Nerilka's Story

I really enjoyed Nerilka's character - we often spend our time in Pern in the Weyrs or headed to the Weyrs, so a story focusing on a holder who stays a holder, though moving to a different hold, was genuinely interesting. The complex cultural norms that are casually mentioned offhand rather than explained outright, such as the fostering system, are part of what makes the world building of Pern so rich and engaging. I like other Pern books more, but this change in perspective is refreshing and just the right length to enjoy but not get bored of. I also enjoyed the singular perspective, another departure, at least from those Pern books I've read so far - I liked that we as the readers only knew what Nerilka knew, assuming ignorance of show more Moreta's Ride. It has been long enough since I last read Moreta's Ride that this was effective at keeping me in the dark on the details, and I feel it does not detract from the story whatsoever.

My main criticism for this book is that the happy ending is a bit too contrived for my tastes, as regards the personal lives of Nerilka and Alesson, to be clear, not as regards the plague resolving, which I thought was well-earned enough in Moreta's Ride and rather not the point in this novel, besides. show less

Nerilka's Story is a very lean novel (possibly a novella by actual word count?) that retells the story of Moreta. Spoilers for Moreta: at the end, following the death of Moreta, Alessan marries minor character Nerilka "Rill." Nerilka's Story retells the plague from Nerilka's perspective. It follows some Pern tropes that will be familiar to anyone who's read Dragonsong and Masterharper: Nerilka's family is mean to her even though she's gifted, Nerilka strikes out on her own, everyone realizes how awesome Nerilka is, the end. It's 182 pages long, but there are pictures and generous typography; I blew through it in one day. Though I was generally entertained, I feel like the central question I had from Moreta—how did Alessan come around show more to Nerilka so quickly—was largely unaddressed, going by very fast at the end.

I think the publishers knew this wasn't up to much; the dust jacket insists this is a gift to Pern fans (a gift you had to buy yourself in hardcover?) and the pictures—which are not very good—and the maps and other appendices seem like padding. show less

This novella, set in McCaffrey’s epic world of Pern, is stylistically more like a Regency romance than a science-fiction short story. McCaffrey provides an prologue which explains the setting and historical background of the story, but it is more confusing than explanatory, and readers would do well to skip to the story itself.

Nerilka is one of the many daughters of the Lord of Fort Hold, and as a plain, hard-working girl, harbors no romantic thoughts of a lavish marriage and escape from Fort Hold. She spends most of her time gathering and preparing medicinal plants for the healers. Her parents and four sisters are visiting another Hold when a disease and quarantine strikes Pern. Nerilka’s father, in defiance of the quarantine, show more leaves his dying wife and daughters to return home to Fort Hold, where upon hearing of their death, installs his mistress, Anella, and her extended family in the Fort. Nerilka, appalled at his actions and his refusal to send supplies from their overflowing stockroom to those in need, disguises herself and takes medical supplies to those in need, eventually coming to Ruatha Hold, where she becomes a valued member of the Healers.

Published in the mid 1980′s, the black and white illustrations are rather laughable. I remembered this book as being a charming little story, but upon re-reading, found that it has not aged well — which is funny, seeing that it is science fiction set in the distant future. Perhaps it is best read after consuming several of McCaffrey’s Pern novels and getting in to the proper mindset. show less

I reread this book on a whim and for a challenge.

Nerilka is one girl in a large family that is suddenly struck by worldwide tragedy. Ashamed of her father's lack of compassion, selfishness, and hypocrisy in the situation, she leaves her home with the intention of assisting in the recovery efforts of a nearby settlement that has also suffered.

I appreciated how the author told a story through the eyes of a woman who, despite her privileged background, was determined to serve and assist those in dire need.

Orson Scott Card stunned critics when he released "Ender's Shadow," which retold "Ender's Game" from the point of view of another character. Even more surprising was how susccessful a parallel story could be - standing on its own. However, Anne McCaffrey did it before him, with just as much success.

"erilka's Story" parallels the events in "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern." Moreta was a larger than life heroine, willing to sacrifice herself for her people, who rode a beautiful dragon. In a way, Nerilka is more courageous. She goes against the wishes of her family and sets out on a dangerous journey to help others in need. Hers is a story of quiet bravery that is just as moving as Moreta's. This is an excellent novel that deserves as much show more praise, and is a must read. show less

There are so many books about Pern that I have never read all of them and this is one that escaped my notice until now. It is set in the time period when a deadly plague swept through Pern and killed people, dragons and other beasts. Quite a few of both Anne and her son Todd's books have dealt with aspects of this time but it is good to get another view of it.

Nerilka is one of the many daughters of Lord Holder Holocamp of the Fort Hold. While her parents and three of her sisters go off to a Gathering at Ruatha Hold Nerilka is made to stay home. The plague strikes the people at the Gathering and Nerilka's mother and her sisters die. Her father, breaking the quarantine, flies home but sequesters himself in his room issuing orders to show more Nerilka and her brother Campen. One of his orders is to stop giving medicines to the Healers even though they have ample in their stores. Nerilka, already upset that Holocamp has brought his mistress into the hold, decides to leave and go to the nearby internment camp to help the sick. She is not afraid that she will get sick herself since she was one of the people who got immunized by the vaccine made from people and beasts who had survived the plague. When the internment camp is opened up Nerilka goes off with supplies for other habitations. She ends up in Ruatha where she helps with mass production of the vaccine but she has disguised her identity so she will not be known as a lady. The Lord Holder of Ruatha, Alessan, was married to her best friend Suriana but she died before the plague in a riding accident. It is time for Alessan to marry again and sire children to carry on but he is so depressed by the events, including the death of Moreta whom he loved, that he just wants to die. Nerilka convinces him to live at least long enough to sire children and he agrees marrying her. show less

I only rank this three stars because among McCaffrey's Pern books, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me the way the original trilogy or the Harperhall books, or even the book this is based on, Moreta, did. This book is short compared to most Pern books, centered on a minor character in Moreta and paralleling the events there.

It's not a bad book really. It's readable and entertaining, and for those readers who can't have enough of Pern, you may very well enjoy this. I wouldn't let this be your introduction to McCaffrey or her Pern books however; there's better. I'd start with the first book published in the series, Dragonflight. I felt this particular book was too much in the romance novel vein rather than the science show more fiction/fantasy emphasis of the other books. show less