Dragonsblood by Todd McCaffrey is a continuation of the Dragonriders of Pern started by Anne McCaffrey. This is the first novel written about Pern by someone other than Anne McCaffrey.When the Red Star gets to close to the planet Pern, the skies of Pern rain Thread - an organism that will destroy the planet if allowed to burrow into the soil or plants. In order to combat Thread, the first human settlers of Pern altered the genetic code of fire-lizards to create a creature like the dragons of Earth lore. The dragons can breathe fire and destroy the Thread while it is still in the sky.
All of society developed on the need for dragons. Dragonriders live with the dragons in Weyrs, others live in Holds that supply food and goods to the Weyrs. The Dragons, in turn, protect the planet from Thread.
Told in two times, the current dragonriders are concerned that some dragons are getting sick. As they search through the records they find no evidence of dragons ever getting sick. They have lost the technology and ability to create cures. And all dragons are needed as Thread will begin its latest fall soon.
450 years in the past, the last geneticist, Wind Blossom, is trying to figure out a way to leave the knowledge to treat dragons if they ever get sick. Because without dragons, Pern will become barren and uninhabitable. They must find a way to hide the information for safe keeping but have it ready to be used in the future.
The ability that makes this happen is that dragons and fire-lizards can go between places in the blink of an eye and they can also go back in time. When a fire-lizard appears and falls out of the sky, Wind Blossom will use the last of the antibiotics to heal him. Then she will begin the process of saving the future of Pern.
Todd has done a great job carrying on the stories of Pern. He has captured the same feel as the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey. Fans of the original books will be thrilled to see the series continue.
McCaffrey, Todd. (2005). Dragonsblood. New York: Del Rey Books.
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