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Harper Hall of Pern #3
Dragondrums
As Menolly uncovers magic and intrigue, mischievous Piemur discovers the rhythm of adventure in the final book in the Harper Hall trilogy, set within science fiction legend Anne McCaffrey’s beloved and bestselling Dragonriders of Pern series.
Mischievous Piemur is used to getting away with a lot. He has one of the most impressive voices at Harper Hall and, in the world of Pern, there are few things more important than the ability to sing and write songs. But when his voice begins to change, Piemur loses all confidence and questions everything he thought he knew about himself.
No longer capable of singing, Piemur is sent on various errands by Masterharper Robinton, including the task of learning the complicated beats of the messenger drums. Piemur has no clue of the grand adventures that await him, and he’ll need to find the courage within himself to survive.
Mischievous Piemur is used to getting away with a lot. He has one of the most impressive voices at Harper Hall and, in the world of Pern, there are few things more important than the ability to sing and write songs. But when his voice begins to change, Piemur loses all confidence and questions everything he thought he knew about himself.
No longer capable of singing, Piemur is sent on various errands by Masterharper Robinton, including the task of learning the complicated beats of the messenger drums. Piemur has no clue of the grand adventures that await him, and he’ll need to find the courage within himself to survive.
243 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
810 people are currently reading
6222 people want to read
About the author
Anne McCaffrey
478 books7,753 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 849 reviews
July 29, 2008
Dear Mrs. McCaffrey,
What were you thinking? You had done a brilliant job with the first two books in this "trilogy", so please do explain why you felt compelled to switch your focus from our beloved heroine Menolly to her rambunctious sidekick, Piemur? This is no trilogy. Do you think you can just skip ahead three years and make Menolly a peripheral player? Do you think that you can write a slow-moving, rather repetitive adventure story that lacks the resonance of the first two books in this trilogy, and we won't notice? We notice; and we are not happy.
This story would be fine as a stand alone story. It still would not be a great story. Despite jumping across the map of your mythical Pern, this story goes virtually nowhere. Anticlimactic is an understatement. Piemur is not even close to being fleshed out as a character and, due to this, does not have enough weight as a driving force for this story.
Why this final book jumps gears so completely is beyond me. Obviously, it left me rather frustrated. The story of Menolly was good, layered and exciting. As of book two, it was also nowhere near complete. In Dragondrums she is viewed from afar. She is understood only to the degree that Piemur understands her. This is at odds with the idea of a trilogy whose arc seemed to be the coming of age of a young girl.
I would really like to know if Mrs. McCaffrey views these three books as a trilogy or if the publisher decided to lump them together and advertise them as one. I'm more inclined to believe the latter. Not just because I want to (though I do indeed want to), but because the sense of story in the first two books flowed with a confidence utterly lacking in this final one.
What were you thinking? You had done a brilliant job with the first two books in this "trilogy", so please do explain why you felt compelled to switch your focus from our beloved heroine Menolly to her rambunctious sidekick, Piemur? This is no trilogy. Do you think you can just skip ahead three years and make Menolly a peripheral player? Do you think that you can write a slow-moving, rather repetitive adventure story that lacks the resonance of the first two books in this trilogy, and we won't notice? We notice; and we are not happy.
This story would be fine as a stand alone story. It still would not be a great story. Despite jumping across the map of your mythical Pern, this story goes virtually nowhere. Anticlimactic is an understatement. Piemur is not even close to being fleshed out as a character and, due to this, does not have enough weight as a driving force for this story.
Why this final book jumps gears so completely is beyond me. Obviously, it left me rather frustrated. The story of Menolly was good, layered and exciting. As of book two, it was also nowhere near complete. In Dragondrums she is viewed from afar. She is understood only to the degree that Piemur understands her. This is at odds with the idea of a trilogy whose arc seemed to be the coming of age of a young girl.
I would really like to know if Mrs. McCaffrey views these three books as a trilogy or if the publisher decided to lump them together and advertise them as one. I'm more inclined to believe the latter. Not just because I want to (though I do indeed want to), but because the sense of story in the first two books flowed with a confidence utterly lacking in this final one.
March 20, 2020
I'd been thinking lately of the core "rules" of cozy mysteries (if it sounds like I'm going way off-genre here, I promise, I'll get back to fantasy momentarily): no sex, no swearing, no gory violence. These are the sorts of books targeted at adult audiences but which have cartoony illustrations on the covers and tend to be about cats, bakeries, flower shops, and other such natural subject areas for whodunnits (seriously, there are untold numbers of cozy mysteries in those sub-categories). Cozy mysteries focus on fun, well-told stories that aim to entertain without troubling the reader, and they have legions of fans.
Fantasy's never been an explicitly "fun" genre, despite how its viewed externally sometimes under the umbrella of escapism. There have always been troubling, explicit, questioning stories and there's no special shelf for "fun fantasy". If there was, all three of the Harper Hall books by Anne McCaffrey, starting with Dragonsong, then Dragonsinger, and finally ending with Dragondrums, would have a prominent place on that shelf.
There's no moment in any of these books where you'd feel uncomfortable reading them at night for fear of troubling dreams. The stories are well-written, exciting in places, thoughtful in others, and always in that safe zone free of sex, graphic violence, or swearing. They're not particularly "YA" (which doesn't shy away from difficult subjects or scenes), nor "Middle Grade" (in that they aren't all about how dumb adults are and how kids need to save the world). They're just . . . safe.
Having witnessed the way my own YA series, Spellslinger, has had to navigate certain issues of censorship in places like Russia (but also, for very different reasons, the UK), I've become more and more aware of a push towards "safe" stories in some corners of publishing. Until recently I thought I was dead-set against such a drive for non-troubling stories (especially since "troubling" often grows far past "sex, swearing, or graphic violence" to encompass stories that just happen to feature issues of marginalized people in society). But now I think I've come to the conclusion that the mystery fiction world has it right. Go ahead and have a "clean fantasy" subgenre that's devoid of swearing, sex, or graphic violence. Just make sure it's defined clearly that way so that those readers looking for that experience can find it *without* opening up the rest of fantasy fiction to a kind of puritanical scrutiny.
Dragondrums, a story of a young singer who loses his voice and ends up on a survival adventure on another continent while discover his own path in life, is—to me, at any rate—clean fantasy done well. It's not as compelling for me as Dragonsong (perhaps my favourite "clean" fantasy of all time), but it delivers what it promises without furthering any kind of puritanical agenda; it's "safe" and "fun" without suggesting that all fantasy books should be that way. In fact, given that there were some troubling aspects to how McCaffrey dealt with topics of sexuality in her first Dragonriders of Pern trilogy, I kind of think this series staying away from the subject worked in everyone's favour.
I realize this is something of a meandering review, and apologies to anyone who sees this book – or the entire genre – differently from me, but in re-reading the book I found myself fascinated as much with what explicitly _wasn't_ in the story as what was.
Most of all, re-reading Dragondrums made me wish McCaffrey had written more Harper Hall books, and I fear I may have to pick up Dragonsong again one day soon.
Fantasy's never been an explicitly "fun" genre, despite how its viewed externally sometimes under the umbrella of escapism. There have always been troubling, explicit, questioning stories and there's no special shelf for "fun fantasy". If there was, all three of the Harper Hall books by Anne McCaffrey, starting with Dragonsong, then Dragonsinger, and finally ending with Dragondrums, would have a prominent place on that shelf.
There's no moment in any of these books where you'd feel uncomfortable reading them at night for fear of troubling dreams. The stories are well-written, exciting in places, thoughtful in others, and always in that safe zone free of sex, graphic violence, or swearing. They're not particularly "YA" (which doesn't shy away from difficult subjects or scenes), nor "Middle Grade" (in that they aren't all about how dumb adults are and how kids need to save the world). They're just . . . safe.
Having witnessed the way my own YA series, Spellslinger, has had to navigate certain issues of censorship in places like Russia (but also, for very different reasons, the UK), I've become more and more aware of a push towards "safe" stories in some corners of publishing. Until recently I thought I was dead-set against such a drive for non-troubling stories (especially since "troubling" often grows far past "sex, swearing, or graphic violence" to encompass stories that just happen to feature issues of marginalized people in society). But now I think I've come to the conclusion that the mystery fiction world has it right. Go ahead and have a "clean fantasy" subgenre that's devoid of swearing, sex, or graphic violence. Just make sure it's defined clearly that way so that those readers looking for that experience can find it *without* opening up the rest of fantasy fiction to a kind of puritanical scrutiny.
Dragondrums, a story of a young singer who loses his voice and ends up on a survival adventure on another continent while discover his own path in life, is—to me, at any rate—clean fantasy done well. It's not as compelling for me as Dragonsong (perhaps my favourite "clean" fantasy of all time), but it delivers what it promises without furthering any kind of puritanical agenda; it's "safe" and "fun" without suggesting that all fantasy books should be that way. In fact, given that there were some troubling aspects to how McCaffrey dealt with topics of sexuality in her first Dragonriders of Pern trilogy, I kind of think this series staying away from the subject worked in everyone's favour.
I realize this is something of a meandering review, and apologies to anyone who sees this book – or the entire genre – differently from me, but in re-reading the book I found myself fascinated as much with what explicitly _wasn't_ in the story as what was.
Most of all, re-reading Dragondrums made me wish McCaffrey had written more Harper Hall books, and I fear I may have to pick up Dragonsong again one day soon.
November 11, 2017
[2.5 stars] In it's defense, I'm also reading Oathbringer, so everything else seems more lackluster than usual. It was, however, my least favorite of the trilogy.
November 8, 2018
This book follows Piemur. You first meet him in the first two Harper Hall books with Menolly. He is Menolly's first friend in the Harper Hall. This picks up after the first two books. Piemur has a beautiful Soprano voice as a young man, but his voice begins to crack as he begins to go through the change to becoming a man. This makes everything change for him at the Harper Hall.
He is so unsure of what will happen to him in the Harper Hall once he loses his voice. The Masterharper takes him and has him become one of his apprentices, but in secret. Piemur is a good boy, but he does get into trouble. He also is bright and clever. This makes him a great asset to the Harper Hall, but in ways that others can not know.
He becomes a drum apprentice, but while there he is treated really poorly and ends up pretty badly hurt after a fall caused by others. He ends up in the Southern Continent with a fire lizard queen that he impresses. He has gotten himself into a bit of trouble, but he is smart and he survives. This is a good story and I can't help but like Piemur who has a big heart. This Harper Hall trilogy is such a marvelous addition to the Dragonriders of Pern series. They were and still are my favorites.
He is so unsure of what will happen to him in the Harper Hall once he loses his voice. The Masterharper takes him and has him become one of his apprentices, but in secret. Piemur is a good boy, but he does get into trouble. He also is bright and clever. This makes him a great asset to the Harper Hall, but in ways that others can not know.
He becomes a drum apprentice, but while there he is treated really poorly and ends up pretty badly hurt after a fall caused by others. He ends up in the Southern Continent with a fire lizard queen that he impresses. He has gotten himself into a bit of trouble, but he is smart and he survives. This is a good story and I can't help but like Piemur who has a big heart. This Harper Hall trilogy is such a marvelous addition to the Dragonriders of Pern series. They were and still are my favorites.
December 6, 2022
very nice tie in book with the White Dragon book that takes us to the end of the original trilogy. Great characters an world as always. Recommended
August 28, 2017
The Dragon books were part of the network of books that introduced me in my teen years to fantasy and sci-fi and on re-reading them years later it is encouraging to find them still as well written as I remember them. The plots still as riveting, the world-building still as thrilling and the characters still as good - well, maybe just a tiny bit more teen angst than I look for these days, but otherwise just as good!
Dragondrums is the third of the "Harper" books and though it also works fine as a standalone, the previous two books did initially establish Piemur, the main character in the book. It seems to me that you would not have had to read them though, this is the first told from Piemur's point of view and as all of us seem different from the inside of our heads to how people see us on the outside, so Piemur is very different to himself than to others. His adventures start when his voice breaks and the Harper hold must find other work for him. This work accidentally brings him to the Southern continent and his adventures there are significantly different to any others as McCaffrey uses this story to explore a continent that is entirely different to the world of the North, so well established from previous books.
At first I was a little miffed - I really wanted more of Menolly, to be honest. Piemur won me over however and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Dragondrums is the third of the "Harper" books and though it also works fine as a standalone, the previous two books did initially establish Piemur, the main character in the book. It seems to me that you would not have had to read them though, this is the first told from Piemur's point of view and as all of us seem different from the inside of our heads to how people see us on the outside, so Piemur is very different to himself than to others. His adventures start when his voice breaks and the Harper hold must find other work for him. This work accidentally brings him to the Southern continent and his adventures there are significantly different to any others as McCaffrey uses this story to explore a continent that is entirely different to the world of the North, so well established from previous books.
At first I was a little miffed - I really wanted more of Menolly, to be honest. Piemur won me over however and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
December 24, 2021
Piemur became Menolly‘s best friend in Dragonsinger and here is his coming-of-age story. We pick up a few years after Menolly walked the tables and became a journeyman and follow Piemur to his destiny…
“Of all the young singers at the Harperhall of Pern, Piemur was the one chosen for the leading role at Lord Groghe's Gather...and then his voice broke. Suddenly his whole future at Harperhall became uncertain. But Masterharper Robinton, Menolly and Sebell had other plans for Piemur.“
Entertaining story of his misadventures, that eventually take a positive turn for him. Not quite as well plotted or as gripping as the two Harperhall novels Dragonsong / Dragonsinger with Menolly as main character. But nice enough. And it gives an enticing glimpse into the Southern Continent.
“Of all the young singers at the Harperhall of Pern, Piemur was the one chosen for the leading role at Lord Groghe's Gather...and then his voice broke. Suddenly his whole future at Harperhall became uncertain. But Masterharper Robinton, Menolly and Sebell had other plans for Piemur.“
Entertaining story of his misadventures, that eventually take a positive turn for him. Not quite as well plotted or as gripping as the two Harperhall novels Dragonsong / Dragonsinger with Menolly as main character. But nice enough. And it gives an enticing glimpse into the Southern Continent.
August 6, 2007
Why couldn't she have stopped at two? Why does every fantasy series have to be a trilogy or longer? This mediocre book drags the whole Harper Hall trilogy down with it.
February 1, 2012
This was one of my first "adult" fantasy books and I LOVED it! My mom bought it for me one summer and I devoured it (and began my love of Pern). I just started writing little bits for a mid sized daily in our area (or at least trying - I got a couple little mini features in - but I was only in 9th grade!).
Being so moved by this strange (to me) book, I decided to write Anne, never expecting to hear back, but sure enough, a great little handwritten letter found it's way into my parent's mailbox a month or so later. I had sent a small sample of writing and she encouraged me (and it wasn't too good, but maybe she thought it a bit ... imaginative).
I wrote her a couple more times and each time she responded. What a quality lady! I bet most "modern" authors are "far too busy" to do what she did - even those with 1/10 of her volume of work!
Being so moved by this strange (to me) book, I decided to write Anne, never expecting to hear back, but sure enough, a great little handwritten letter found it's way into my parent's mailbox a month or so later. I had sent a small sample of writing and she encouraged me (and it wasn't too good, but maybe she thought it a bit ... imaginative).
I wrote her a couple more times and each time she responded. What a quality lady! I bet most "modern" authors are "far too busy" to do what she did - even those with 1/10 of her volume of work!
January 31, 2016
Now this - this is interesting, because it's so clearly a book meant to be read with information from other books in the series, information that the first two Harper Hall books don't have. There are a lot of political machinations that are only referenced - so much of what's going on in the southern weyr is confusing to me! - and the choice to switch protagonists is an interesting one, too.
The resolution is less satisfying. I have no idea why Piemur wants to stay, nor do I think his motivations are adequately addressed. But that's a problem I have with this entire series: there's no standard conflict and resolution. Instead, McCaffrey ends on a triumphant note, whether that note acts as resolution or not. (Mostly it's not.)
The resolution is less satisfying. I have no idea why Piemur wants to stay, nor do I think his motivations are adequately addressed. But that's a problem I have with this entire series: there's no standard conflict and resolution. Instead, McCaffrey ends on a triumphant note, whether that note acts as resolution or not. (Mostly it's not.)
July 22, 2025
This third book of the Harper Hall series focuses on Piemur, the mischievous young musical apprentice who befriended Menolly in the previous volume. This book returned to the multi-POV used in book 1 of this series but missing from book 2. It has a very exciting and action packed adventure, and hits a lot of the same type of emotional beats (a young person suffering ill-treatment in secret, who is finally vindicated and celebrated by their mentors and earns everything they could possibly want and more.) It wasn't as tight of a story as the previous two, but this remains such a fun world to spent time in that I will forgive it.
April 2, 2023
The 3rd book of the Pern Harper Hall Series which I enjoyed immensely.
The story of Piemur a talented singer whose voice changes and he suddenly must find another purpose in The Harper's Hall. Master Robinton apprentices him to the drummers, but secretly uses Piemur for his own purposes. Menolly, from the previous 2 books, now is apprentice journeyman to Robinton and fits nicely into the story.
A fun quick read and I look forward to more adventures in Pern
The story of Piemur a talented singer whose voice changes and he suddenly must find another purpose in The Harper's Hall. Master Robinton apprentices him to the drummers, but secretly uses Piemur for his own purposes. Menolly, from the previous 2 books, now is apprentice journeyman to Robinton and fits nicely into the story.
A fun quick read and I look forward to more adventures in Pern
November 14, 2022
This was also a lot of fun to read. While Piemur is the main character in this novel we still see a great deal of Menolly, Sebell and Masterharper Robinton. Very engaging story and really fun to read. So happy I picked up this series again.
December 9, 2017
Like many who read this book, I felt disappointed when I started it. I was expecting to read a continuation of the story of our dear Menolly but curiously the author chose to leave it aside and tell us the story of a less interesting character. The only good thing I can find is the fact that, through the story of the central character, we are following some interesting developments like the further maturation of Menolly, beyond that could not find anything interesting. The median rating comes with the utmost leniency.
October 6, 2022
This was a delightful book. Had a smile on my face through most of it. Piemur is now my favorite character, next to Master Robinton.
No plagues, no wars, only one (good) death, lots of fire lizards and more dragonriders and dragons. It is Anne all over and I loved it.
No plagues, no wars, only one (good) death, lots of fire lizards and more dragonriders and dragons. It is Anne all over and I loved it.
June 3, 2020
I just wasn't that interested in Piemur's character or storylines. I've enjoyed the Pern books I've read for the most part but I think this will be my last.
December 12, 2011
Each Pern novel can be read as a stand alone, but Dragondrums is the third book in the Harper Hall trilogy so if you want to read the books in the order, head over to Dragonsong (book 1) and Dragonsinger (book 2).
The story starts at the end of Dragonsinger where Menolly is made a Journeyman. Piemur prepares himself for a big event where he will be the lead singer until his voice breaks and he realises that his one and only ability which made him special has now disappeared.
But Piemur is very far from having just this one ability and Master Robinton knows how precious Piemur is. That is why Piemur is seemingly hired as a drums apprentice when in fact he is asked to becoming the Master Harper's ears and eyes wherever he goes.
I was at first quite disappointed to see that I wouldn't be in Menolly's head anymore. I really loved Piemur but I was so used to see things through Menolly's eyes that I thought I wouldn't be able to like the book. But then Piemur started being Piemur and I couldn't remember why I could have been worried in the first place.
Piemur has always been very cunning and at times manipulative to get what he wants and seeing his reasoning behind his cunning schemes was fantastic. He is a sweetheart and you can't stop laughing at his wild schemes! I think he is one of my favourite characters ever!
It is so heart-breaking when his voice transforms, I could really feel for him, especially with the weight of everyone else's reaction, but thankfully - and quite frankly, in a typical Piemur fashion - he springs out of it and finds something else to do. He has such a great spirit that he sees the positive aspect of things.
I really don't want to spoil the story by telling you what sorts of mischief he conjures up in this book, but I can promise that you won't be disappointed. I thought that my favourite books would be the first ones because they are told by Menolly and because they focus on those gorgeous little things named fire lizards but Dragondrums is such a special story of someone trying to find himself. It is such a wonderful story that I cried at the end because it made me so happy. (I am not even kidding and I understand I am losing all my street cred by confessing this.)
I know these books were published years ago and no one particularly cares to discover Anne McCaffrey's books today when they can read modern stories and such but those stories really hold something others don't and I really can't wait to read all of Anne Mccaffrey's other books (thank God there are so many!). So you need to read those books too!
This trilogy is one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. It transports me to a beautifully vivid world and makes me travel alongside amazing characters. Plus now I know that I want a fire lizard as a pet so that's that.
The story starts at the end of Dragonsinger where Menolly is made a Journeyman. Piemur prepares himself for a big event where he will be the lead singer until his voice breaks and he realises that his one and only ability which made him special has now disappeared.
But Piemur is very far from having just this one ability and Master Robinton knows how precious Piemur is. That is why Piemur is seemingly hired as a drums apprentice when in fact he is asked to becoming the Master Harper's ears and eyes wherever he goes.
I was at first quite disappointed to see that I wouldn't be in Menolly's head anymore. I really loved Piemur but I was so used to see things through Menolly's eyes that I thought I wouldn't be able to like the book. But then Piemur started being Piemur and I couldn't remember why I could have been worried in the first place.
Piemur has always been very cunning and at times manipulative to get what he wants and seeing his reasoning behind his cunning schemes was fantastic. He is a sweetheart and you can't stop laughing at his wild schemes! I think he is one of my favourite characters ever!
It is so heart-breaking when his voice transforms, I could really feel for him, especially with the weight of everyone else's reaction, but thankfully - and quite frankly, in a typical Piemur fashion - he springs out of it and finds something else to do. He has such a great spirit that he sees the positive aspect of things.
I really don't want to spoil the story by telling you what sorts of mischief he conjures up in this book, but I can promise that you won't be disappointed. I thought that my favourite books would be the first ones because they are told by Menolly and because they focus on those gorgeous little things named fire lizards but Dragondrums is such a special story of someone trying to find himself. It is such a wonderful story that I cried at the end because it made me so happy. (I am not even kidding and I understand I am losing all my street cred by confessing this.)
I know these books were published years ago and no one particularly cares to discover Anne McCaffrey's books today when they can read modern stories and such but those stories really hold something others don't and I really can't wait to read all of Anne Mccaffrey's other books (thank God there are so many!). So you need to read those books too!
This trilogy is one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. It transports me to a beautifully vivid world and makes me travel alongside amazing characters. Plus now I know that I want a fire lizard as a pet so that's that.
November 18, 2020
I just finished another comfort reread, the final book in Anne McCaffrey’s Harper Hall Trilogy. Dragondrums focuses on Piemer, the mischievous younger friend of Menolly, the protagonist of the first two books. Reading this book for the first time as a child, I was initially disappointed Menolly wasn’t center stage, but she’s still there as an older friend and Piemer is a likable scamp, so I adjusted. I probably enjoyed this even more as an adult, because I was prepared for the protagonist switch.
Piemer is the star soprano in the boys choir at Harper Hall, but his voice starts to change, so he’s moved to the drum heights where his facility learning message codes makes enemies with the older apprentices. There are nasty pranks and dangerous hazing. Piemer tries so hard to prove he’s responsible and discreet that he doesn’t really tell anyone about his troubles until a prank goes very wrong. After recovering from a serious fall, Piemer gets to accompany Journeyman Sebell on a reconnaissance mission to Naboll to investigate the political unrest and the surprisingly large number of fire lizards everyone has. Piemer ends up inadvertently transported to the Southern Continent, where he puts all of Menolly’s stories about living holdless to good use. He Impresses a fire lizard, survives Threadfall and explores the intriguing wilderness. Having figured out where Piemer must be, Menolly and Sebell sail to Southern to find him, happily finally acting on all that romantic tension they have during the voyage.
This is another great coming of age story, as Piemer uses his wits and natural acting ability to meet all sorts of challenges, learning he has valuable skills aside from his voice.
CW: hazing and dangerous pranks, prejudice, gossip, head injury, politics, disease, classism, telepathy, smuggling, dangerous situations: flying dragons, sailing, being attacked by buzzard-like creatures, Thread; some kissing and sexual situations.
Piemer is the star soprano in the boys choir at Harper Hall, but his voice starts to change, so he’s moved to the drum heights where his facility learning message codes makes enemies with the older apprentices. There are nasty pranks and dangerous hazing. Piemer tries so hard to prove he’s responsible and discreet that he doesn’t really tell anyone about his troubles until a prank goes very wrong. After recovering from a serious fall, Piemer gets to accompany Journeyman Sebell on a reconnaissance mission to Naboll to investigate the political unrest and the surprisingly large number of fire lizards everyone has. Piemer ends up inadvertently transported to the Southern Continent, where he puts all of Menolly’s stories about living holdless to good use. He Impresses a fire lizard, survives Threadfall and explores the intriguing wilderness. Having figured out where Piemer must be, Menolly and Sebell sail to Southern to find him, happily finally acting on all that romantic tension they have during the voyage.
This is another great coming of age story, as Piemer uses his wits and natural acting ability to meet all sorts of challenges, learning he has valuable skills aside from his voice.
CW: hazing and dangerous pranks, prejudice, gossip, head injury, politics, disease, classism, telepathy, smuggling, dangerous situations: flying dragons, sailing, being attacked by buzzard-like creatures, Thread; some kissing and sexual situations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2025
The focus shifts from Menolly to a young imp who is at the Harper Hall but doesn't take his skill as seriously as Menolly: Piemur. This is another delightful adventure. I think this book proved so popular that McCaffrey almost had no choice but to include him in further stories about Pern. Again, as in the first two books of this series, these are suitable for kids unlike the regular Pern series. I've reread this series over and over and must remember to do so again in the near future! I also agree with some who complain about the focus shifting to Piemur instead of a third story about Menolly. I'd have rather heard more about Menolly too! However, I did enjoy Meron having a poetic justifiable ending to life and I can't see any way to have written that story with Menolly as the main character. Oh well.
Addendum: Actually, this one shows one of the main objection of "feminists" to the Pern books is invalid: that women are routinely raped by men while their dragons mate. In this one, the woman has male fire lizards and the man, the female. It is quite clear that both sexes are involuntarily participating when their fire lizards or dragons mate and that rape of women, specifically, was not at all one of McCaffrey's plans for Pern. Actually, because of that one scene with no graphic description, I suppose some would consider this book unsuitable for kids which is silly since it is clearly a coming of age story. Definitely recommended as a delightful look at a charming kid in the Harpercraft hold. I am lowering my score to 4 stars. This is wonderful, but not 5 star wonderful.
Addendum: Actually, this one shows one of the main objection of "feminists" to the Pern books is invalid: that women are routinely raped by men while their dragons mate. In this one, the woman has male fire lizards and the man, the female. It is quite clear that both sexes are involuntarily participating when their fire lizards or dragons mate and that rape of women, specifically, was not at all one of McCaffrey's plans for Pern. Actually, because of that one scene with no graphic description, I suppose some would consider this book unsuitable for kids which is silly since it is clearly a coming of age story. Definitely recommended as a delightful look at a charming kid in the Harpercraft hold. I am lowering my score to 4 stars. This is wonderful, but not 5 star wonderful.
February 17, 2012
When I picked this book up to read, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a continuation of Menolly's story. I wanted more about her. I wanted to watch Menolly and Sebell develop their relationship! Once again, I had to remind myself that these are not romance novels.
But I quickly got over my disappointment as I was taken into Piemur's world. He is all set to start practicing the part of Lessa in a new song to be performed, when his voice cracks. Piemur has never been thrilled with singing female parts, but he'd hoped this one would bring him to the real Lessa's attention. Suddenly, he can no longer sing, and has to be reassigned within the Harper Hall.
Piemur's story is fun and adventuresome. When we met him in the previous Harper Hall books, he was a young scamp, always getting into scrapes and causing mischief. He's older now, and not changed a whole lot, but he has grown into a more mature young man, loyal to his craft and his friends. And still desperately wanting a fire lizard of his very own. And that is what sets him out on his biggest adventure yet.
A very enjoyable story. I wish there were a fourth book as I'm not quite ready to leave Piemur behind.
But I quickly got over my disappointment as I was taken into Piemur's world. He is all set to start practicing the part of Lessa in a new song to be performed, when his voice cracks. Piemur has never been thrilled with singing female parts, but he'd hoped this one would bring him to the real Lessa's attention. Suddenly, he can no longer sing, and has to be reassigned within the Harper Hall.
Piemur's story is fun and adventuresome. When we met him in the previous Harper Hall books, he was a young scamp, always getting into scrapes and causing mischief. He's older now, and not changed a whole lot, but he has grown into a more mature young man, loyal to his craft and his friends. And still desperately wanting a fire lizard of his very own. And that is what sets him out on his biggest adventure yet.
A very enjoyable story. I wish there were a fourth book as I'm not quite ready to leave Piemur behind.
April 25, 2018
I understand why this book disappoints a lot of readers. Sold as the third in a trilogy where the first two books are all about Menolly, and written from her POV, this one relegates her to minor character status and follows Piemur instead. Fortunately I like Piemur and enjoy reading about his adventures, but he's very different from Menolly. Also I think this book works better if you've read enough of the Dragonrider books to understand what's happening on the Southern continent and what the problems are between the Oldtimers and the rest of Pern. Otherwise the nuances of the story will be lost on you. So save this one until you've read the other early Pern books and be prepared for a different kind for story than the first two in the series and you'll be OK.
NB - You can get the rest of Menolly's story in The White Dragon, which I think can be read before this one if you're feeling impatient.
NB - You can get the rest of Menolly's story in The White Dragon, which I think can be read before this one if you're feeling impatient.
January 10, 2009
I remember distinctly not liking this book as much as the other two of this series when I read it back as a child (oh, yes I was doing a reread bit for a couple days), but it turns out that it's actually a fun book! I think it was just that Ms McCaffrey changed the focus of the story from my beloved friend Menolly and moved over to a newer face with Piemur. Piemur isn't a bad sort, just a rather impetuous boy who gets in a lot of trouble. There is some fun with the politics of Pern in the background and I found it to be as always a sweet and short read.
June 22, 2009
Surprisingly captivating and exciting read. Really makes you feel for Piemur as he tries to find his place as his whole world collapses around his ears, and the journey with him is particularly rewarding when he finds his own purpose. It's a shame that his personality seemed to take a 180 degree turn towards the end, once he met Sharra. What is it about that girl that changes so many endearing boys to snobs? That said, Piemur's snark is still there, and having "accompanied" him on his adventures for that long in the book, a little character inconsistency can easily be ignored.
March 12, 2009
I enjoyed this conclusion to the Harper Hall Trilogy despite the fact that Menolly isn't the main character. I like Piemur and enjoyed reading as his story unfolded. There was enough of Menolly & other characters I enjoy to keep me happy.
May 12, 2022
Piemer, Medolly's first friend at the Harper's Hall and singer has grown up and his voice has broke. Leaving him now not knowing where he is going to be after it settles is now doing jobs with the masterharper, Medolly and Sebell.
April 4, 2022
Ah Dragondrums, this might be my favorite of the trilogy! First of all, we get to focus in on the warm-hearted scamp who first befriended Mennoly when she came to Harper Hall.
Super mild plot spoilers ahead: This is a warm light-hearted adventure tale where in the first half allows our young hero to practice spycraft, and the second half allows him to live off of the land, using Mennoly's own experiences as a guide. Then there's a wonderful reunion and then, boom, it's over!
Apparently Anne McCaffrey cannot write a story without themes of injustice and cruelty and serious bullying. Fortunately, this did not make up the bulk of the story as it did in the first two books. This is one of those cases where the content is likely to be a lot more palatable when read as a youngster. Otherwise, the writing is quite nice, with only a bit of awkwardness here and there.
Then there was a very small instance of the uber creepy mind bond / mating thing that exists in the Pern universe. The thing that made me decide to never read the rest of the series. Here it was tiny, and glossed over, and made "okay" because perfect circumstances *rolls eyes*
As always, 5 Shiny Stars for the fire-lizards🖤🖤🖤
***
GR Personal Rating System:
★★★★★ 5 Stars ~ LOVED
★★★★☆ 4 Stars ~ ENJOYED
★★★☆☆ 3 Stars ~ LIKED
★★☆☆☆ 2 Stars ~ MEH
★☆☆☆☆ 1 Star ~ NOPE
Super mild plot spoilers ahead: This is a warm light-hearted adventure tale where in the first half allows our young hero to practice spycraft, and the second half allows him to live off of the land, using Mennoly's own experiences as a guide. Then there's a wonderful reunion and then, boom, it's over!
Apparently Anne McCaffrey cannot write a story without themes of injustice and cruelty and serious bullying. Fortunately, this did not make up the bulk of the story as it did in the first two books. This is one of those cases where the content is likely to be a lot more palatable when read as a youngster. Otherwise, the writing is quite nice, with only a bit of awkwardness here and there.
Then there was a very small instance of the uber creepy mind bond / mating thing that exists in the Pern universe. The thing that made me decide to never read the rest of the series. Here it was tiny, and glossed over, and made "okay" because perfect circumstances *rolls eyes*
As always, 5 Shiny Stars for the fire-lizards🖤🖤🖤
***
GR Personal Rating System:
★★★★★ 5 Stars ~ LOVED
★★★★☆ 4 Stars ~ ENJOYED
★★★☆☆ 3 Stars ~ LIKED
★★☆☆☆ 2 Stars ~ MEH
★☆☆☆☆ 1 Star ~ NOPE
June 3, 2023
I enjoyed the first book in the Harper Hall trilogy quite a bit. Book 2 was tedious to say the least. Dragondrums improved on book 2 by switching focus (Menolly’s story was definitely long over) but felt like a rehashing of the bullying theme from book 2 with a pretty random ending tacked on and dragged out. I’m not sure why McAffrey wrote this book. I’m not sure even she knew.
November 29, 2022
More adventuresome than the first two. Ending seemed a bit rushed. Unnecessary mating scene (two humans get carried away with passion when their fire lizards mate). Not graphic, but not based in any sort of morality. If this is in the YA trilogy, I'm wondering what I might have forgotten about her adult-audience books.
October 18, 2016
Despite the change in focus from Menially to Piemur I still really enjoyed this book. When Piemur's voice broke rather than destroy his career it opened up a multitude of opportunities for him. Piemur soon finds himself using his skills to gather information for the Master Harper. Its entertaining reading about the situations he manages to get himself into and out of.
June 6, 2011
The story starts at the end of Dragonsinger where Menolly is made a Journeyman. Piemur prepares himself for a big event where he will be the lead singer until his voice breaks and he realises that his one and only ability which made him special has now disappeared.
But Piemur is very far from having just this one ability and Master Robinton knows how precious Piemur is. That is why Piemur is seemingly hired as a drums apprentice when in fact he is asked to becoming the Master Harper's ears and eyes wherever he goes.
I was at first quite disappointed to see that I wouldn't be in Menolly's head anymore. I really loved Piemur but I was so used to see things through Menolly's eyes that I thought I wouldn't be able to like the book. But then Piemur started being Piemur and I couldn't remember why I could have been worried in the first place.
Piemur has always been very cunning and at times manipulative to get what he wants and seeing his reasoning behind his cunning schemes was fantastic. He is a sweetheart and you can't stop laughing at his wild schemes! I think he is one of my favourite characters ever!
It is so heart-breaking when his voice transforms, I could really feel for him, especially with the weight of everyone else's reaction, but thankfully - and quite frankly, in a typical Piemur fashion - he springs out of it and finds something else to do. He has such a great spirit that he sees the positive aspect of things.
I really don't want to spoil the story by telling you what sorts of mischief he conjures up in this book, but I can promise that you won't be disappointed. I thought that my favourite books would be the first ones because they are told by Menolly and because they focus on those gorgeous little things named fire lizards but Dragondrums is such a special story of someone trying to find himself. It is such a wonderful story that I cried at the end because it made me so happy. (I am not even kidding and I understand I am losing all my street cred by confessing this.)
I know these books were published years ago and no one particularly cares to discover Anne McCaffrey's books today when they can read modern stories and such but those stories really hold something others don't and I really can't wait to read all of Anne Mccaffrey's other books (thank God there are so many!). So you need to read those books too!
This trilogy is one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. It transports me to a beautifully vivid world and makes me travel alongside amazing characters. Plus now I know that I want a fire lizard as a pet so that's that.
But Piemur is very far from having just this one ability and Master Robinton knows how precious Piemur is. That is why Piemur is seemingly hired as a drums apprentice when in fact he is asked to becoming the Master Harper's ears and eyes wherever he goes.
I was at first quite disappointed to see that I wouldn't be in Menolly's head anymore. I really loved Piemur but I was so used to see things through Menolly's eyes that I thought I wouldn't be able to like the book. But then Piemur started being Piemur and I couldn't remember why I could have been worried in the first place.
Piemur has always been very cunning and at times manipulative to get what he wants and seeing his reasoning behind his cunning schemes was fantastic. He is a sweetheart and you can't stop laughing at his wild schemes! I think he is one of my favourite characters ever!
It is so heart-breaking when his voice transforms, I could really feel for him, especially with the weight of everyone else's reaction, but thankfully - and quite frankly, in a typical Piemur fashion - he springs out of it and finds something else to do. He has such a great spirit that he sees the positive aspect of things.
I really don't want to spoil the story by telling you what sorts of mischief he conjures up in this book, but I can promise that you won't be disappointed. I thought that my favourite books would be the first ones because they are told by Menolly and because they focus on those gorgeous little things named fire lizards but Dragondrums is such a special story of someone trying to find himself. It is such a wonderful story that I cried at the end because it made me so happy. (I am not even kidding and I understand I am losing all my street cred by confessing this.)
I know these books were published years ago and no one particularly cares to discover Anne McCaffrey's books today when they can read modern stories and such but those stories really hold something others don't and I really can't wait to read all of Anne Mccaffrey's other books (thank God there are so many!). So you need to read those books too!
This trilogy is one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. It transports me to a beautifully vivid world and makes me travel alongside amazing characters. Plus now I know that I want a fire lizard as a pet so that's that.
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