Sky Dragons
Dragonriders of Pern
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4.3 • 120 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Scores of dragons are dead after plague swept across the world of Pern, and now the Weyrs are struggling to rebuild before Threadfall destroys everything—and everyone—left alive. Their best hope lies with a group of new dragonriders who have volunteered to brave the dangers of an unexplored island populated by vicious wild felines and voracious tunnel-snakes to create a safe home for their young dragons, whose offspring will hopefully replenish Pern’s decimated population. But their leader, Xhinna, the first female rider of a blue dragon, faces an uphill battle to win the respect of her peers, especially after tragedy leaves the new colony reeling. The way forward seems to lie with the awesome ability of the dragons to travel through time. But that power comes with risks: By venturing into the past, Xhinna may jeopardize the very future she has sworn to save.
“Memorable characters and a good balance of individual dramas and large-scale action make this a strong addition to the Pern saga.”—Library Journal
“Longtime fans will enjoy the latest adventures of the cheerful dragonriders and their colorful mounts.”—Publishers Weekly
“McCaffrey will be remembered, rightly, as one of science fiction’s grand masters.”—Tor.com
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series has been beloved for more than four decades. The saga continues with her fifth and final collaboration with her son, Todd, before her death in 2011. Young Xhinna, the first woman to ride a blue dragon, finds herself playing a key role in the desperate struggle to rebuild Pern's dragon population, which has been decimated by Plague and fearsome egg-eating tunnel snakes. Separated from Weyrleader T'Mar and Weyrwoman Fiona, Xhinna takes on the mantle of honorary weyrwoman and leads her small, battered group of dragonriders and infant weyrlings to shelter in what will become Sky Weyr. Relationship tangles take center stage as Xhinna struggles to lead the young weyr while convincing herself she is actually strong and skilled enough to do so. While minimal backstory will make it difficult for new readers to find their way into this chapter of the Pern story, longtime fans will enjoy the latest adventures of the cheerful dragonriders and their colorful mounts.
Customer Reviews
Not the greatest.
I didn't know till I read this book that Ann had passed on. She's the one who really got me hooked on episodic volumes. Yet her's and Todd's latest work don't seem to live up to her original works. If you haven't read the first Pern novels, I highly recommend it. The character development was far better back them, and the world was a brand new place to explore. Here in this book, I just couldn't really get into the characters. Perhaps there are just too many of them, and too many back stories to keep straight.
Never the less, I will miss her..
Okay
Not as bad as all that. I had 1 20 yr series experience that ended really really badly by a farmed out writer and, this was nothing THAT horrid! After all these years, any Pern story will suffice. Not my fav, ... I sensed the sadness of the loss of Anne. So, I think that is what made it hard for me to read. New guys were developed, old guys...sort of flat but they are there in name. Loved the concept from the last books of family that was carried through. Loved the concepts of breaking tradition always, left me wanting more. Dang nab it though, if this pre-Pass episode changed traditions, they gotta give us SOMETHING to connect it to the rest of the books...Hope will be eternal for another for all the dangling cliff hangers!
Disappointing
While I've read every Pern book by Anne multiple times, this book is a big disappointment. No preface means you have no idea what's going on if you haven't read the previous book. It's not a flowing story line but jerks you around until you don't know what's going on. If you loved the Pern series, reread the original works again. I wouldn't recommend this just to satisfy the need for a new Pern story.