Almost everyone knows about Pern, even those who aren’t generally interested in fantasy or science fiction novels. I’m surprised that no one has tried to take this series and make it into a movie. At the very least, a Sci-Fi channel original series or an anime treatment of it is due. I’ve included this as part of the classics because I believe that McCaffrey’s ability to create a world and tell a story with lots of layers of conflict is far above and beyond that of most fantasy and science fiction writers. She doesn’t just rely on the fantasy and tension of the storyline as a crutch, but creates realistic characters who are fighting real battles, whether that be against the threads, other people, or even time itself. She’s also so intricately created the politics of Pern that it seems like a real place. A quick warning, though, there are elements of sexuality and murder throughout the text, so it may skew a little higher in age. I recommend this book to readers 14 .-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com ( )

This is the first book in the Dragons of Pern series, which I read a small part of as a child. Given that they're still being written, its not surprising that I'm pretty out of date on this series. This book is excellent for a few reasons -- the idea is unique and well implemented; its an amazing mix of fantasy with science fiction style justifications for the way things are; and its well written. The underlying premise is that a planet named Pern as a nearly neighbor on an eccentric orbit. When that neighbor comes near to Pern, spores from the other planet try to land on Pern. These spores breed by eating organic life, so they need to be neutralized or life on Pern will cease. There are however a few patches I had to re-read to make full sense of. I really liked this book.

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McCaffrey’s writing in Dragonflight... is easy reading, though doesn’t have the depth of Herbert or Tolkien. Still it is an entertaining tale and there has been no other like it. And it is good enough to attract its own dedicated followers that the Dragonriders of Pern series, of which it the first chapter, has become one of the most beloved stories in speculative fiction, and whose tale is still on-going at this point of time. (more) ( )

This is a very short book, and a very fast read. The story centers on two main characters. Lessa is a young woman who has hidden from the man who has not only murdered her entire family but assumed ownership of her family home. For years, she has dressed as a filthy drudge, the type of servant nobody notices, biding her time and taking revenge in a number of subtle ways. F'lar is a dragonrider, one of the few who still believes that thread will return and fears that Pern is far from prepared for this event.

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Dragons, Heroes and Wizards ( )

As a teenager, I found this book very compelling. I still believe that McCaffrey has created a complicated, interesting, volatile world. With each book, Pern's history and potential grows. That being said, rereading this book many years later, I can't help but cringe at some things in there. To start with, the sexism! And while I found F'Lar and Lessa's relationship exciting and sexy as a younger person, right now it turned me off to read about the almost-like-rape lovemaking, F'Lar almost hitting Lessa, and basically the lopsided relationship they have for most of this book. Let's just say this feels dated. Still, the idea of a whole sort of rural, agrarian society in threat from an enemy they can't hope to fight with their meager technology - that is still exciting! Worth keeping, at least. ( )