Dragonriders of Pern (Series Summary)

A Science Fantasy Series Review

Author: Anne McCaffrey
Genre: Science Fantasy series, Dragons, 13+
Series: Pern: Dragonriders of Pern
Publisher: Roc
Book Reviews: Dragonflight - Dragonquest - The White Dragon

Dragonriders of Pern is a HUGE series containing trilogies and standalones. This is the first trio of books written and a great start to a series that is still having books added to it today. The dragons and the system of Lords, Holders, and Weyrs gives the series a fantasy air but it also takes place on a colonized planet. The inhabitants in this part of the trilogy have forgotten their origins, knowing only that their ancestors possessed technologies that have been lost to time.

The first three books introduce us to Pern and its unique society. An organism called Thread, comes from another planet when that planet’s orbit brings it in close proximity. Thread devours vegetation if allowed to reach the ground, so the dragons were developed to combat this threat, literally burning Thread out of the skies. However, it has been 400 years since Thread has fallen and except for a few dragonriders, no one believes it will ever return. If Thread does return, Pern is going to be in deep trouble. Where once there were 5 weyrs full of dragons and their riders, now there is only one and that is not enough to cover the planet should Thread once again become a threat.

This is one of the series that got me hooked on fantasy in general and dragons in particular. On the planet of Pern, candidates showing telepathic abilities "impress" dragons right out the egg. The dragon and its rider share both a telepathic and an emotional bond. This bond is until death, if the rider dies the dragon commits suicide, if the dragon dies, dragonriders become hopelessly insane or suffer from severe depression. The wonders do not stop there, dragons use a method of teleportation, allowing them to cover miles in a matter of seconds, they breathe fire and are more telepathic then their riders.

The characters are delightful, the worldbuilding is off to a good start, and while the story may seem simplistic compared to the gritty fantasy/science fiction of today, it is still a fun read. There is a mystery or two, some romance, drama, intrigue and dragons! These books are popular with YA readers. Although they do contain sex, it is not graphically detailed with the exception of one scene in The White Dragon, and the description there is more emotional then physical. The violence is at a bare minimum and there is not any objectionable language. Great books for when you are in the mood for something light to read away a rainy day. For more detailed information you might like to check out the individual reviews.

Read an Interview with Anne McCaffrey Listen to an Interview with Anne McCaffrey Anne McCaffrey's Website Similar Reads from LibraryThing Songs of Pern CD Available in Kindle, Audio or Ebook See individual reviews for more information.