An indispensable handbook to the wonderful world of Anne McCaffrey and her dragons. Lavishly illustrated, officially sanctioned, THE DRAGONLOVER'S GUIDE TO PERN brings to light the fantastic facts behind the bestselling stories. No Pern pilgrim will want to be without it.
It's been 200 years since the deadly Thread fell upon Pern. No one believes in its return, except for the dragonriders. They have been training generation after generation in the formidable Threadfighting techniques. Now the ominous signs are appearing. But Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, refuses to believe--and that disbelief could spell disaster. So as dragonriders train to face the enemy, they and other Lord Holders must find a way to deal with Chalkin--before history repeats itself and unleashes its virulence on all of Pern.
Beginning with the classic Dragonriders of Pern, Anne McCaffrey has created a complex, endlessly fascinating world uniting humans and great telepathic dragons. Millions of devoted readers have soared on the glittering wings of Anne's imagination, following book by book the evolution of one of science fiction's most beloved and honored series. Now, for the first time, Anne has invited another writer to join her in the skies of Pern, a writer with an intimate knowledge of Pern and its history: her son, Todd.
Perfect for diehard fans as well as readers discovering McCaffrey for the first time, this dazzling new volume features three classic novels from the early years of Pern-Dragonsdawn, Dragonseye, and Moreta. The spectacular planet Pern seems a paradise to its new colonists-until unimaginable terror turns it into hell. Suddenly deadly spores are falling like silver threads from the sky, destroying everyone and everything they touch. Pern is in mortal danger. The only thing that can stop the Thread is the fire from Pern's flying dragons. Now, the colonists must join forces with the dragons to burn the Thread before the parasite devours any and all organic life-and turns lush Pern into a barren wasteland. On Dragonwings traces the story of the early generations on Pern. From the colonists who first created the fire-breathing dragons for protection, through the rise of the dragonriders, these three novels set readers on a daring quest to protect a beautiful and extraordinary planet.
For more than thirty years, Pern has conjured visions of brave men and women mounted upon the backs of dragons. As anyone knows who has been touched by the storytelling magic of Anne McCaffrey, to read of the exotic world of Pern is to inhabit it—and to experience its extraordinary dragons is to soar aloft with them and share their dazzling adventures. Now, A Gift of Dragons brings together three beloved stories and a thrilling new tale of Pern in a single volume illustrated with beautiful artwork by Tom Kidd. In The Smallest Dragonboy, Keevan is the youngest dragonrider candidate, determined to impress a dragon when the next clutch of eggs hatches. But what transpires will surprise everyone—Keevan most of all. In The Girl Who Heard Dragons" a young girl's rare ability to communicate with dragons puts her family in danger and will bring her face to face with her greatest fears—and with her most secret desire. The Runner of Pern is a girl named Tenna, who follows family tradition by delivering messages—and who will find her destiny on the mossy traces that runners have used for centuries under the dragon-filled sky. And finally, a very special gift: an exciting new Pern adventure, published here for the first time, fresh from the imagination of Anne McCaffrey. From the Hardcover edition.
