Dragonflight (1968) by Anne McCaffrey is book six for my classics challenge, choose a science fiction classic, hosted by Ann at Search For Wonder. Science Fiction/Fantasy is not a genre I normally read but I have been curious for a long time about Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series.
Dragonflight, the first novel in the series, is set way into the future on the planet of Pern. Pern was first colonized by humans from Earth. But no one from Earth came back to bring the colonists home. And so after thousands of years the people of Pern have built their own civilization and have forgotten all about their Earthly ancestors.
The people of Pern have created a world that is medieval, a feudal society consisting of three groups: The Holds, The Crafts, and the Weyrs. The Holds are the townspeople. They farm, provide food and supplies to the Crafts and the Weyrs. The Crafts are skilled at particular trades: artists, doctors, teachers, musicians, etc.
And then we have the Weyr people. They are the dragonriders. Their sole job along with their dragons is to protect Pern. The people of Pern are in danger every 200 years when a wayward planet in their solar system nears them and the "threads" on that planet descend on Pern like a plague of locusts devouring everything in sight.
And as Dragonflight opens, danger is coming. But it’s been so long since the last thread attack that the Holds and the Crafts have decided that fear of the threads is a myth that people once believed in but no longer should. The Weyrs have gotten cavalier as well. The number of dragons has been allowed to run low and only the dragonrider F'lar and Lessa, a young woman from the Hold, understand the danger that Pern is facing. But will they be able to convince others and create a battle plan capable of vanquishing the threads?
A word of caution. The dragons share a close bond with their riders and the dragons do not harm the people of Pern. But they are predatory and hungry creatures and the livestock on Pern is not so lucky when the dragons are around. This can be somewhat off putting to readers new to science fiction. But cuddly dragons would not have been believable and they certainly would be no match for the threads
Anne McCaffrey is an excellent writer and I can see why her Dragonriders series is such a classic in the world of science fiction and fantasy. She has created in Pern a world of wonder and imagination. And once I learned the history of Pern the novel opened up to me. I recommend Dragonflight to lovers of science fiction and fantasy, Game of Thrones fans, and those who enjoy medieval historical fiction. My genre continues to be mystery novels, true crime, and gothic suspense. But I am glad I moved out of my comfort zone and gave Dragonflight a read.
I discovered this series in my twenties and have read quite a lot of them. It's definitely one of my all time favourite sci-fi series and I'm so pleased you enjoyed your first foray into the Pern universe. She has some other interesting series too, I loved The Ship Who Sang and Decision at Doona.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cath for letting me know about McCaffrey's other books. Her writing is excellent and it takes so much imagination to create Pern. She made it into such a believable planet which takes real talent.
DeleteI've never read her Dragonriders books, but I absolutely love The Rowan and the series that follows.
ReplyDeleteShe has written quite a few science fiction series which I plan to investigate. Maybe I will try out one more book.
DeleteYou are brave to read something like this outside your usual book wheelhouse ... whereas I might flounder. But if I had to be one of the peoples in this book. I'd be among the Weyr ... because I'd like to be a dragonrider. Wouldn't it be cool ... to be riding such a beast? I hope they can keep Pern safe.
ReplyDeleteI was floundering too in that I read the first page and thought what 's happening here? And so I put the book down and did research about the history of Pern, the three groups the Weyrs, the Holds and the Crafts and then I went back to the book and understood it very well. It would be cool to be a dragonrider and they are not dangerous to the people of Pern.
DeleteI read this series in my teens and totally loved it. (Though I don't feel old enough for these books to be considered classics! ;D ) I got very caught up in the lives of Lessa and F'lar and all the dragons. It's such a fun world. My two favs in the series are Dragonsong and Dragonsinger. I still like to reread those. :D
ReplyDeleteI've always been curious about these books, an entire series in which dragons play a major part. And I am thinking now that I understand the layout of Pern maybe I should give Dragonsong a read.
DeleteI have read two books in the Dragonriders of Pern series, and this is one of them. The first one I read was Dragonsdawn. I liked both books and I should read more in the series.
ReplyDeleteAnne McCaffrey is an excellent writer. Science Fiction not my thing but I am glad I gave Dragonflight a read.
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