Series:
Dragonriders of Pern (Book 1)
On a beautiful world called Pern, an ancient way of life
is about to come under attack from a myth that is all too real. Lessa is an
outcast survivor—her parents murdered, her birthright stolen—a strong young
woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. But when an ancient threat to
Pern reemerges, Lessa will rise—upon the back of a great dragon with whom she
shares a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. Together,
dragon and rider will fly . . . and Pern will be changed forever.
I was introduced to this series by a friend in high
school (the late 70s) and have been a huge fan ever since. I have read the
early books several times and was long overdue for a reread when I picked it up
again. It didn't take long for me to become immersed in the world of Pern once
more. I've read several reviews that complain about behaviors and attitudes, but
I look at it through the eyes of when it was written (1968).
People from Earth colonized the world of Pern, but over
the years, Earth forgot about them. The early colonists had modern technology
to help them settle into their new world. This technology became vital when the
planet was attacked by organisms the settlers called "Thread." The
bioengineers bred fighting beasts called dragons, creatures with strong
telepathic links with their riders. Over the centuries, the dragons protected
the planet and its inhabitants from the every two-hundred-years incursions.
Also, modern technology broke down over the years, and life on Pern began to
resemble a feudal society. I loved the descriptions of life on Pern, both in
the Weyr and the holds. The small details of daily living and the larger ones
of significant events make the world real and believable.
As this book opens, it has been four hundred years since
the last attack of Thread. Many believe there will be no more Thread and resent
the requirement to support the dragonriders. The current leadership, R'gul, at
the only surviving weyr, Benden, believes it is best to make as few demands as
possible, keeping the dragonriders out of the public eye. He, too, believes
that there is no more Thread. A younger dragonrider, F'lar, is confident that
R'gul is wrong and that a new attack is imminent. With a new queen egg about to
hatch, F'lar is one of several bronze dragon riders who goes on Search for
candidates for the new queen. This eventually brings him to Ruatha Hold and
Lessa.
Lessa is the only surviving member of the family who held
Ruatha. Ten years earlier, a neighboring Holder invaded and murdered her entire
family. Lessa, age eleven, barely escaped and has been living disguised as a
drudge, waiting for her chance at revenge. Lessa is clever, intelligent, and
occasionally ruthless in her methods. F'lar's arrival sets in motion a series
of events that will change her life forever. Even though I know how it turns out,
I am caught up in the intensity every time I read the book. F'lar's belief that
Lessa is exactly what Pern needs is convincing.
I felt for Lessa as she was swept from the only home she
knew to the strangeness of the Weyr. She knew nothing of what was happening,
and F'lar refused to explain more than the barest details. When it came time to
Impress the new queen, I loved seeing Lessa stand back, observe for a bit, and
learn from others' mistakes. When she acts, she does so decisively, and her
Impression of Ramoth is described in emotional detail. Here we get the first
inkling of the depth of the connection between dragon and rider. But this is
only the beginning. As the new Weyrwoman, Lessa must now undergo intense
training. A naturally impatient person, she is frustrated by the pedantic
instruction provided by R'gul. As convinced as F'lar about the coming Thread,
she doesn't understand why he doesn't do anything about the issue because, once
again, no one tells her anything of importance. In her frustration and
ignorance, Lessa makes some choices that could have ended badly but for a fortunately
timed mating flight.
Said mating flight changes everything. The description of
the flight is vivid and intense. I loved seeing it through the eyes of the
linked Lessa and Ramoth, which gave it extra depth. F'lar's Mnementh became the
queen's mate, which caused a change in leadership for the Weyr. I loved watching
F'lar take charge and shake things up. He is the firm leader that the Weyr and
Pern need, but even he can't magically fix the neglect of decades. I loved
watching him gather together the brilliant minds of the time to collaborate on
ways to protect the planet. One of my favorite scenes involves Masterharper
Robinton and his eloquent smackdown of the skeptics and vocal support of F'lar.
I could feel F'lar's desperation as he worked to prepare for
Thread's arrival. The clock is ticking, and he has only a few dragons to use
instead of the necessary hundreds. The first encounter with Thread is both
terrifying and exhilarating. I felt his pain at the subsequent consequences and
despair that they won't prevail. At the same time, Lessa comes into her
strength as Weywoman, her early life allowing her to see what must be done. Her
belief in the fate of the five missing Weyrs led to a stunning solution. I
loved this section with F'lar's fear for Lessa, his hope for her survival, and
his reaction to her return. I loved F'lar's surprise for her, and R'gul's
reaction was very satisfying.
The relationship between F'lar and Lessa is challenging
to describe. At times it feels almost Pygmalion-like as F'lar molds Lessa into
his concept of a Weyrwoman. He admires her intelligence, resilience, and determination
but is frequently frustrated by her impulsiveness. He tends to be domineering at
times which aggravates her stubbornness. Lessa is frequently torn in her
feelings for F'lar. She is attracted but wary, a feeling reinforced by the
mating flight's results. There are times when she seems to antagonize him
deliberately. She also respects his belief in the traditions that herald the imminent
arrival of Thread and supports his efforts to bring the Weyr and Holders into
line. Though they never overtly state their feelings, by the end of the book,
it is clear that they do love each other.
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