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Pern (Chronological Order)
The Smallest Dragonboy
"The Smallest Dragonboy" is set during the Ninth Pass. It tells of Keevan, a boy who is a candidate for Ramoth's latest clutch in Benden Weyr. Keevan is shorter than the other candidates, and is teased about this by Beterli, a boy who has stood for eight Impressions and has not been chosen. Keevan works hard but his size leads most to underestimate his abilities. When he overhears some of the senior dragonriders talking about dropping some of the younger candidates from the Impression, Keevan automatically thinks he will be dropped.
Was included in Get off The Unicorn collection.
Was included in Get off The Unicorn collection.
Audiobook
First published January 1, 1973
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3423 people want to read
About the author
Anne McCaffrey
478 books7,755 followersAnne Inez McCaffrey was an American writer known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction (Best Novella, Weyr Search, 1968) and the first to win a Nebula Award (Best Novella, Dragonrider, 1969). Her 1978 novel The White Dragon became one of the first science-fiction books to appear on the New York Times Best Seller list.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 30, 2010
Before reading this short story in 7th grade English I despised reading. This story pulled me into an entirely new world. For the first time I enjoyed reading, nay I had an all consuming need to read. Within a month after reading this short story I had read the full Dragonriders of Pern series from Anne McCaffrey. From that time I haven't gone a day without reading something, be it a book, short stories, or fanfiction. This sudden change in my life opened me to how the littlest thing teachers have us do can cause such large changes, and because of this I found my love of teaching.
I can never express the magnitude of my gratefulness to Anne McCaffrey for not only helping my find my passion in life, but for also teaching me that I could find such utter joy in the act of reading.
I can never express the magnitude of my gratefulness to Anne McCaffrey for not only helping my find my passion in life, but for also teaching me that I could find such utter joy in the act of reading.
July 29, 2011
The title story "The Smallest Dragonboy" was in a elementary school reader when I was in 3rd grade. From this short story, which I loved, I sought out the author and proceeded to read everything I could find that she wrote. It is from this story and this author that I get my love of fantasy.
August 27, 2016
I remember reading this short story in middle school and it's what sparked my interest in reading, particularly in fantasy novels. I went to the library, looked up the author and then proceeded to read every single book available by her. I absolutely love this short story and it will always have a special meaning to me. Thank you so much Anne McCaffrey for changing my life.
October 13, 2021
How to review the short story that inspired my love of reading? Well, I have no idea, but here it goes!
I stumbled upon this story entirely by accident while flipping through my fourth grade English text book. Dragons are cool, right? So I gave it a shot.
Now, up until that point, my 9-year old self hated reading. But that day I discovered something--I'd been detrimentally exposed to the wrong kind of books.
It wasn't until my early 20's that I rediscovered McCafrey's world of Pern, but I can pinpoint my love of stories back to the day that the "The Smallest Dragonboy" crossed my path.
He will forever hold a special place in my heart.
I stumbled upon this story entirely by accident while flipping through my fourth grade English text book. Dragons are cool, right? So I gave it a shot.
Now, up until that point, my 9-year old self hated reading. But that day I discovered something--I'd been detrimentally exposed to the wrong kind of books.
It wasn't until my early 20's that I rediscovered McCafrey's world of Pern, but I can pinpoint my love of stories back to the day that the "The Smallest Dragonboy" crossed my path.
He will forever hold a special place in my heart.
November 14, 2018
THIS IS THE CUTEST STORY EVER 😭😭😭
I wasn't familiar with this author but apparently she's one of the greatest sci-fi women authors of all time and I can see why. I will most certainly read more from her, and specifically this series! I can't wait to continue Keevan's adventures in glorious Pern!
This tiny little snippet was just so incredibly satisfying and surprisingly complex. I've read whole trilogies with half the world building of this one, not to mention the lovely characters and amazing writing! Ms McCaffrey, I'm impressed.
If you loved How to Train Your Dragon, you will love this one. THIS is what started it all ❤️
~ 5 stars ~ This book grants an Outstanding (O) grade in Astronomy (N.E.W.T.s) ~
I wasn't familiar with this author but apparently she's one of the greatest sci-fi women authors of all time and I can see why. I will most certainly read more from her, and specifically this series! I can't wait to continue Keevan's adventures in glorious Pern!
This tiny little snippet was just so incredibly satisfying and surprisingly complex. I've read whole trilogies with half the world building of this one, not to mention the lovely characters and amazing writing! Ms McCaffrey, I'm impressed.
If you loved How to Train Your Dragon, you will love this one. THIS is what started it all ❤️
~ 5 stars ~ This book grants an Outstanding (O) grade in Astronomy (N.E.W.T.s) ~
January 11, 2015
The smallest dragonboy
by Anne Mccaffrey
This is a beloved story using her smallest son as inspiration Kevan is a young boy that is put down and put apon, who finds love and friendship in dragons. this is a great beginning for the pern series, and an great concept of maternal love.
by Anne Mccaffrey
This is a beloved story using her smallest son as inspiration Kevan is a young boy that is put down and put apon, who finds love and friendship in dragons. this is a great beginning for the pern series, and an great concept of maternal love.
August 25, 2016
This short story leaves me blubbering every time I read it. I'm such a sap for good dragon stories and Anne McCaffrey is one of the best authors for bittersweet stories about dragons.
October 21, 2017
A lovely short! The dragon always knows what's best.
September 20, 2022
I read this as part of the anthology Women of Futures Past.
Story about a young man wanting to start the next part of his life. 3 stars
Story about a young man wanting to start the next part of his life. 3 stars
June 20, 2020
Jaxom becomes the Lord Holder of Ruatha when Lessa wins her claim to the to the hold and then gives it up to become a wyerwoman. In this coming of age story, Jaxom impresses a rare white dragon and then helps explore the Southern Continent which has been abandoned for generations.
November 22, 2025
Anne McCaffrey’s “The Smallest Dragonboy,” though technically a standalone short story set within the Dragonriders of Pern universe, is one of her most beloved works—and for good reason.
In just a few dozen pages, McCaffrey distills the emotional essence of Pern: the fierce bonds between dragons and riders, the harshness of the world’s dangers, and the courage of individuals who find strength despite being underestimated.
This story has long been a favorite in anthologies because it functions both as an introduction to Pern and as a timeless coming-of-age narrative.
The protagonist, Keevan, is small for his age, frequently overlooked, and often bullied. McCaffrey taps into the universal emotional terrain of childhood insecurity—feeling too small, too weak, too insignificant—while embedding Keevan within the rich cultural fabric of Pern’s dragonrider hierarchy.
The story’s stakes are clear: the dragon Impression ceremony is not merely a tradition but a life-defining moment, binding human and dragon in a lifelong partnership. For Keevan, the fear of failing to impress is inseparable from the fear of confirming everyone’s low expectations of him.
McCaffrey’s portrayal of Keevan is gentle, empathetic, and grounded. She avoids sentimental clichés; instead, she shows Keevan’s resilience through small, persistent efforts—chores done despite exhaustion, training pursued despite mockery, kindness shown even when others display cruelty. His determination feels earned rather than engineered, making the eventual payoff all the more satisfying.
The world-building here is efficient but evocative. McCaffrey describes the Weyr, its rituals, and the looming threat of Threadfall with an economy that highlights her command of the setting. Readers unfamiliar with Pern quickly grasp the societal structures, while long-time fans appreciate the glimpses of familiar rhythms—dragons sunning on ledges, riders preparing for duty, the hive-like community bustling with expectation before a Hatching.
The emotional centerpiece of the story is the Hatching itself. McCaffrey’s depiction of dragon hatchlings—clumsy, curious, brimming with barely controlled energy—is one of her great achievements. The chaos and wonder of the ceremony unfold with cinematic clarity. Keevan’s moment of Impression, when a dragon chooses him against all odds, stands as one of the most affirming scenes in McCaffrey’s oeuvre. It resonates because it is not simply wish fulfillment but a testament to Keevan’s quiet strength and perseverance.
A recurring thread in McCaffrey’s works is the idea that greatness often comes in unlikely forms. The Smallest Dragonboy articulates this with heart rather than didacticism. Keevan triumphs not by overpowering rivals but by embodying the qualities dragons value: empathy, courage, and selflessness. This message remains timeless for younger readers and is still deeply moving for adults.
McCaffrey’s prose is clear, warm, and immersive. She writes with a storyteller’s cadence, allowing emotional beats to land without melodrama. The pacing is impeccable—steady build-up, rising tension, cathartic resolution—showcasing her mastery of short-form storytelling.
In the broader context of Pern, the story exemplifies what makes the world so beloved: its balance of harshness and hope, tradition and change, struggle and wonder. Dragons in McCaffrey’s world are not mere beasts; they are partners, mirrors, and destiny-shapers.
Keevan's bond with his newfound companion symbolizes both personal transformation and the promise of a future shaped by courage.
Ultimately, “The Smallest Dragonboy” endures because it speaks to the underdog in all of us. It is a story about believing in one’s own worth even when the world seems determined to diminish it.
With its emotional sincerity and richly imagined setting, it remains one of the finest gateways into McCaffrey’s enduring universe.
In just a few dozen pages, McCaffrey distills the emotional essence of Pern: the fierce bonds between dragons and riders, the harshness of the world’s dangers, and the courage of individuals who find strength despite being underestimated.
This story has long been a favorite in anthologies because it functions both as an introduction to Pern and as a timeless coming-of-age narrative.
The protagonist, Keevan, is small for his age, frequently overlooked, and often bullied. McCaffrey taps into the universal emotional terrain of childhood insecurity—feeling too small, too weak, too insignificant—while embedding Keevan within the rich cultural fabric of Pern’s dragonrider hierarchy.
The story’s stakes are clear: the dragon Impression ceremony is not merely a tradition but a life-defining moment, binding human and dragon in a lifelong partnership. For Keevan, the fear of failing to impress is inseparable from the fear of confirming everyone’s low expectations of him.
McCaffrey’s portrayal of Keevan is gentle, empathetic, and grounded. She avoids sentimental clichés; instead, she shows Keevan’s resilience through small, persistent efforts—chores done despite exhaustion, training pursued despite mockery, kindness shown even when others display cruelty. His determination feels earned rather than engineered, making the eventual payoff all the more satisfying.
The world-building here is efficient but evocative. McCaffrey describes the Weyr, its rituals, and the looming threat of Threadfall with an economy that highlights her command of the setting. Readers unfamiliar with Pern quickly grasp the societal structures, while long-time fans appreciate the glimpses of familiar rhythms—dragons sunning on ledges, riders preparing for duty, the hive-like community bustling with expectation before a Hatching.
The emotional centerpiece of the story is the Hatching itself. McCaffrey’s depiction of dragon hatchlings—clumsy, curious, brimming with barely controlled energy—is one of her great achievements. The chaos and wonder of the ceremony unfold with cinematic clarity. Keevan’s moment of Impression, when a dragon chooses him against all odds, stands as one of the most affirming scenes in McCaffrey’s oeuvre. It resonates because it is not simply wish fulfillment but a testament to Keevan’s quiet strength and perseverance.
A recurring thread in McCaffrey’s works is the idea that greatness often comes in unlikely forms. The Smallest Dragonboy articulates this with heart rather than didacticism. Keevan triumphs not by overpowering rivals but by embodying the qualities dragons value: empathy, courage, and selflessness. This message remains timeless for younger readers and is still deeply moving for adults.
McCaffrey’s prose is clear, warm, and immersive. She writes with a storyteller’s cadence, allowing emotional beats to land without melodrama. The pacing is impeccable—steady build-up, rising tension, cathartic resolution—showcasing her mastery of short-form storytelling.
In the broader context of Pern, the story exemplifies what makes the world so beloved: its balance of harshness and hope, tradition and change, struggle and wonder. Dragons in McCaffrey’s world are not mere beasts; they are partners, mirrors, and destiny-shapers.
Keevan's bond with his newfound companion symbolizes both personal transformation and the promise of a future shaped by courage.
Ultimately, “The Smallest Dragonboy” endures because it speaks to the underdog in all of us. It is a story about believing in one’s own worth even when the world seems determined to diminish it.
With its emotional sincerity and richly imagined setting, it remains one of the finest gateways into McCaffrey’s enduring universe.
September 19, 2018
Read this in the Women of Futures Past: Classic Stories anthology, which I'd highly recommend if you don't know the authors included. I found this sweet story a tantalizing glimpse of McCaffrey's Pern books, and when I stumbled across Dragonflight in a bookstore not long after, I went ahead and bought it. While I have mixed feelings after reading it--I think the earlier books likely feel dated already, akin to plenty of less-than-politically-correct classic sf&f--McCaffrey's worldbuilding and writing style hold up well, a half-century after she was first published.
September 25, 2024
Exceedingly sweet story.
I keep this link handy & sometimes re-read it when I am feeling low.
https://www.baen.com/Chapters/9781476...
& since the story by itself does not seem to be feminist at all, the little introduction helps, I also read a reddit thread about this author, & how it was feminist for he times & how women who were girls at the time, who had no action content featuring girls whatsoever, & then there was this.
Anyway, very sweet story.
I keep this link handy & sometimes re-read it when I am feeling low.
https://www.baen.com/Chapters/9781476...
& since the story by itself does not seem to be feminist at all, the little introduction helps, I also read a reddit thread about this author, & how it was feminist for he times & how women who were girls at the time, who had no action content featuring girls whatsoever, & then there was this.
Anyway, very sweet story.
June 1, 2017
This short story got me hooked on both McCafferey and reading. I came home and told my father about the best thing I had ever read, and he just laughed and told me that she wrote tons of books about that would. I got the first three books for Christmas that year and read them all in just a few days. I became a reader that day in (I think?) 6th grade English literature! InLOVE THIS STORY!
January 21, 2019
This is the short story that got me started on both Anne McCaffrey and advanced reading back when I was in eighth grade and falling behind my classmates in reading. It was in a literature book for class, and I loved it so much that I asked my teacher where I might find more. The middle school library had a surprisingly vast collection and that was how I discovered Dragonflight.
August 30, 2024
Cute short story read as part of 'Get Off the Unicorn' and one of the few I liked in that collection. Nothing earth shattering if you've already read the first two Pern trilogies, as I have, but a good introduction to that world for younger children who probably should leave most of the others till they are older, given the problematic treatment of sexuality and gender, apart from the first two Harper Hall books which would also be suitable for younger readers.
As in the two other books - 'Dragonsinger' and 'Dragondrums' - that deal with a school or training situation, bullying plays a large part in this, and I can't help thinking the adults should address it. The harm caused to the child on the receiving end escalates through those first two books, till in this story, the main character Keevan suffers significant bodily injury. But a touching conclusion and overall I would rate it at 3 stars.
As in the two other books - 'Dragonsinger' and 'Dragondrums' - that deal with a school or training situation, bullying plays a large part in this, and I can't help thinking the adults should address it. The harm caused to the child on the receiving end escalates through those first two books, till in this story, the main character Keevan suffers significant bodily injury. But a touching conclusion and overall I would rate it at 3 stars.
November 9, 2018
I had to read this for class. I'm running the risk of sounding very dumb here, but I didn't understand the story. Was the main character a human as the story made it seem, a dragon as the title implies, or some other creature entirely?
May 1, 2019
This is such a wonderful addition to the Pern canon. Keevan has always been one of my favourite characters. It is in the short story collection, "Get Off The Unicorn". I have read all the stories and more than once but in March 2019 when I was doing my Pern reread, I only read this one.
February 7, 2022
The only Dragon rider book i`ve read and it`s a short story.It impressed me as a pre teen when i read it because i`m small too like Keevan in the tale.Now i`ll have to read some more of Anne`s saga.Recommended.
October 5, 2017
Short story available for free online. I read it for completionist's sake.
September 7, 2018
Wish it was longer
November 30, 2018
Great book!! Love how he wants to Impress a green dragon and ends up being picked by a bronze.
January 13, 2019
An entertaining short story set in the Pern 'verse. Take the time to hunt this one down if you enjoy shorter fiction.
February 28, 2019
Very short, but cute.
August 5, 2020
Bullies never prosper
July 9, 2021
Lovely story about a boy and his dragon, and how being seen as "not good enough" is ridiculous.
September 21, 2021
This is the cutest thing I have read in a while!
September 22, 2021
This is a lovely short story, and shows just how well a dragon will choose his rider.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews