Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

Harry and Ginny _ General discussion _ Dragonriders of Pern

Posted by: Clinton Nov 18 2003, 06:39 PM

allright, anyone who reads the pern series, speak up, and tell us what you think of what book. Remember, try keep spoliers to a minimum, and have fun.

for me, I think that I have read everything in the pern series, though I am sure that I have missed one or two here and there

I have read:

Main Timeline
Dragonflight
Dragonquest
The White Dragon
All the Weyrs of Pern
The skies of pern

Harper Hall (Parallel to dragonflight, dragonquest, and the white dragon)
Dragonsong
Dragonsinger
Dragondrums

The Renegades of Pern (one book, parallel from the beginning of the present pass, to the beginning of All The Weyrs of Pern)

The Dolphins of Pern (parallel From the middle of All the Weyrs of pern, to somewhere in The Skies of Pern)

Prequels
Dragonsdawn (Arrival on pern)
Dragonseye (beginning of the second pass)
Moreta: Dragonlady of pern (dont remember how long after landing, but details Moreta's ride)
The MasterHarper of Pern (Details the life of Robinton from birth, to the point we are first introduced to him in Dragonflight)

I think that covers it, If I have forgotten any that I have read, I shall edit this post, and post another in this thread to inform people that I have edited.

Everyone else post what you have read, and discuss what your favourite is.

for me, I'd be hard pressed to choose a favourite, but I love the Harper Hall Trilogy, and the MasterHarper of Pern.
IMHO, the Harper Hall is the best crafthall there is

CCC

Posted by: Sparkosity Nov 19 2003, 03:06 AM

I've also read all of the Pern books, and love them all to death! My favorites are probably Dragonsinger, Dragonsdawn, and The Masterharper of Pern, although it's very hard to decide on just a few!

-Carlin

Posted by: Clinton Nov 19 2003, 08:36 AM

did I list them all??

I thought that I had missed one or two here and there

any more mccaffrey books you have read>

I also like the ship who sang series, and the petaybee trilogy.

I'll list the books later when I can string two whole thoughts together (IE, when I wake the hell up)

CCC

Posted by: RJOCL12 Nov 21 2003, 06:19 PM

BTW DRAGON"S KIN the new book is due out next week.

Robert

Posted by: Sparkosity Nov 23 2003, 05:30 PM

I know! I am so excited!

-Carlin

Posted by: RJOCL12 Dec 2 2003, 09:47 AM

BWT, you missed Nerilka's Story and the two Chose Your Way books by (I think) Judy Lynn Nye

Robert

Posted by: Willow Dec 2 2003, 05:27 PM

am i the only one that doesn't know wot ur on bowt?

Posted by: Clinton Dec 4 2003, 06:12 PM

QUOTE (RJOCL12 @ Dec 2 2003, 09:47 AM)
BWT, you missed Nerilka's Story and the two Chose Your Way books by (I think) Judy Lynn Nye

Robert

nay, and I need to

OOOOH, NEW BOOK, NEW BOOK!!!!

I wonder if it continues past the skies of pern

oh, I forgot to mention the chroncles of pern -- first fall

read that, and it clears up a lot of mysteries of why some holds are named what they are and other unresolved stuff from the main series, or dragonsdawn.

CCC

Posted by: hockeygod Dec 26 2003, 05:22 AM

What is the Pern Series? What is it about?

Posted by: Della_Luna Dec 26 2003, 10:32 PM

I'm with Jennie and hockeygod here...what are these books?

If they're as good as they seem I'll definitely want to give them a try!

Posted by: hockeygod Dec 27 2003, 12:12 AM

Me too!!!

Posted by: Willow Dec 27 2003, 12:03 PM

QUOTE (hockeygod @ Dec 27 2003, 01:12 AM)
Me too!!!

me three.

Sooooo? what are they about?

Posted by: Clinton Dec 29 2003, 12:17 AM

read 'em and find out, dears.

they're words. in a big long line. forming sentences and paragraphs. and they mercifully end.

CCC

Posted by: hockeygod Dec 29 2003, 03:43 AM

thank-you ever so much for that Clinton. now, someone that isn't in a nasty mood can give us a brief synopsis.

Posted by: allyk Jan 1 2004, 01:38 AM

I have only read 5 or 6 of the books, but they are a series about the world Pern. The people of Pern live in holds, each under the protection of one of the Weyrs (there is a lot of vocab...I'm not sure if I've got it all straight). The Weyrs are where the dragons and their riders live. The dragon chooses the rider, and they are bonded: one usually doesn't survive without the other. Dragons and the dragonriders fight Thread, which falls from the sky and eats (?) anything alive. My favorite Pern books are the Harper Hall trilogy, Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums...I think they are aimed at a younger audience. I haven't read any books by Anne McCaffrey in a while though...thats the best summary I can give. Each mini-series within the universe is about something different.

~ally

Posted by: hockeygod Jan 1 2004, 04:00 AM

Thanks allyk. See, Clinton, that's all we wanted. (hockeygod, off to buy Dragonsong.)

Posted by: Clinton Jan 1 2004, 06:50 AM

hockeygod, dont buy dragonsong first, buy dragonflight, dragonquest, and the white dragon

buy dragonsong, dragonsinger, and dragondrums next

they parallel dragonflight, et al, and you really need to read dragonflight etc. to understand the dragonsong etc (commonly known as the harper hall trilogy)

and I wasnt in a bad mood, I just figger its more fun to find out yourself.

the entire series really isnt a series, its rather convoluted and strange and bizarre the way things intertwine and stuff like that

well, thats all
now to start an orson scott card ender series thread.

CCC

Posted by: RJOCL12 Jan 1 2004, 09:50 AM

Jennie,

if you haven't read McCafrey's books then yuo've really missed something. They are FANTASTIC!

My favorite character is Master Robinton.

BTW, I've met Anne McCaffrey & got her autograph in one of my books. It was right after she finished writing All the Weyrs of Pern and had just sent it off to the publishers. We (the crowd at the bookstore) immediately volunteered to proofread it!

Glen Echo Theatre in the Washington DC area also did a theatrical play of Dragonsinger, which I went to opening night. Mrs McCaffrey even said the girl playing Menolly had her exactly as she envisioned the character.

I also have the very rare 1984 Dragonrider's calender featuring art by the Hildebrant brothers.

Robert

Posted by: Clinton Jan 4 2004, 02:49 AM

hehehe
I, too, love Master Rob, though I really like Menolly and Piemur as well.

it'd be hard to pick a favourite character, but if I had to, it'd be......dunno.....bah!

CCC

Posted by: Entropy Jan 15 2004, 05:20 AM

I'm assuming this isn't a touchy-feeling , never disagree board, but if it is just shoot me. I dare you.

I have read about half of the Pern stories (not in several years, mind you, but I have) and I was wondering if I was the only one who felt that McCaffrey's writing changed massively. I remember being irritated that when she would bring in characters from her other books their personalities would have changed a lot. I actually stopped reading the series after..... hmmmmmm, I don't remember the title and I don't know how to describe it without a major spoiler.
The one(s) where they brought in the lovely computer that fixes everything(or tries to). Also when she killed off one of the characters who's personality (in my opinion) she _didn't_ change. *Sigh* That was definately a throw-at-the-wall book, and not in a good way.
By the way, anyone want to make bets on whether or not they will ever make the t.v. series? I'm kinda hoping not.

Posted by: hockeygod Jan 15 2004, 04:36 PM

Thanks for that opinion Entropy. I have never read the books, and was contemplating if I want to. If I decide to I'll be on the lookout for changing personalities.

Posted by: Entropy Jan 16 2004, 02:18 AM

No problem. I would definately suggest reading a few, especially if you're just branching widely into scifi/fantasy. I just wouldn't buy any hardcovers of them without a read; there are books I would suggest more worth the money. I'd also suggest reading one of the first several (that she wrote, not chronologically).

Posted by: Clinton Jan 16 2004, 04:21 AM

I havent read the latest one yet, since I am too pake to spring for the hardcover. It was written with the help of her son, so I am not sure how it will be.

as for writing style changing, that's only understandable when one ages, and views and opinions change. As for the death of in the first "computer" book, it was understandable, and I cant say more without the spoiler bbcode tag.

CCC

Posted by: Entropy Jan 16 2004, 01:39 PM

I'm not talking writing style so much (the changes I saw with that were to the better), I'm talking about the fact that when she would bring some of her characters back in after a while they would be completely different people. (Of course I got in an argument about that with someone last night and they gave me an _almost_ acceptable reason. )
And as for the death, it was understandable and I'll admit I saw it comming, it was just that that happened to be just about the only character I still felt made the series worth reading.

Posted by: Entropy Jan 17 2004, 03:52 AM

Interesting thing happened today. Mind you, I haven't touched the PERN books for years, but when I came home I found a copy of Dragon's Kin sitting on the table for me to read. I skimmed it... not too bad, but I didn't read it closely enough to place it on the little 'timeline'.

Just felt like sharing that
~Entropy

Posted by: hockeygod Jan 17 2004, 04:51 AM

Whoa, that's a little freaky. Any idea how the book got on the table?

Posted by: Entropy Jan 17 2004, 06:22 AM

My Mum said she grabbed it for me when she saw it on the 'New Book' shelf. She does that occasionally (it's been a very long time since I've read any of the ones that she's grabbed, but she tries). *Sigh* Returning to my agonizing decision over which book to order from Amazon now (it's finally down to 3).

~Entropy

Posted by: Roxanne Jan 19 2004, 07:38 PM

I love the Pern books too, from WAY back. I have the first mass-market paperback editions of the first trilogy in the series (Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon).

I think one reason the computer seems so abrupt is that we as readers tend to get lost in the dragons and the medieval lifestyle and forget we're reading science fiction. I love "lost colony" stories (since I live in North Carolina, where there's a real-life one in our history), and to me, the computer and what followed brought the story full-circle, back to its origins and the prologue of the first book.

Robert, I'm so jealous that you've actually met the author! Ms McCaffrey is like a bellwether for me - if I see a blurb by her on another author's book, I'm almost sure to like it.

I don't have the last few in the series yet. I got sidetracked onto her Rowan series for a while.

Posted by: Ignotus Aug 25 2004, 03:37 AM

I've only read one of the series. Why? Can't find any of the others!

Posted by: RJOCL12 Aug 25 2004, 06:34 AM

If you haven't found them its because you haven't looked hard enough. Check any used book store, I can gaurantee you'll find some copies.

Posted by: Ignotus Aug 25 2004, 07:25 PM

But I've looked everywhere on the internet, and in my small town.. . . . .we only have ONE bookstore (B-A-M)

Even when I travel I look. . . .never can find the Pern series. . . .

Posted by: RJOCL12 Aug 25 2004, 07:41 PM

Books A Million doesn't carry the Dragonriders? Did you check with the store staff? Ask their customer service desk for help.

OKay, here are some suggestions.

Internet:

ABEbooks.com
Amazon.com (new or used books section)
Alibris

All are excellent book search engines.

Also, Barnes & Noble's site & Border's books site will have them

Robert (who knows something about finding hard to find books)

Posted by: Ignotus Aug 25 2004, 11:20 PM

Hey, I live in a small town in Mississippi. Our B-A-M is unreasonably small ! I've checked just about every website I've heard of, but to no avail! Maybe they'll have it when I go to Oxford in Football Season.[ (Gooooooooooooooo Rebs!)

Posted by: Entropy Aug 27 2004, 02:10 AM

Amazon.com carries at least some of the Pern books. I got two there myself.

Posted by: Ignotus Aug 27 2004, 04:33 AM

ReallY?
I looked,
and looked,
& looked,
& looked,
but could not find,
a single book!

Posted by: RJOCL12 Aug 27 2004, 07:40 AM

I suspest that you're doing something wrong so here is a link to Amazon's site. Just select Books/Dragonriders of Pern for your search criteria nd you'll get about 90 items new & used.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/002-4442521-8443212

Robert

Posted by: Ignotus Aug 27 2004, 04:31 PM

I did! But at the time it said they didn't have any left or something of the sort. . . .In fact, I've been searching for so long I've even forgotten what order they're in. Other times, my computer says something such as "This page can not be displayed". It's as if someone doesn't want me to read them!

Posted by: RJOCL12 Aug 27 2004, 05:01 PM

Well I just checked the link above and there are plenty of copies available. Just open the link and click on books then search Dragonriders of Pern and enjoy!

Dragongquest
DragonFlight
The White Dragon
Dragonsong
Dragonsinger
Dragondrums
Renegades of Pern
All the Weyrs of Pern
Dragonseye
Moreta
Nerilka's Story
The Girl who heard Dragons
The Skies of Pern
The Masterharper of Pern
The Dolphins of Pern
The Chronicals of Pern: First Fall
Dragon's Kin
The People of Pern (art)
The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern 2nd ed
A Gift of Dragons

There are also two short stories (1 each) in the Legends of Sci-fi books

And the short story The Littlist Dragonrider' in To Fly Pegasus.

And don't forget the three Choose Which Way books McCaffrey wrote with Jody Lyn Nye

Posted by: Ignotus Aug 27 2004, 05:05 PM

Thanks! And I was talking about last time I checked.

Posted by: JulietP Apr 12 2006, 02:17 PM

This might sound odd and strange but I read all the books through the Library because they can order them for you. Has anyone read the newest one Dragonsblood? It's a good book but I'm not sure if I like it as much as the others.

I havent noticed any characters changing but I read them over a long time and slightly out of order whoops