When we heard the news that Anne McCaffrey had died earlier this week, I found myself unexpectedly effected by information technology. For several years in my childhood and teens, Pern was one of my chief obsessions. I recall that if I had encounter Pern fans instead of Star Wars fans when I got online at 17, I might be running a very different kind of SF/F web log.

But instead, I gave up on following the series in 2001, subsequently what I thought were several lackluster books. I can't in good conscience recommend any of the recent Pern books, as I haven't read them (and was actually shocked at simply how many there are at present!) But, for anyone who wants a grounding in the series, here are my recommendations.

Colonist with burn-lizards, from the comprehend of Dragonsdawn. (Fine art by Michael Whelan.)

The basics. While it'south easy to fault the books for fantasy – Dragons! – they are in fact science fiction. The planet Pern, or Rukbat 3, was colonized past people from Earth several thousand years earlier the outset books take place. The settlers planned a low-tech, agrarian colony, but soon discovered that the planet was menaced by periodic showers of 'thread,' a spaceborn organism that destroys all organic cloth it comes in contact with. Without the resources to renew their technology and protect their people and crops, they bioengineered large, rideable dragons from the indigenous 'fire-lizards,' which, with a little aid from a phosphine rock, can breathe flame to destroy the thread. The dragons pick their riders when they hatch, forming a lifelong telepathic bond. (None of this is a spoiler: It's all spelled out in the prologues of several books.)

Okay, it's non the hardest of science in science fiction. DRAGONS!

The main divisions in Pern society are the Weyrs (dragons, dragonriders, and their support staff) Holds (Communities/settlements/cities/towns where most of the people live) and the craft Halls (Harpers, Smiths, Weavers, Farmers, etc.)

Because of thread, pretty much everyone lives in caves or stone buildings of some sort. Luckily, Pern has a lot of caves.

All-time bet: Dragonflight, Dragonquest and The White Dragon are available in a trade compilation.

And then, what to read? The first Pern books are Dragonflight (1968,) and Dragonquest (1970,) which begin with a focus on the dragonriders of Benden Weyr, particularly Lessa, F'lar and F'nor. The White Dragon (1978,) focuses on Jaxom and his 'sport' dragon, Ruth. I'd say your adjacent step – or you can read them concurrently with Dragonquest – are the first ii Harper Hall books, Dragonsong (1976) and Dragonsinger (1977,) which prove Pern from a different perspective, that of Menolly, a minor holder's daughter who becomes an apprentice Harper. The third Harper book, Dragondrums (1979) follows some other immature harper, Menolly's friend Piemur, and takes place during The White Dragon. From there, I'd recommend All the Weyrs of Pern (1991,) which I always felt seemed like a practiced conclusion to the era. (In that location are two books that follow Weyrs – The Dolphins of Pern (1994) and The Skies of Pern (2001) – but equally these are the books that made me quit reading the series entirely, I tin can't say I recommend them.)

There are a few novels set in earlier Pern that I enjoyed, though. Beginning is is Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern (1983,) a standalone prepare during a horrific plague in the Sixth Laissez passer. (Nerilka'southward Story (1986) is set during the same fourth dimension, from another character'due south perspective, though I'd rec it only if yous like Moreta.) The second is Dragonsdawn (1988,) which is probably one of my favorite prequel stories ever, telling the story of the initial colonization and the start dragonriders. That also has a bit of a followup, The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall (1993,) which is several short stories/novellas set before, during, and afterwards Dragonsdawn.

Aye, you could start with Dragonsdawn, but I don't generally recommend reading this blazon of series chronologically – it kind of destroys half the fun of learning how all that stuff came to exist. Nevertheless, as ImperialGirl points out in the comments, either Moreta or the Harper Hall books would be good tests to meet if the series appeals to you.

Also handy – though long out of print – are The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern and The Atlas of Pern – think of them as Pernese Essential Guides.

And so, with 1 exception, I don't actually recommend any Pern novels published after 1991. About of the electric current stuff – which is co- or entirely authored by Anne's son, Todd McCaffrey – I oasis't read at all. Todd seems to have carved out an era for himself – the Tertiary Laissez passer – although manifestly a post-Weyrs novel is in the works.

(And no, Pern fans, I haven't forgotten virtually Renegades, Masterharper or whatsoever of the other books not mentioned – I just found them rather lackluster.)

It's worth noting that in that location are some issues within the series that may trouble modernistic readers. Pern is adequately patriarchal and feudal. Both Dragonflight and Dragonquest (at least) take relationships and dubious sexual consent bug straight out of bodice-ripping romance novels. Most of the villains are pretty flat. (Certain Holds always seem to breed bad guys, going all the back to their namesakes in Dragonsdawn – at least one villainess' biggest characteristic is being rather promiscuous.) McCaffrey too had some very odd ideas nearly homosexuality, though I don't call back as well much of it being spelled out in the bodily books. (I could be wrong.) And, yep, in that location is the occasional continuity error. Horrors!

In any instance, if all the memorials take made you curious about McCaffrey's about famous series, here'southward my version of a roadmap, fatigued strictly from memory. Other McCaffrey readers, what are your recs – Pern and beyond?