Nerilka's Story

Pern #8

by Anne McCaffrey

Everyone, holder and dragonrider alike, pitched in to help--except Nerilka's father, who refused to share Fort Hold's bounty with the other holds. So, ashamed of her family and determined to do her part, Nerilka packed up medicines and supplies and sneaked off to aid her people.Her quest to help wherever she was most needed led her finally to Ruatha Hold, where Lord Alessan was frantically inoculations against the dread plague.

Nerilika had long ago abandoned the hope of marriage and a home of her own. Now she found happiness in being useful and appreciated---first the Healers and then Alessan made very clear that they were grateful for her help.

She had no idea that her new path would change the course of her life forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dragons, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

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

[Susan Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic story of Pern. This one is during the same time as Moreta. Nerilka is a beautiful soul who just can't stand how her father is with the people in her hold and the area around. Her father is a cold man that I haven't liked in either book. She has had enough of his nonsense, so she leaves the hold to find her own way. She is a brilliant character who puts meaning into her life by helping others. She is good at what she does and she thrives. Her mother taught her everything she knows and she is able to take that with her after the loss of her mother and sisters to the sickness that has decimated Pern. I thoroughly enjoyed this short story as a continuation of Moreta.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A side plot to the Pern series that did not really stick in my memory, read in the late 80s or 90s.

+*+*+
Pern Re-read
I started a re-read of the series in 2020/2021 and plan to read all the available main novels that I have not read yet.
I am deleting, as I progress through the series, mostly in publication order. I am not too fussed about the order for the rereads, so I will diverge where it seems practical…

Publication Order — main novels / next
* 1989 - The Renegades of Pern
* 1991 - All The Weyrs of Pern
* 1994 - The Dolphins of Pern
* 1998 - The Masterharper of Pern
* 2001 - The Skies of Pern
* 2003 - Dragon’s Kin
* 2005 - Dragonsblood
* 2006 - Dragon’s Fire
* 2007 - Dragon Harper
* 2008 - Dragonheart
* 2010 - Dragongirl
* 2011 - Dragon’s Time
* 2012 - Sky Dragons

For my reread I got a kindle version that also includes a short story from a different McCaffrey series for some odd reason: Nerilka's Story & The Coelura

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not my favorite Anne McCaffrey novel. Hope the later books are better than this.

[Carolyn Hilty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice side story to the main series, ties up some loose ends nicely.

[Kaylabee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book! It was a nice break from McCaffrey’s third person voice- the story is told directly from Nerilka’s point of view. It also moved at a clipped pace, as its meant to be a companion book to Moreta.

It did feel like discovering the diary of someone who lived at a tumultuous time! I appreciated the added layers of understanding and story that this book provides to the Pern series.

Nerilka was a very calm and stalwart heroine- she knew her talents and was a grown woman who was willing to work hard. I felt like she was worthy of a book all her own- a strong woman who may not be considered “special” but IS special just by the good life she’s led.

If I were five years younger I would’ve been disappointed in the romance of the book, but as a grown woman who has experienced the many different levels, trials, and heartbreaks of love I felt very satisfied with where Nerilka ended up and appreciated her relationship for its base of honor, hard work, and kindness and also approved of its stability and simplicity. I think most young girls have a very fairytale-Esque idea of love and marriage and thus get their hearts broken when that perfect vision is revealed to be a mirage. But Nerilkas love story felt real, and she was happy without any sort of death defying testaments to love or unbridled angst-filled passion.

She led a simple life and I can appreciate that.


Anyways, all in all, I enjoyed the book and can’t wait to get into the next Pern book!

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see why this was where I quit on the series on my first attempt many years ago. This isn't a terrible story, but it doesn't do anything to move the overall plot of the series forward and does very little to build important characters or to enrich the reader's understanding of Pern. It feels extra.

[Book2Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just can't lose with an Anne McCaffrey book. I'm still struggling with the order in which order to read the Pern series, but really it doesn't matter. The characters appear and are remembered in various Pern books.
Character development is a strong point with Anne's books. You feel you personally know most of the main characters. And the dragons too! (Dragons remind me of our relationship with pets). Mixed in with a bit of suspense, adventure and drama, and even romance.
This can be read before or after Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. Several characters are in both, so the story just gets wonderfully filled out.
Here are some insights into grief, courage, and resilience, as well as the healing power of hard work.
Enjoy!

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A continuation of the story of Pern, this one following one young women as she runs away from the sadness and the anger that she has with her father, Lord Holder of Fort.

Taking place in the same time as Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern, the plague has devastated Pern and Nerilka searches for a place for her nursing and herbal skills. Being the daughter of a Holder, joining the Masterhealer's Hall is not an option for her. Her escape takes her to a place and life she never expected.

I am enjoying the world of Pern. However, this book has only small portions of the dragons and you can see from my rating (actually 3.5) that I prefer the dragons to people 😊. Still, the writing is top notch, and readable in one sitting. This story leads to others that are to come, I am sure, so worth the read.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very annoyed with how much of the story was recycled from Moreta the first time I read it years ago, but not as annoyed this time. However, the fact remains much is recycled rather than original so I’m not going any higher than 3 stars. However, this is a rather decent story too. Nerilka has long since realized her lot in life is completely constrained by her parents’ decisions on her marriage and expects no happiness in life. Her one real friend was married to Alessan of Ruatha Hold until she died from being thrown off a horse. She is denied the chance to go to Ruatha when now widowed Lord Alessan holds his first gather even though 4 sisters went with their parents.
After Plague breaks out Nerilka is appalled all over again by the complete self centeredness of her father who breaks quarantine to return to Fort Hold and immediately gets his mistress and her family installed in her dead mother’s place. She is even more disgusted by his refusal to contribute necessary herbs to cure the flu epidemic. Stealing the herbal pharmaceuticals she and her dead sisters had prepared, she leaves Fort forever behind. What becomes of her will be shaped by her, not her disgusting father!
This theme of life going on after tragedy is in many ways a deeper theme than in Moreta. But Moreta is a more complex, layered story. I appreciate knowing what happened to Alessan as that was left unfinished in Moreta. The message that life can and must go on is always a good reminder, particularly since this could be read by adolescents who hopefully haven’t had to learn that hard lesson yet. Definitely recommended for Pern fans.

[Elana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehh...I find as I return to Pern stories in my old age and re-read them that I like the depiction of the women's lot less and less. Nerilka has a strong voice, and this ancillary tale is engaging - but I genuinely disliked the depiction of her "romance", if you can even use that word, with Alessan.

More like 2.5 stars for the unfulfilling relationship Nerilka ends up in; but McCaffrey is still a talented writer with an impressive vocabulary, and I must award style points where points are due.

[prcardi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Storyline: 1/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
World: 2/5

The possibilities promised by the parallel tale format are enticing. See the other point of view, find out about another’s struggles, learn about entirely new relationships and connections, see what happened to minor compatriots or major ones off-page. Nerilka’s Story, a parallel tale to Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern , supplies only a few of these and those only perfunctorily. This is not a story that can be read as a stand-alone. In lieu of development and buildup, McCaffrey gives a long, dry prologue that introduces the world of Pern as presented in the previous books, dutifully cataloging its professions and culture. This prologue does not, however, review the events of Moreta. This was an odd decision on the part of the author since Nerilka’s Story is written as if the reader does indeed know of those events, McCaffrey taking little time to build up suspense or fully explain happenings. The parallel tale itself has little new of interest. There’s no great discovery or revelation. There’s no delightful intersection. There’s no surprising twist. Instead, what is presented are the bits that seemed to have been left out of Moreta. If you were a teenage girl desiring to read a female author, already enthralled with the lands of Pern, having loved Moretta and wanting to know every detail – especially details about another strong, female character – then this book was probably eagerly received and devoured. McCaffrey’s talents are showcased with the circumstances around the main character. Though the characters themselves were nothing exceptional, the situations and interactions they are put through generate some particularly emotional scenes. Otherwise, this mostly read as a very uninspired and lazy attempt by the author to add another Pern book to the series while committing only minimal effort. This was not worth being considered a new Pern book, and it showed the author more as the marketer of a product than an author penning new, fantastical tales.

[Lila Diller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern first, as it gives more of the overarching framework.

I have always liked the change to first-person POV, and telling the story from the vantage point of a very minor character fascinates me.

I normally like to start with The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall and Dragonsdawn, working my way chronologically through Pern's history. But while in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to try reading this to determine if reading about plagues is therapeutic as I heard. This was definitely good therapy for me. When the very first paragraph seemed to speak of me today, I knew I had to finish. And though the first half did include grief, it imparted several ways that people deal with the grief, which was enlightening.

And the main reason I chose Nerilka's Story over Moreta's was because I knew this one ended much happier. And as a romance fan, I must have my happy ending.

Favorite quotes:
"No one can challenge the fact that I have lived through a momentous time in Pern's history, a tragic time. I survived the Great Plague, though my heart still grieves for those lost to its virulence, and ever will." (p.1)

"Sometimes one knows the drums are relaying good news, happy tidings. The beat seems brighter, higher-pitched, as if the very skins are singing with pleasure at their work. So if I fancied that the drums were weeping today, who could blame me?" (p.38)

"I suspect it would put a blight on our relationship when he did. But that was really his problem. Mine was getting into my own bed, [sic] and not wishing that there was someone who might care to tuck me in." (p.134)

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once I met Todd McCaffery and told him how much is mother's work meant to me as a teenager. I picked up this book to read it this week and realized I Was Lying to the poor man. At one point while reading this book characters talk about how dragons can go back and forth through time and I was indignant. No they can not, that is ridiculous and opens so many cans of worms and plot holes. Fine. Google it.
Oh.
No. Pern wikis tell me I am very wrong and its a major feature of every Dragonriders of Pern plot line and now I wonder if I really read anything as a high schooler.
So apologies Mr. McCaffery, I thought your mom's books meant a lot to me but it turns out I wasn't even paying attention when they were in front of me.
I picked up this book in the first place because it has a pandemic in it which is resolved in a few months thank to vaccines and those time traveling dragons. Well maybe we can work on it.

[Bernadette Durbin]

It's been literal decades since I've read this, and I do still enjoy this. However, there are a couple of things.

The first is, has this ever had a good cover? The only version out here has been the awful "dress in a sleeveless FUR vest because we can't decide what the weather is" 70s vapid female figure. And the interior illustrations are obviously drawn directly from photographs of people who look nothing like the characters as described.

The second is that Anne McCaffrey obviously had no idea how influenza pandemics worked. (It is established in Moreta that it is a flu virus.) 3-4 weeks for the complete and total spread of the disease? Serum vaccines take effect instantly, instead of the 2 weeks they recommend for modern vaccines? Everybody has to get vaccinated on the same day, in a culture where the only fast transport is dragon-back?

I mean. It's a good story, but that timeline is unreasonably compressed. As anyone could tell you from current events, you don't need to have things happen in a matter of days to get that Sense of Doom™. Always nice to see the story of "unappreciated at home, finds new place where talents are appreciated" happening.

[Leikela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this many times, and it's weirdly one of my favorite Pern books - if I had to choose only one book to be on my bookshelf, it would be this one or Dragonsong. (This is subject to change as I reread other books, I'm sure.)

I was and still am excited about a story NOT about dragons and dragonriders, that doesn't necessarily tie into the overarching narrative. Nerilka is a refreshingly self-sufficent character, and I enjoy reading about holds and runnerbeasts and whatnot. Also this book was the first I had ever heard about cetrifuges, and I continue to be fascinated by them. (This is all possibly because I grew up on a farm, vaccinating animals, among other things. Nerilka felt like one of us!)

This is a "companion" story to Moreta, but I disagree that you have to read Moreta first. It would be helpful to read any of the Pern books first (otherwise the tragedy doesn't hit quite right), but really I think this books stands alone.

I never quite felt settled at the ending, and I enjoy it less now that I'm grown and married. But at the same time, it wasn't a terrible ending. Very vague so no spoilers, but my issue is more that women seem to have little autonomy than Nerilka's fate.

[Kryptomite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a companion novella to Moretta, and should be read directly after. If not, it probably won't make much sense. It is written in first person, as if it is a direct accounting by Nerilka, and does a good job of tying up some loose ends and filling in the story of a couple of the more interesting characters. The last quarter is possibly the strongest, as it showcases an atypical relationship dynamic with emotions that I would not have expected from a fantasy dragon novel. If you read Moretta and liked it, you really should add this one onto it.

[Dragana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Nerilka in Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern so I was excited to see that the next book in the series is about her. But ...
Nerilka's Story covers mostly the same events as Moreta's story just from a different POV (Nerilka's). And I wished to know more about what Nerilka did at Ruata, there were gaps that were never filled, just glanced over.
So, in the end, I expected to learn more about Nerilka. Slightly disappointed.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one felt a bit unnecessary - I liked Nerilka, but it didn't have a whole lot of plot movement going for it.

[Stephanie Carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't expect it to be in first person but ya know it works. It's a nice little companion to Moreta's story. There's not much else to say about it, though.

[C.E. Clayton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Outside of the illustrations and getting a little bit at the end to kind of sum up what happened after the Impression at the end of "Moreta:Dragon Lady of Pern", there's not much this novella adds to the world of Pern and what happened during the flu epidemic. At least it's a quick read!

[AG Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread

[Olga Godim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Readable, but only just. It took an effort to finish. No more McCaffrey for me.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella, set in McCaffrey’s epic world of Pern, is stylistically more like a Regency romance than a science-fiction short story. McCaffrey provides an prologue which explains the setting and historical background of the story, but it is more confusing than explanatory, and readers would do well to skip to the story itself.

Nerilka is one of the many daughters of the Lord of Fort Hold, and as a plain, hard-working girl, harbors no romantic thoughts of a lavish marriage and escape from Fort Hold. She spends most of her time gathering and preparing medicinal plants for the healers. Her parents and four sisters are visiting another Hold when a disease and quarantine strikes Pern. Nerilka’s father, in defiance of the quarantine, leaves his dying wife and daughters to return home to Fort Hold, where upon hearing of their death, installs his mistress, Anella, and her extended family in the Fort. Nerilka, appalled at his actions and his refusal to send supplies from their overflowing stockroom to those in need, disguises herself and takes medical supplies to those in need, eventually coming to Ruatha Hold, where she becomes a valued member of the Healers.

Published in the mid 1980′s, the black and white illustrations are rather laughable. I remembered this book as being a charming little story, but upon re-reading, found that it has not aged well — which is funny, seeing that it is science fiction set in the distant future. Perhaps it is best read after consuming several of McCaffrey’s Pern novels and getting in to the proper mindset.

[Chris Gager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started this last night after finishing "Paris Review #183." Rescued from somewhere - maybe the town transfer station book shelves. Safe to say that Anne M.'s work never appeared in THAT periodical! This is my third Pern read. So far I've enjoyed the late Ms. McCaffrey's prose - easy to read and enjoyable. I like that she leans heavily on female protagonists too. "Dragondrums" featured a Ray Liotta look-alike in the cover art and this one features a Nerilka who looks like Sandra Bernhard with a nose job - very tall.

Finished last night with this rather brief and sketchy Pern tale. It was ok ... nothing special but entertaining enough to get a 3* rating(2.75 actually). The story is very similar to Lessa's in "Weyr Search"(the first part of Dragonflight): underappreciated/hidden young woman finds her destiny(and a husband) etc. As others have noted there's not a lot of dragon action in this one. Not a lot of action at all as a matter for fact. As I said, this is not any kind of a Pern epic. Like "Dragondrums," it's a side story. Moreta is a major Pern character in another book, while Nerilka appears briefly. Here it's the opposite.

- The narrative can be a bit confusing at times, especially when some very bad things happen near the end. Important details seem to be skimmed over. Dag's leg is splinted but we aren't told why. I assume the explanation is in the "Moreta ..." book!

[Amyiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've reread this and never reviewed it on either pass. It is really a survival and becoming story for our heroine Nerilka who no longer can live at her hold with her father, so leaves one day, with the traveling people to help with the plague and ends up at her friend's brothers hold, whom she admires greatly. She watches as Alessan does what her father would not and helps his people. All while watching him fall in love with Moreta. When the relationship comes to an end, Nerilka does all she can to get the hold to continue to have a ruler that will help and not give up hope. In the end it is a subdued love story of hope with a HEA.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming and short addition to the Pern stories. Less about Dragons, more about heart. Lady Nerilka is unappreciated by her own Father and Hold. She has recently lost her mother & sisters to a plague sweeping their world. Her father selfishly returns to his Hold and refuses anyone entry or sharing of goods, or healing arts with other communities. Lady Nerilka is disgusted by this behavior and longs to help out, especially at Ruatha where she was fostered. In disguise, she gathers appropriate supplies and seeks to be of service. She finds purpose and love.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a companion volume to the novel, Moeta: Dragon Lady of Pern. It is a quick read, providing depth to the commonplace lives of the people of Pern. Because it parallels Moreta it is a melancholy story. At the same time it is elevated through the joyous events of a hatching—typical of many of these stories. Nerilka is a likable and sympathetic character.

The ebook includes the original illustrations and material from the Atlas of Pern.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lord Alessan is in need of help to fight the plague. With the Dragonriders loosing respect, the holders aren't doing their part. Then again, some of these dragonriders have been abusing their privileges. Nerilka is the one who saves the day. I liked her, especially as she is the overlooked one. I was mixed about this story as Alessan loved Moreta and lost her. Somehow, Nerilka felt like a second place replacement. It was kind of discomforting to me. She's always "second" place.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual score 4.5 stars.
Nerilka is one of the Fort Holds oldest daughters. She wasn't allowed to go to the Ruatha's gather, when her Father, Mother and four of her younger sisters went. But possibly that was part of why she survived the pandemic that hit Pern.
This book is the story of the pandemic from her perspective. I don't want to go into too much of the story as it will give away so much. If you have read Moreta, and liked it, you must read this book also.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story, but there is some overlap with Moreta's story, and not a whole lot besides.