The Dragonriders of Pern

Pern (Chronological Order) #12, 16-17, 21

by Anne McCaffrey

Includes Moreta, The White Dragon, Dragonquest, and Dragonflight

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Anne 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.

Reviews

[Angela]

Love this series of books. It's one of my all time favourites. I decided to re-read the entire Dragonriders of Pern series and over the past couple of months, I have been working my way through them all. Anne McCaffrey has such a wonderful, boundless imagination and such a vivid and descriptive style, her stories transport the reader into the fantastic world that she created and sweeps you up on the breathtaking adventures. Spellbinding!

[D. Denise Dianaty]

I read this several years ago. It was my first Anne McCaffrey novel… I tore through the next several I could find in my local library!

[Autumn]

I’ll be really honest with you...these books drop just enough crumbs for you to think a cookie is coming. There is no cookie. You literally read all of these thinking a big revelation or twist or development is coming and it just never does. The characters go absolutely nowhere, and not one of them is truly likable or has any really redeeming qualities. Jaxom comes close, but then the book is just...over. These books could go SO MANY different and interesting ways and they just never go there. There is no real common enemy, no hero, no goal, and the characters just refuse to really develop. And the token femininity is just stupid. Did we really need a nod to abortion in these books? Did we really need a big fuss over whether or not queens can fly, only to let her fly 2 pages later? Also there are literally a couple times that rape is all but glorified and the sexual tones of the entire series are just cringe worthy. The Harper thinking sexually of Menolly? Eww.

The struggle with any problem is over in a couple pages in every instance. The “love” is all corny and feels forced. I’ve read board books with my toddlers that have a better plot line and character development. I’m just sad I wasted my time on these hoping for unifying development. Nope. Just a string of rapidly resolved annoyances.

[Paul Archer]

I actually read The Dragonriders of Pern back in the 1980s, long before Goodreads existed to track what I was reading. I think it speaks volumes that more than forty years later I still think about Pern.

I first discovered Pern as a teenager and kept returning because it felt like a real place rather than simply a fantasy setting. What stayed with me wasn't only the dragons, but the sense of history, community, and continuity. Characters aged, generations changed, and Pern itself remained a world I wanted to revisit.

Over the years I read not only the original books, but also The White Dragon, the Harper Hall books, and many of the stories that expanded the world. While I enjoyed the characters, I found myself returning less because of any single protagonist and more because I wanted to spend more time on Pern. Every new book felt like another opportunity to visit a familiar place and discover a different corner of the world.

Finishing a Pern book always felt less like finishing a story and more like leaving a place behind for a while. Few fictional settings have stayed with me as long or had as much influence on how I think about world-building and storytelling.

For me, Pern wasn't just a series of books. It was a world I lived in for years.

[Jessica Kemery]

"Dragonriders of Pern" is an epic fantasy series by Anne McCaffrey. The world-building is fantastic, with a good blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements. The story explores a world where dragon riders protect their society. You will fall in love with the characters, who are well-developed and relatable. The story is a blend of adventure, politics, and romance. The series is a must-read for fans of dragon-themed fantasy and science fiction. Even though I read this story as a young girl, I still find it very entertaining, and return to it time and again to satisfy my love of dragons. Overall, a fantastic read that I highly recommend.

[A.M. Geever]

Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern books are among my favorites. My mom bought me the three book box set when I was about thirteen. The first book was a little slow and I might not have stuck with it but my mom had bought these books, and they were kind of expensive, and I am so glad that I did. Her imagination is wonderful, the characterizations of both people and dragons are wonderful, and the the mystery (and threat) of Thread exciting.

Moreta is a great addition to the series.

[Becky]

For some reason I have never been able to 'get into' this book. My sister read the whole series back in the 80's and loved it. I read this same book then and just didn't really like it. I decided to try it again, but again, I just really didn't enjoy it. I appreciate that it is well written, I just didn't bond with any of the characters.

[Deb]

My first ever Dragon book was Dragonriders of Pern. Still my favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy series. Ann McCaffery's writing is so vivid you could feel the air rushing by your face as the great dragons flew!! A must read.

[Rocky Rezendes]

I remember reading this book when i was 16 in 9th grade. My father even tested me to be sure I read it. I actually fell in love with the story and even asked him if he had the continuation. Luckily I found it and was able to move forward in the story.

[Sara]

I really didn't like Moreta
The dragon riders series is well done, bit out dated sexism in the White Dragon, but good over all.

[Margaret]

Science fiction at its best!

[Sherry B. Huffman]

Amazing story. A book for all age.

[Daranya]

I think anyone who loves fantasy should read Anne McCaffrey, the 1st Fantasy writer. Just wonderful.

[Maryann Grace]

I’ve read this several times and still love the characters both humans and dragons. One of my favorite series with strong women main lead. Lessa is awesome.

[Reharn Morris]

A great set to revisit an old favorite. If you love dragons, scifi and space travel, you will love these books!

No spice, definitely a YA story, but it has always fascinated me how Anne McCaffrey wrote and the achievement of being the first female scifi author!

[L Carvel]

As a teenager and now as an adult, I absolutely love McCaffrey's stories of Pern. I have read nearly every book he has written. These stories are the genesis of the world of Pern. The science is believable. The forgotten information of the distant past in the midst of an epic disaster makes sense. For me, the dragon riders are noble, fun, human characters right along side the dragons who are their closest friends. You will find yourself cringing when a dragon and its rider are burned by thread. You will wonder how McCaffrey channeled every single politician into the hidebound hold leaders, and industry leaders on one single world. The dynamics and characterization leave you wanting to fly the skies of Pern on dragonback, fight thread in the sky and on the ground, and find joy in exploring a world.

[Patricia Kidder]

If you like fantasy and dragon books, you will find this series to be thoroughly enjoyable. I read this as a teenager - I loved the idea of little dragons that would ride on your shoulder, with whom you could communicate telepathically. These little dragons could go "between" to deliver messages. It was also fun to think about riding a giant dragon and battle the deathly strings that would occasionally fall from the skies endangering the planet of Pern. It's been a long time since I've read this series, but I would recommend it.

[Sam]

My sister Christine let me borrow her copy ... years ago. this was a new kind of sci-fi for me at the time.. it was the series that led me to look into this genre more deeply... I loved these books.

[Skippy]

So far I am totally in love! though I am only on the first one I have the entire series on my Kindle fire. A must read!

[Carol]

pure fantasy

[Anita Decker]

It was an awesome book.

[Kea208]

My first read, years ago, into SciFi outside of the "its in space or the future" genre. Awesome!!!

[Wendy]

Loved all of these books, read the first book in my science fiction class in high school.

[janet troop]

I have read all of the Perm books so many time's and still enjoy rereading them about every year or two.

[Richard Carbajal]

Loved all her wonderful books. If you like dragons you'll love these. Brilliant.