm re-reading the series in chronological order now, and I want to warn people not to listen to the negative reviews!

Yes, it's maybe not quite as enjoyable, it tells stories of the less-pleasant sides of Pern life, but it also tells things that you must hear if you want the whole story. You must read Renegades in order to be properly set up for All the Weyrs of Pern. This is the book that, if nothing else, tells more about the initial excavation of Landing and the discovery of AIVAS, and it introduces Jayge and Aramina of the Paradise River Hold from Dolphins of Pern.

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The dragonmakers

The beautiful planet Pern seemed a paradise to its new colonists --until unimaginable terror turned it into hell. Suddenly deadly sporeswere falling like silver threads from the sky, devouring everything --and everyone -- in their path. It began to look as if the colony, cutoff from Earth and lacking the resources to combat the menace, wasdoomed.

Then some of the colonists noticed that the small, dragonlike lizardsthat inhabited their new world were joining the fight against Thread,breathing fire on it and teleporting to safety. If only, they thought,the dragonets were big enough for a human to ride and intelligent enoughto work as a team with a rider...

And so they set their most talented geneticist to work to create thecreatures Pern so desperately needed -- Dragons!

"Anne McCaffrey 'remains a master of the well-told tale.'"
    CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

"Few are better at mixing elements of high fantasy and hard sciencefiction in a narrative that disarms skepticism by it open embrace ofthe joys of wish fulfillment."
    NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

"This is must reading for fans of the The Dragonriders of Pernseries..."
    SAN DIEGO TRIBUNE

Cover art by Michael Whelan

Customer Reviews:

Dragonsdawn.......2007-10-02

The story of the development of a young Harper and her fire lizards is very good.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

The new colonists on the planet Pern had chosen it because it looked like a pretty nice place to live. It is, except for that rather destructive thread menace.

They have to come up with a way to fight the menace, with resources available locally, as what they have brought with them won't do much. They turn to genetic engineering when they notice what the little lizard types they have adopted as pets can do. Make 'em bigger!

Great if you like Sci Fiction.......2007-05-13

WELL, I FINALLY STARTED THIS SERIES.............2006-10-09

After years of putting it off, why, I don't know, I finally broke down and started. What a pity. I have certainly been missing some very good reading. Anne McCaffrey in certainly a natural story teller and so far I am finding her delightful. I realize that this book probably is not truely a good example of the actual Dragonrider Series, but being somewhat familiar with the story line, I found it a good place to start. Yes, there was a bit more "tech talk" than I usually enjoy in a fantasy type novel, but that is okay as it was quite necessary, in this case, to tell the story. It, the tech talk, was not overwhelming and did add to the story which would have been difficult to understand the origins of the Dragonriders without. The story runs smoothly, is interesting and I felt the character development was quite good. All in all, late though it may be, I am glad I started reading these books and will now start with the next. Recommend this one highly.

Back to the beginning.......2006-08-28

My first book from the Pern series was the White Dragon (Dragonriders of Per), it was the on that won me on this saga. I was really thrilled when I found a book which was going to tell the story of the first dwellers of Per and the book did exactly that:it tells the story from the beginning, the only fault may be the end: too sudden, left me with a sens of anticipatin non fully satisfied. Made me look for next book thoug.
If you like to have a look at what the people of Pern loose during the many years passed from the colonization of the planet, this book is a must-read, even if I can't say it has the same driving writing as the Dragonriders of Pern series. Good book.

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