Dragonsblood (Dragonriders of Pern)

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.

Dragon's Kin (a novel of Pern)

Dragon's Kin by Anne McCaffrey and her son Todd McCaffrey is one of the many wonderful books that take place on the planet Pern. Anne began the series in 1968 and Todd joined her in 2003.

Kindan, the son of a miner, lives with his father and siblings in the new mining camp of Natalon. If the mine proves successful, it will become a viable hold and part of the holds, forts, and weyrs that make up the civilization of Pern.

Kindan's father and his watch-wher, a cousin to dragons, help in the mines to keep the miners safe. A watch-wher can see i the dark and is useful for sniffing out bad air and communicating it to his or her human.

When an accident leaves Kindan an orphan he move in with his teacher, the Harper, to learn the way of becoming a Harper. Though he is of course sad about the loss of his father and brothers, he never wanted to be a miner so this may be the chance to change his future. But the accident also left the mine without a watch-wher, which puts the miners in greater danger.

In this tale of helping your community versus pursuing your dreams, the McCaffreys have created another tale that fans of Pern will devour. The entire Pern collection is made up of great storytelling, fantastical creatures, and endearing characters. It is a must read for all fantasy and science fiction fans as well as those who just love a great story.

McCaffrey, Anne and Todd. (2003). Dragon's Kin. New York: Del Rey.

The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall

The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall is yet another Anne McCaffrey book about life on Pern. This one is a collection of stories that fill in the blanks between some of the other books.

In The Survey: P.E.R.N. we finally find out how the name got its name. The first humans ever to set foot on Pern spend ten days determining whether the planet is fit for human settlement.

The Dolphin's Bell is the story of the escape from the Southern continent with the volcano erupted and covered the original settlement in ash and lava. The dolphins brought from Earth play a great part in the escape.

The Ford of Red Hanrahan is the settling of Ruatha Hold.

The Second Weyr is the founding of the second, third and fourth weyrs when the number of dragons got too large for Fort.

Finally, Rescue Run is the story of what happened when the emergency message that was sent in the ninth year on Pern is intercepted by a ship - almost 50 years later. The team that lands on Pern is headed by Admiral Benden's (the leader of the settlers journey to Pern) nephew.

Although I don't normally like stort stories (they end right about the time they get interesting) this is an intersting chronicle of what happened between the other novels about Pern.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1993). The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall. New York: Del Rey.

Anne McCaffrey's books of Pern

I have now read eleven of Anne McCaffrey's book that take place on the planet of Pern. They have all been great. My one complaint along the way was not knowing the order in which to read them. So, here are two ideas for you. One is recommended by Anne McCaffrey (I found it in the 10th book) and the other is in chronological order in the history of Pern.

McCaffrey Recommeded Order:

Dragonriders Trilogy:
Dragonflight
Dragonquest
The White Dragon

Haper Hall Trilogy: (overlaps time with Dragonriders trilogy)
Dragonsong
Dragonsinger
Dragondrums

Dragonsdawn

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern

Nerilka's Story

MasterHarper of Pern

All the Weyrs of Pern

The Skies of Pern

(4 others - don't know the order.)

Historical Timeline:
It may be that if you read them in historical order you miss things that were revealed by the order thye were written in...

Dragonsdawn - the founding of the planet by people from Earth and nearby planets.
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern - A plague strikes the Northern Continent
Nerlika's Story - Overlaps with Moreta, plague from a different point of view.
MasterHarper of Pern - the story of Robinton
Dragonflight - The story of Lessa who becomes Weyrwoman of Benden Weyr
Dragonquest - A trip back in time to save Pern
The White Dragon - Ruth and Jaxom of Ruatha
Dragonsong - Story of Menolly of Half Circle Sea Hold
Dragonsinger - A continuation of Dragonsong
Dragondrums - The story of Piemur
All the Weyrs of Pern - The discover of the computer Aivas
The Skies of Pern - A new role for dragonriders

Other books (I haven't yet read and will fit add to lists later)
The Renegades of Pern
The Dolphins of Pern
The Chornicals of Pern: First Fall
Dragonseye
Plus books written by Todd McCaffrey that continue the series?

The Skies of Pern (Pern)

The Skies of Pern is the eleventh book in the series by Anne McCaffrey that began with Dragonflight.

Now that the path of the Red Star has been altered and the last Pass is coming to an end, dragonriders need to think about what they will do After. They have always protected Pern from Thread; always kept the skies of Pern safe.

However, the more immediate concern is that a meteor is headed straight for the planet. Best case, it will miss and continue on through space. If it does hit Pern and it lands in the ocean, a tsunami will be released. Will the dragons be able to evacuate coastal holds in time?

McCaffrey, Anne. (2001). The Skies of Pern. New York: Del Rey.

All the Weyrs of Pern (Pern)

All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey is tenth book in the Dragons of Pern books, which began with Dragonflight.

At the end of the last book (chronologically, not by publish date but in the time of Pern) Jaxon and Ruth found part of the original settlement. Contained within this facility is the computer Aivas, an artificial intelligence that has been waiting almost 2500 years to hear what happened to the settlers, when they fled the southern continent.

Now Aivas will help the dragonriders, craft halls and holders catch up on the technology that was lost. All in an attempt to destroy Thread forever.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1991). All the Weyrs of Pern. New York: Del Rey.

The Masterharper of Pern

The Masterharper of Pern is another of Anne McCaffrey's dragon riders books. Chronologically in the history of Pern (as opposed to publish date) it precedes Dragonflight.

A boy is born in the Harper Hall. His parents are the MasterComposer and the MasterSinger. Perhaps not surprisingly, Robinton begins to show his musical abilities at the age of three. He begins to compose songs before he is ten.

The Masterharper of Pern is the life story of Robinton, from birth to the time the Dragonflight book takes over.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1998). The Masterharper of Pern. New York: DelRey Books.

Nerilka' Story (A Novel of Pern)

Nerilka's Story is yet another dragon book of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. The time frame of the story overlaps with Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern.

Nerlika is the oldest daughter of the Lord of Fort Hold. Her father is not a great and generous man like the Lord of Ruatha Hold, Lord Alessan (whom we met in Moreta). The first chance she has, Nerlika runs away from to help the people suffering from the new illness that has struck the northern continent of Pern.

For the first time in her life Nerlika, now going by Rill, will be judged on her own character instead of who she is related to. And she will prove herself worthy of praise in the work she does to help the ill and rebuild Ruatha Hold.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1986). Nerilka's Story. New York: Del Rey Books.

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern by Anne McCaffrey tells of life in a Weyr of Pern through the eyes of the Weyrwoman of Fort Weyr. (A weyr is any place that houses a dragon.)

It is nearing the end of a pass of Thread, the parasitic substance that falls from the Red Star and threatens life on Pern. The dragonriders are counting the days until the end of the pass when life will resume a quieter pace. After almost 40 years, they deserve their rest.

But then, without warning, a runnerbeast falls ill. Soon hundreds of beasts and people succumb to the strange new illness. Old records are searched by all who can read - trying to find a mention of this plague in the past.

All must work together to find a cure for this new influenza while maintaining a vigilant watch on the Thread at the same time. The most hopeful news, that the virus does not affect dragons, is the only thing that may save life on Pern.

Moreta and the others who have recovered must find a way to protect Pern from this new threat.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1983). Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. New York: Del Rey Books.

Dragonsdawn (A Novel of Pern)

Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey is the first book in her dragon books about the planet Pern. It was not the first written, but it is in the history of Pern, the first.

The book begins with the space ships holding the people who will settle on Pern - the only people other than the original survey team 200 years ago - to set foot on the planet. The colonists signed up to go to Pern because they were tired of the way Earth and its settled neighbors had been depleted. On Pern they will do their best to live in harmony with the planet instead of destroying it.

Fire-lizards are one of the first animal species found. A cross between a lizard and the mythical dragon, fire-lizards are soon the favorite pet of everyone on Pern. Which is fortunate when, eight years after landing, a strange Thread falls from the sky burning every organic thing in its path. The fire-lizards help to fight the Thread by burning them with their dragon breath.

The new settlers will have to learn to cope with this new and potentially devastating problem if they are to survive their new life on Pern. Of course, with the 18+ books that McCaffrey has written about life on Pern, there is hope that the colonists will survive.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1988). Dragonsdawn. New York: Del Rey Books.

Dragondrums (Harper Hall Trilogy #3)

Dragondrums is the final book in Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall Trilogy. This book follows the adventures of Piemur, Menolly's first friend at Harper Hall.

Piemur came to the Hall as a singer. He was always forced to sing the girl parts, as there were no female harpers and his voice was in the right range. But when he arrived he was young and his voice had yet to change. What use will he be at Harper Hall when his voice starts to change?

Luckily the Masterharper has a plan for Piemur that does not use his singing voice. He will be apprenticed to the Masterdrummer. Drums are used in Pern to send messages between Holds, Forts and Weyrs.

Piemur, being known as much for his pranks as for his voice, gets himself into trouble as easy as he breathes. How will he get himself out of the mess he get into at a Gather in Nabol Hold?

McCaffrey, Anne. (1979). Dragondrums. New York: Bantam Books.

Dragonsinger (Harper Hall Trilogy #2)

Dragonsinger is the second book in Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall Trilogy following the story of how Menolly became the first female Harper.

This second book covers Menolly's first week at Harper Hall. She and her fire lizards arrive at the hall where, for the first time in her life, she is encouraged to sing and play music. But it is not all fun. She has many lesson still to learn about her chosen craft.

And many will not respect her right away for being the first woman in her field. Menolly will have to find a way to fit in if she is to stay and become a Harper. Luckily, she is the first person at Harper Hall or Fort Hold. She will be asked to tell others what she knows as they impatiently await the hatching of their own fire lizards.

Will Menolly be able to convince others that she belongs at Harper Hall? Will she be able to convince herself?

McCaffrey, Anne. (1977). Dragonsinger. New York: Bantam Books.

Dragonsong (Harper Hall Trilogy #1)

Anne McCaffrey's books of Pern are addictive! Dragonsong is the first book in her Harper Hall Trilogy about Menolly of Half Circle Sea Hold, the first female Harper. We first met Menolly in the Dragonriders of Pern Trilogy, but in this series we learn much more about the memorable character.

Half Circle Sea Hold is all about fishing. It is one of three holds on the ocean the divides the two large continents on Pern. Like the life of any fishing village, there is much work to be done, usually in schedule with the tides and weather. The only part of her daily life that makes Menolly happy is when she is with the Harper. She loves to sing, play music and make up songs. She would be a natural to take over for the old Harper if she was a boy. But there has never been a female Harper.

When the old Harper dies, she gets to fill in for him while his replacement is sent from Harper Hall. Her father, the Holder, does not want the new Harper to know that a girl filled in teaching the children, for fear of disgracing the Hold. When Menolly is no longer allowed to play music and sing, she decides she cannot live in the Hold any longer. She runs away. She does not know that the old Harper wrote to the Masterharper about her before he died. The Masterharper, being so impressed with her songs, sends searcher in every direction to look for her. If he can find her, she will be able to sing and play music to her heart's content. He would let a gift like hers go just because she is a girl.

But, will they find her? How will she survive on her own? Will she be able to live in a cave with the fire lizards?

McCaffrey, Anne. (1976). Dragonsong. New York: Bantam Books.

The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern #3)

The White Dragon is the third book in the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy by Anne McCaffrey.

At the end of the second book, a white dragon is born in Pern. He is the first white dragon ever born. Many think the small dragon has not developed enough to survive. But the boy who Impresses his has higher hopes for this dragon. He wants the dragon, Ruth, to be able to learn to eat firestone and fight Thread like other dragons. He is only half the size of the others, but he is incredibly agile while flying.

And his rider, the boy who helped Ruth out of his shell, doesn't seem to conform to the normal dragonrider. He is, in fact, not allowed to become an official dragonrider - partly due to Ruth's small size, and partly due to other obligations. This doesn't, however, stop them from doing things that other dragonriders would be afraid to try. Like Lessa's jump back in time in the first book, this dragonrider will make a leap that will save all of Pern.

I can't say much else without giving anything away. This is a great series. My only complaint is that out of McCaffrey's 18 books, I don't know if any continue the story where The White Dragon leaves off. I am not ready to let go of these characters!

McCaffrey, Anne. (1978). The White Dragon. New York: Del Rey.

Dragonquest (Dragonriders of Pern #2)

Dragonquest is the second exciting book in Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern trilogy.

Dragonquest begins seven years after the first book ends. Treads are still falling from the Red Star, threatening to destroy all plant life on Pern. At the beginning of the Treadfall in the first book, a miraculous between time trip saved the planet.

Now there is a clash of cultures between the Oldtimers and the contemporary Weyrs. There is dissent between the dragonriders and the crafters and the land holders. Something must be done to keep all working together against the Thread.

A few of the more vocal Holders don't understand why the dragons can go between places on Pern but cannot just go between to the Red Star and fight the Tread at its source. It would be a suicide mission for any dragonrider to attempt it, but what other way will the non-dragon people of the Pern be satisfied that the dragonriders are doing their best to protect them?


McCaffrey, Anne. (1971). Dragonquest. New York: Del Rey.

Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern #1)

Dragonflight is the first book in Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. It was originally published in 1968. At last count the books that take place on the planet of Pern number 18! I will be reading them all, but the first trilogy is the Dragonriders.

It has been almost 400 years since the planet of Pern has been threatened by the Red Star. They are a part of the same solar system (Rukbat), but their orbits vary greatly. When the Red Star is close enough, it sends Thread onto Pern to try and take over the more temperate and hospitable planet. It is the job of the dragons and the dragonriders who ride them to keep Pern from being invaded.

But after 400 years, the traditions seem little more than legend or superstition. The Weyrs, where the dragonriders live, have always been supported by the Holds of the upper reaches. The Holds supply food and goods to the Weyr in return for protection. The Holds are getting a bit tired of tithing to a group they don’t think does anything but lay around and eat their food.

Ten years ago, Ruath Hold was taken over by a neighboring lord who slaughtered all with the the blood of Ruath. Or did he? Lessa has been hiding in plain sight for ten years, waiting for a time to reclaim the Hold in the name of her family. At the same time, a Search is going on for a woman to become the next Weyrwoman of Benden Weyr – someone to Impress with the soon-to-hatch dragon queen. And though Lessa has been able to hide her power from Fax, the ruler of her Hold, she may not fool the dragonriders as easily.

Some of the dragonriders are aware of the Red Star becoming more prominent in the dawn sky. But they will need the help of all, including a strong Weyrwoman if they have any hope of surviving the next Thread invasion.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1968). Dragonflight. New York: Del Rey Books.