Anne McCaffrey has gone for all time between

Didaktylos · 23rd November 2011, 06:15 AM

From the Guardian

I first read Dragonflight when I was 15 and was hooked immediately.

Piscivore · 23rd November 2011, 06:19 AM

That's sad.

Darat · 23rd November 2011, 06:28 AM

If she could Helva would shed a tear.

Wasn't enamoured of much of her later works but stories like "The Ship Who Sang" were amongst the vanguard of quality science fiction that helped science fiction break with the hegemony of the "golden age" editors.

I can recall hearing her on a panel at some science fiction convention in the 1980s and she certainly was a very passionate person and unashamedly proud of being a "genre" writer.

Gawdzilla · 23rd November 2011, 06:29 AM

Pern was the first religion-free society I had read about that I though might actually work. That was important to me when I was coming to realize that I could no longer hide from the issues surrounding religion.

Skepticemea · 23rd November 2011, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by Darat

If she could Helva would shed a tear.

Wasn't enamoured of much of her later works but stories like "The Ship Who Sang" were amongst the vanguard of quality science fiction that helped science fiction break with the hegemony of the "golden age" editors.

As an evangelical Asimov fan in the 80s, I was given that book by my aunt who worked at Collins (McCaffrey's publisher at the time) as an exercise in humility. Amazing writer and all round good egg.

Silly Green Monkey · 23rd November 2011, 07:04 AM

I just finished reading the Twins of Petaybee series and have the last of Freedom's Landing series to read. That's sad, that there will be no more stories like these.

ZirconBlue · 23rd November 2011, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by Didaktylos

From the Guardian

I first read Dragonflight when I was 15 and was hooked immediately.

For me, it was The White Dragon first. I think I was around 14 at the time. I have since read all of the Pern books written by her (although I've avoided the ones that have her son's name on them).

Halfcentaur · 23rd November 2011, 09:07 AM

I grew up seeing my mother reading these my whole life, I've always meant to check them out.

theprestige · 23rd November 2011, 09:53 AM

Is it too soon to predict that this will not stop the publication of new "Anne McCaffrey" novels?

Hokulele · 23rd November 2011, 10:00 AM

That is sad, I loved her books as well.

However, I seem to recall reading an interview with her a long, long time ago where she claimed that her ideas for the dragon/human bonding in Pern, as well as the psychic abilities of the characters in her "Tower" books (To Ride Pegasus, and the others), stemmed from her own experiences. I believe she had claimed to have had three premonitions about her own life, two of which had already come true, and the third concerned her death.

Does anyone else know anything about this? If not, to Google I go...

Elizabeth I · 23rd November 2011, 10:15 AM

That's said. If it should turn out there is an afterlife, I hope she gets a dragon.

ZirconBlue · 23rd November 2011, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by theprestige

Is it too soon to predict that this will not stop the publication of new "Anne McCaffrey" novels?

Todd McCaffrey has been writing the Pern novels in recent years, but using his own name, not selling them as "Anne McCaffrey" novels.

ETA: Correction, they are credited as written by both Anne and Todd.

Gawdzilla · 23rd November 2011, 11:05 AM

A lot of authors have had posthumous publications, so it would be a surprise to see one or more "new" novels from her. And, of course, she could do what Heinlein did.

Elizabeth I · 23rd November 2011, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Elizabeth I

That's said. If it should turn out there is an afterlife, I hope she gets a dragon.

That should of course be, "That's sad," not, "That's said."

Beanbag · 23rd November 2011, 08:49 PM

I got a VERY good backrub from her at one small sci-fi convention in the 70's when I threw my back out during a fighting demo. As others have mentioned, she was an all-round good egg.

Beanbag

Robrob · 23rd November 2011, 09:50 PM

That's too bad.

Aridas · 24th November 2011, 01:47 AM

Meh. It's sad that she's gone, but personally, I'd rather cheer for what she accomplished in her life.

Gawdzilla · 24th November 2011, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by Aridas

Meh. It's sad that she's gone, but personally, I'd rather cheer for what she accomplished in her life.

She helped pass many a long mile at sea, and many a boring night in some dank hootch while waiting for things to become non-boring (in a bad way, mostly).

Gawdzilla · 24th November 2011, 06:48 AM

Do you think that her idea of a religion-free Pern would have worked?

Hazel · 24th November 2011, 08:46 AM

It puts a dark spot of sadness on this day. Many, very many are the nights that I sat up far too late to finish a dragonrider book. They weren't deep. They weren't heavy. Just wonderfully enjoyable books when one is too tired to read anything extremely serious.

Anne McCaffrey and Lilian Jackson Braun will always be on my list of admriable persons - not just for what they wrote but for what both stood for.

Rest in Peace, Anne.

Hazel · 24th November 2011, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by ZirconBlue

For me, it was The White Dragon first. I think I was around 14 at the time. I have since read all of the Pern books written by her (although I've avoided the ones that have her son's name on them).

That was my first also. From them on, I was searching for all of them. Her story of how they got to Pern in the first place speaks to us today, doesn't it? I wonder if we will ever send colonies out successfully. Anyway, I have already chosen for my next life to be on Pern.

Gawdzilla · 24th November 2011, 09:44 AM

I had a great deal of amusement from explaining the dynamics of Weyr life to a somewhat homophobic sailor one time. He thought it was great that the randy greens caused such a scene until I pointed out that all the riders were male except the Queen's rider.

Silly Green Monkey · 26th November 2011, 06:56 AM

That wasn't how it started, and later it did change---blues mainly still chose males though.

sarge · 28th November 2011, 06:52 AM

Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc?

ZirconBlue · 28th November 2011, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by sarge

Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc?

I like all of the Pern books I've read, but I have avoided any that have Todd McCaffrey's name on the cover.

I'd recommend reading them in publication order, picking up the Harper Hall Trilogy, next.

Didaktylos · 28th November 2011, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by sarge

Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc?

Here is a list (I'm not sure how up tp date) of the PERN stories.

Gawdzilla · 28th November 2011, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by sarge

Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc?

The Drummer's Hall books, with Master Harper of Pern to round it out.

I Ratant · 28th November 2011, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by Gawdzilla

Do you think that her idea of a religion-free Pern would have worked?

.
I never tumbled to the religion free aspect.
Nothing was made of it in the novels, that I can recall.
In retrospect, it would be a very odd situation to not have a religion.
I remember (kinda) the first story in ASF waaaaay back when.
And read most of them since. Still have one unread, it's been waiting for a few years.

Gawdzilla · 28th November 2011, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by I Ratant

.
I never tumbled to the religion free aspect.
Nothing was made of it in the novels, that I can recall.
In retrospect, it would be a very odd situation to not have a religion.
I remember (kinda) the first story in ASF waaaaay back when.
And read most of them since. Still have one unread, it's been waiting for a few years.

The colony was established with the intention of having a society without religion. "First Fall" cleared that up, IIRC.

AvalonXQ · 28th November 2011, 08:28 AM

Hadn't heard. Good author.

Gawdzilla · 28th November 2011, 08:54 AM

Will we be seeing some movies out of her books now? Dragonflight could be done, and would be a great excuse for some 3D action.

I Ratant · 28th November 2011, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by Gawdzilla

The colony was established with the intention of having a society without religion. "First Fall" cleared that up, IIRC.

.
I don't recall much or anything of that one.
I was taken with all the swooning and sashaying of the adepts in MZB's "Darkover" series...

Hazel · 28th November 2011, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by sarge

Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc?

They are all good. In the whole series I think I only came upon one or two that I thought could have been better-written but even those were good.

As for order, it took me a long time to find the first two because, whenever anyone asked how to read them in order, the answer was you don't need to. I disagree because you keep wondering how they got to Pern in the first place. It doesn't hurt to have read several of them in any order. Then you begin to want the whole story. That's when "order" comes in.

Now I have to call on someone with a better memory than I have for titles but there is one that tells the whole story of the trip from Earth to Pern. Then there is a second that tells of their first years on Pern. Parts of it are quite pertinent to the later situation there - no mechanical transportation, how they got dragons and dragon riders, loss of medical knowledge, etc.

Please, can someone name those? I cannot. Hazel

ZirconBlue · 28th November 2011, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Hazel

They are all good. In the whole series I think I only came upon one or two that I thought could have been better-written but even those were good.

As for order, it took me a long time to find the first two because, whenever anyone asked how to read them in order, the answer was you don't need to. I disagree because you keep wondering how they got to Pern in the first place. It doesn't hurt to have read several of them in any order. Then you begin to want the whole story. That's when "order" comes in.

I am of the opinion that the order these past details are revealed are best enjoyed by reading them in publication order. IIRC, McCaffrey herself also preferred that reading order.

Quote:

Now I have to call on someone with a better memory than I have for titles but there is one that tells the whole story of the trip from Earth to Pern. Then there is a second that tells of their first years on Pern. Parts of it are quite pertinent to the later situation there - no mechanical transportation, how they got dragons and dragon riders, loss of medical knowledge, etc.

Please, can someone name those? I cannot. Hazel

I think you are likely referring to Dragonsdawn , and the short story collection The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall.

Didaktylos · 28th November 2011, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Hazel

They are all good. In the whole series I think I only came upon one or two that I thought could have been better-written but even those were good.

As for order, it took me a long time to find the first two because, whenever anyone asked how to read them in order, the answer was you don't need to. I disagree because you keep wondering how they got to Pern in the first place. It doesn't hurt to have read several of them in any order. Then you begin to want the whole story. That's when "order" comes in.

Now I have to call on someone with a better memory than I have for titles but there is one that tells the whole story of the trip from Earth to Pern. Then there is a second that tells of their first years on Pern. Parts of it are quite pertinent to the later situation there - no mechanical transportation, how they got dragons and dragon riders, loss of medical knowledge, etc.

Please, can someone name those? I cannot. Hazel

The one that tells of the settlement of Pern up to the first dragon-borne battle against Thread is "Dragonsdawn".

Gawdzilla · 28th November 2011, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by Didaktylos

The one that tells of the settlement of Pern up to the first dragon-borne battle against Thread is "Dragonsdawn".

And that's the one I've been referring to when I've been saying "First Fall". Pardons to all.

23rd November 2011, 06:15 AM	#1
Didaktylos Critical Thinker Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 400	Anne McCaffrey has gone for all time between From the *Guardian* I first read Dragonflight when I was 15 and was hooked immediately.
	__________________ It's untrue that blokes can't multi-task: I can avoid doing any number of things simultaneously.

23rd November 2011, 06:19 AM	#2
Piscivore Smelling fishy Join Date: May 2004 Location: Home is wherever I'm with you Posts: 26,454	That's sad.
	__________________ It's always been Wankershim. "...untrustworthy obnoxious twerp." - CFLarsen

23rd November 2011, 06:28 AM	#3
Darat Lackey Administrator / JREF Forum Liaison Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 64,731	If she could Helva would shed a tear. Wasn't enamoured of much of her later works but stories like "The Ship Who Sang" were amongst the vanguard of quality science fiction that helped science fiction break with the hegemony of the "golden age" editors. I can recall hearing her on a panel at some science fiction convention in the 1980s and she certainly was a very passionate person and unashamedly proud of being a "genre" writer.
	__________________ If it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 1918-2008

23rd November 2011, 06:29 AM	#4
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Pern was the first religion-free society I had read about that I though might actually work. That was important to me when I was coming to realize that I could no longer hide from the issues surrounding religion.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

23rd November 2011, 07:07 AM	#7
ZirconBlue Sole Survivor of L-Town Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wilson, North Carolina, USA, Earth Posts: 11,311	Originally Posted by Didaktylos From the *Guardian* I first read Dragonflight when I was 15 and was hooked immediately. For me, it was The White Dragon first. I think I was around 14 at the time. I have since read all of the Pern books written by her (although I've avoided the ones that have her son's name on them).
	__________________ Religion and sex are powerplays. Manipulate the people for the money they pay. Selling skin, selling God The numbers look the same on their credit cards.

23rd November 2011, 06:50 AM	#5
Skepticemea Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,277	Originally Posted by Darat If she could Helva would shed a tear. Wasn't enamoured of much of her later works but stories like "The Ship Who Sang" were amongst the vanguard of quality science fiction that helped science fiction break with the hegemony of the "golden age" editors. As an evangelical Asimov fan in the 80s, I was given that book by my aunt who worked at Collins (McCaffrey's publisher at the time) as an exercise in humility. Amazing writer and all round good egg.

23rd November 2011, 07:04 AM	#6
Silly Green Monkey Cowardly Lurking in the Shadows of Greatness Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,043	I just finished reading the Twins of Petaybee series and have the last of Freedom's Landing series to read. That's sad, that there will be no more stories like these.

23rd November 2011, 09:07 AM	#8
Halfcentaur Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,935	I grew up seeing my mother reading these my whole life, I've always meant to check them out.
Halfcentaur Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,935

23rd November 2011, 09:53 AM	#9
theprestige Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8,566	Is it too soon to predict that this will not stop the publication of new "Anne McCaffrey" novels?
theprestige Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8,566

23rd November 2011, 10:00 AM	#10
Hokulele Official Nemesis Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Trying to decide whether to set defenses against an army, or against mole rats. Posts: 27,265	That is sad, I loved her books as well. However, I seem to recall reading an interview with her a long, long time ago where she claimed that her ideas for the dragon/human bonding in Pern, as well as the psychic abilities of the characters in her "Tower" books (To Ride Pegasus, and the others), stemmed from her own experiences. I believe she had claimed to have had three premonitions about her own life, two of which had already come true, and the third concerned her death. Does anyone else know anything about this? If not, to Google I go...
	__________________ Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" Some person: "Why did you shoot that?" Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" - Tragic Monkey

23rd November 2011, 10:15 AM	#11
Elizabeth I Olympic Equestrian Wannabe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Defending the Alamo Posts: 9,253	That's said. If it should turn out there is an afterlife, I hope she gets a dragon.
	__________________ • There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. - Winston Churchill • Never wrestle with a pig - you just get dirty and the pig enjoys it. • My blog: Pardon me, may I ask...

23rd November 2011, 10:37 AM	#12
ZirconBlue Sole Survivor of L-Town Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wilson, North Carolina, USA, Earth Posts: 11,311	Originally Posted by theprestige Is it too soon to predict that this will not stop the publication of new "Anne McCaffrey" novels? Todd McCaffrey has been writing the Pern novels in recent years, but using his own name, not selling them as "Anne McCaffrey" novels. ETA: Correction, they are credited as written by both Anne and Todd.
	__________________ Religion and sex are powerplays. Manipulate the people for the money they pay. Selling skin, selling God The numbers look the same on their credit cards. Last edited by ZirconBlue; 23rd November 2011 at 10:39 AM.

23rd November 2011, 11:05 AM	#13
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	A lot of authors have had posthumous publications, so it would be a surprise to see one or more "new" novels from her. And, of course, she could do what Heinlein did.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

23rd November 2011, 08:19 PM	#14
Elizabeth I Olympic Equestrian Wannabe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Defending the Alamo Posts: 9,253	Originally Posted by Elizabeth I That's said. If it should turn out there is an afterlife, I hope she gets a dragon. That should of course be, "That's sad," not, "That's said."
	__________________ • There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. - Winston Churchill • Never wrestle with a pig - you just get dirty and the pig enjoys it. • My blog: Pardon me, may I ask...

23rd November 2011, 08:49 PM	#15
Beanbag Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dallas/Fort Worth Posts: 2,709	I got a VERY good backrub from her at one small sci-fi convention in the 70's when I threw my back out during a fighting demo. As others have mentioned, she was an all-round good egg. Beanbag
	__________________ Nothing divides an indivisible nation quite as well as religion. Know god, no peace. No god, know peace. If Jesus is the answer, it must be a real dumb question.

23rd November 2011, 09:50 PM	#16
Robrob Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3,660	That's too bad.
Robrob Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3,660

24th November 2011, 01:47 AM	#17
Aridas Crazy Little Green Dragon Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,106	Meh. It's sad that she's gone, but personally, I'd rather cheer for what she accomplished in her life.
	__________________ So sayeth the crazy little dragon.

24th November 2011, 05:01 AM	#18
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by Aridas Meh. It's sad that she's gone, but personally, I'd rather cheer for what she accomplished in her life. She helped pass many a long mile at sea, and many a boring night in some dank hootch while waiting for things to become non-boring (in a bad way, mostly).
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

24th November 2011, 06:48 AM	#19
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Do you think that her idea of a religion-free Pern would have worked?
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

24th November 2011, 08:46 AM	#20
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,220	It puts a dark spot of sadness on this day. Many, very many are the nights that I sat up far too late to finish a dragonrider book. They weren't deep. They weren't heavy. Just wonderfully enjoyable books when one is too tired to read anything extremely serious. Anne McCaffrey and Lilian Jackson Braun will always be on my list of admriable persons - not just for what they wrote but for what both stood for. Rest in Peace, Anne.

24th November 2011, 08:55 AM	#21
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,220	Originally Posted by ZirconBlue For me, it was The White Dragon first. I think I was around 14 at the time. I have since read all of the Pern books written by her (although I've avoided the ones that have her son's name on them). That was my first also. From them on, I was searching for all of them. Her story of how they got to Pern in the first place speaks to us today, doesn't it? I wonder if we will ever send colonies out successfully. Anyway, I have already chosen for my next life to be on Pern.

24th November 2011, 09:44 AM	#22
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	I had a great deal of amusement from explaining the dynamics of Weyr life to a somewhat homophobic sailor one time. He thought it was great that the randy greens caused such a scene until I pointed out that all the riders were male except the Queen's rider.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

26th November 2011, 06:56 AM	#23
Silly Green Monkey Cowardly Lurking in the Shadows of Greatness Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,043	That wasn't how it started, and later it did change---blues mainly still chose males though.

28th November 2011, 06:52 AM	#24
sarge Master Poster Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 2,323	Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc?
	__________________ I'm a not-so-strict constructionist, fiscally conservative, social liberal. Exactly which party represents me?

28th November 2011, 08:03 AM	#25
ZirconBlue Sole Survivor of L-Town Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wilson, North Carolina, USA, Earth Posts: 11,311	Originally Posted by sarge Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc? I like all of the Pern books I've read, but I have avoided any that have Todd McCaffrey's name on the cover. I'd recommend reading them in publication order, picking up the Harper Hall Trilogy, next.
	__________________ Religion and sex are powerplays. Manipulate the people for the money they pay. Selling skin, selling God The numbers look the same on their credit cards.

28th November 2011, 08:04 AM	#26
Didaktylos Critical Thinker Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 400	Originally Posted by sarge Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc? Here is a list (I'm not sure how up tp date) of the PERN stories.
	__________________ It's untrue that blokes can't multi-task: I can avoid doing any number of things simultaneously.

28th November 2011, 08:17 AM	#27
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by sarge Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc? The Drummer's Hall books, with Master Harper of Pern to round it out.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

28th November 2011, 08:26 AM	#28
I Ratant Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 15,305	Originally Posted by Gawdzilla Do you think that her idea of a religion-free Pern would have worked? . I never tumbled to the religion free aspect. Nothing was made of it in the novels, that I can recall. In retrospect, it would be a very odd situation to not have a religion. I remember (kinda) the first story in ASF waaaaay back when. And read most of them since. Still have one unread, it's been waiting for a few years.

28th November 2011, 08:28 AM	#29
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by I Ratant . I never tumbled to the religion free aspect. Nothing was made of it in the novels, that I can recall. In retrospect, it would be a very odd situation to not have a religion. I remember (kinda) the first story in ASF waaaaay back when. And read most of them since. Still have one unread, it's been waiting for a few years. The colony was established with the intention of having a society without religion. "First Fall" cleared that up, IIRC.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

28th November 2011, 08:28 AM	#30
AvalonXQ Guest Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 11,853	Hadn't heard. Good author.
AvalonXQ Guest Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 11,853

28th November 2011, 08:54 AM	#31
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Will we be seeing some movies out of her books now? Dragonflight could be done, and would be a great excuse for some 3D action.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした Last edited by Gawdzilla; 28th November 2011 at 08:56 AM. Reason: get the right book title in there.

28th November 2011, 08:57 AM	#32
I Ratant Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 15,305	Originally Posted by Gawdzilla The colony was established with the intention of having a society without religion. "First Fall" cleared that up, IIRC. . I don't recall much or anything of that one. I was taken with all the swooning and sashaying of the adepts in MZB's "Darkover" series...

28th November 2011, 10:36 AM	#33
Hazel Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Just outside of St. Louis also Posts: 1,220	Originally Posted by sarge Dang. I just re-read the big three (released in a single ebook "The Dragonriders of Pern") for the first time in 20 years or so. Enjoyed them as much this time as the first. They are also the only three of her books I've read. Sticking with the "Pern" stuff, are any of the others good, and do any of you have recommendations for the order to read them in, etc? They are all good. In the whole series I think I only came upon one or two that I thought could have been better-written but even those were good. As for order, it took me a long time to find the first two because, whenever anyone asked how to read them in order, the answer was you don't need to. I disagree because you keep wondering how they got to Pern in the first place. It doesn't hurt to have read several of them in any order. Then you begin to want the whole story. That's when "order" comes in. Now I have to call on someone with a better memory than I have for titles but there is one that tells the whole story of the trip from Earth to Pern. Then there is a second that tells of their first years on Pern. Parts of it are quite pertinent to the later situation there - no mechanical transportation, how they got dragons and dragon riders, loss of medical knowledge, etc. Please, can someone name those? I cannot. Hazel

28th November 2011, 11:07 AM	#34
ZirconBlue Sole Survivor of L-Town Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wilson, North Carolina, USA, Earth Posts: 11,311	Originally Posted by Hazel They are all good. In the whole series I think I only came upon one or two that I thought could have been better-written but even those were good. As for order, it took me a long time to find the first two because, whenever anyone asked how to read them in order, the answer was you don't need to. I disagree because you keep wondering how they got to Pern in the first place. It doesn't hurt to have read several of them in any order. Then you begin to want the whole story. That's when "order" comes in. I am of the opinion that the order these past details are revealed are best enjoyed by reading them in publication order. IIRC, McCaffrey herself also preferred that reading order. Quote: Now I have to call on someone with a better memory than I have for titles but there is one that tells the whole story of the trip from Earth to Pern. Then there is a second that tells of their first years on Pern. Parts of it are quite pertinent to the later situation there - no mechanical transportation, how they got dragons and dragon riders, loss of medical knowledge, etc. Please, can someone name those? I cannot. Hazel I think you are likely referring to Dragonsdawn , and the short story collection The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall.
	__________________ Religion and sex are powerplays. Manipulate the people for the money they pay. Selling skin, selling God The numbers look the same on their credit cards.

28th November 2011, 11:42 AM	#35
Didaktylos Critical Thinker Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 400	Originally Posted by Hazel They are all good. In the whole series I think I only came upon one or two that I thought could have been better-written but even those were good. As for order, it took me a long time to find the first two because, whenever anyone asked how to read them in order, the answer was you don't need to. I disagree because you keep wondering how they got to Pern in the first place. It doesn't hurt to have read several of them in any order. Then you begin to want the whole story. That's when "order" comes in. Now I have to call on someone with a better memory than I have for titles but there is one that tells the whole story of the trip from Earth to Pern. Then there is a second that tells of their first years on Pern. Parts of it are quite pertinent to the later situation there - no mechanical transportation, how they got dragons and dragon riders, loss of medical knowledge, etc. Please, can someone name those? I cannot. Hazel The one that tells of the settlement of Pern up to the first dragon-borne battle against Thread is "Dragonsdawn".
	__________________ It's untrue that blokes can't multi-task: I can avoid doing any number of things simultaneously.