Todd McCaffrey

I did not care for this particular title. It had a slow start, a slow middle and only the last 20% did it seem more a pleasure than a chore to read. In fact, the only reason I did not stop without finishing it is because I want to read all of the books of Dragonriders of Pern. I think it was less enjoyable because McCaffrey wanted to strongly establish a new timeline in Pern, one he had already initiated. But I feel like he tried to cover too much. Because of this, he had what should have show more been a trilogy with each having it's own tight story to tell. This read like an overview with an artifice to hold things together. Fiona impressing a queen and the challenges of learning the rigors of Weyr life would have served as one. The development of Igen Weyr for recovery of badly injured dragons and dragonriders with the association with the Traders being a second part and the creation of the Watchwher and Gold Holds the final installment. It almost came across that McCaffrey wanted to get all things covered out there, but his real interest was on another project. So, yeah, publisher, got it done, here it is. I hope his next offerings improve or I will not be continuing to waste my time reading the series. show less

I haven't read a Pern book in about a decade, and I was enjoying this YA story, until the scene with the queer blue rider giving a teenage weyrwoman advice on conditioning her hair! Then the teen weyrwoman fretting about her weight?! Suddenly I was reading a tokenistic cookie-cutter high school romance with a Pernese backdrop. Bah.

Mr. Todd M. has come into his own with this installment of the ongoing saga of the Dragonriders of Pern. He is still a tad too anxious to get the story on and done, with this long book being easily cut into two or even three separate books. This time I did not meet with the frustration of the last books that he ignored too many sideline tidbits that would have made the story better, even if it did slow down the telling. Still, I had to wonder if he just has to get this line of thought told show more so he can get on with more interesting things. Regardless, he spins a wonderful, exciting tale with an ending leaving you anxious to start the next book.

We again traverse the fears of Pern with ailing and dying dragons during the beginning of threadfall with Fiona, Kindan (who Fiona loves) and Lorana (who Kindan loves and who is carrying Kindan's baby). Each time I decided I knew what was going to happen, I was, to my delight, wrong. With twists and turns that keep you guessing 'good grief, what next?!', Todd matches the magic of his mother Anne in the world she created. With the last book I had said if this one was as disappointing, I would not go on. I'm hooked again. Ya done yourself proud, Mr. Todd! show less

I met Anne McCaffrey in 1986 when she was guest of honour at the third KeyCon (Winnipeg's Science Fiction Convention). It is the only convention I have ever attended and the draw was the opportunity to meet McCaffrey. And I did get to meet her, twice. The first time was the opening event which was an ice cream social and when I lined up to get my ice cream who was dishing it up? None other than Anne McCaffrey. After that she read from "The Ship who Sang" and she, along with many of us in the show more audience, wept at the ending. She also did a Q and A session and when asked who she liked to read one of the people she mentioned was Ellis Peters. At the second occasion when I met Anne I was getting some books autographed and I mentioned to her that I also was a fan of Ellis Peters. Anne took some time to tell me about meeting Peters through their common publisher.

One of the many, many stories in this anthology tells about McCaffrey signing books at a convention where fans were lined up not just in the hallway outside of the signing room but out of the hotel itself. There were still many of people in line when the hour devoted to her autograph session ended but Anne kept signing as long as there were people with books.

That's just a small indication of the generous nature of Anne McCaffrey. There are many other stories in the book that showcase her generosity and kindness and human decency. If you have been enchanted by her books you will be in love with their creator by the time you finish this tribute. show less