Dragon Harper and the Dragonriders of Pern: An In-Process Review

By: Riya Kumar

I'm quite a fan of Anne McCaffrey's, having read several of her (and her son, Todd's)

books set within the world of Pern. Dragon Harper was one I had not come across yet so I was quite excited to buy my own copy upon seeing it in a used-books store. I was comfortable making the commitment of purchasing the book since I was familiar and really enjoyed the McCaffreys' other books, and I must say that they did not disappoint!

The book is set just before the Third Pass (or the third return of Thread, a deadly substance that rains down on the planet from the passing of a neighboring planet,the Red Star, in its elliptical orbit) with Kindan, a young apprentice harper, as the main character. When Kelsa and Nonala are introduced to Harper Hall as the first female apprentice harpers, Kindan decides to take them under his wing after witnessing the prejudice they face, especially Nonala who is younger. The three become fast friends and their little gang grows as they are joined by new friends, like the beautiful—especially in Kindan's eyes—Korianna, daughter of Lord Bemin.

As with every story, they face their adversities, whether it's Vaxoram's bullying, or being tasked by the Masterharper himself with a job of utmost importance: searching the Records for any signs of a plague like the pandemic witnessed to be spreading across Pern. If Kindan can manage to dig up any information, it may hold the key to finding the cure. Unfortunately, the records are many, old, and dusty, with many gaps as well. There is much missing in the records, making the task even more difficult.

I don't want to give any spoilers, so I won't go any further, especially since I haven't finished the book yet myself! It is a gripping novel and I cannot wait to finish. School may keep me busy but I will find time yet! It's nice to have a set of completely new characters but in a familiar world, since the book's set in a time separate from the other books I've read. I'm excited to see how Kindan will figure out a cure for the epidemic—or at least I'm hoping he will. The Masterharper has a lot of faith in him and the fate of much of Pern will depend on the young apprentice. I know he is smart and resourceful as well as mature—it is not a small thing to gain the respect and notice of dragonriders—though, so I expect he will succeed!

Really, Anne McCaffrey is a phenomenal writer. I've never come across anyone else to weave sci-fi and fantasy together so naturally as her. And the way she writes characters is like exploring the nature of being human. The characters are not perfect in the least, and everyone one of them has their own flaws and strengths, mistakes and accomplishments, making them all so very human. Though the novel is set in a fantasy (and sometimes more sci-fi) setting, the way characters are written feels very real. It's something readers can connect with no matter who they are. I highly recommend reading her works, especially those from "Dragonriders of Pern" and I shall get back with a concluding review once I've finished the book!

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Acknowledgments and thanks:

Of course, this is all thanks to the wonderful Mz. Gagliardi at Bala Cynwyd Middle School! She's the one who got me into the series when she recommended Dragonsong for me. (Which I highly recommend by the way. If you're looking for a good place to start with the series—since it doesn't have a definite beginning or end at all—I would suggest starting with Dragonsong, the first book in the Harper Hall Trilogy, also known as The Harper Hall of Pern.)

I'll be honest, I was hesitant at first, literally judging the book by its cover and ignoring the recommendation. But, inevitably, I ran out of books to read, and couldn't find anything to pique my interest. I decided to give Dragonsong a try. Couldn't hurt after all. And knowing Mz. Gagliardi, and how well she knows my taste in books—and it's probably helpful that our tastes often overlap—it was bound to be a solid recommendation. Obviously, I fell in love with the stories and Anne McCaffrey's world of Pern. And here we are: I'm recommending this amazing series to all of you!

Thank you Mz. Gagliardi!