Dragonseye (Dragonriders of Pern Series #14)

by Anne McCaffrey

Overview

In Anne McCaffrey’s New York Times bestselling Dragonseye, join Weyrleaders, Holders, and Craftmasters in the creation of the legendary Star Stones and the teaching ballads of Pern!

It's been two hundred years since the deadly Thread fell like rain upon Pern, devouring everything in its path. No one alive remembers that first horrific onslaught and no one believes in its return—except for the dragonriders. For two centuries they have been practicing and training, passing down from generation to generation the formidable Threadfighting techniques.

Now the ominous signs are appearing: the violent winter storms and volcanic eruptions that are said to herald the approach of the Red Star and its lethal spawn. But one stubborn Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, refuses to believe—and that disbelief could spell disaster. So as the dragonriders desperately train to face a terrifying enemy, they and the other Lord Holders must find a way to deal with Chalkin—before history repeats itself and unleashes its virulence on all of Pern. . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780345418791
Publisher:	Random House Worlds
Publication date:	12/27/1997
Series:	Dragonriders of Pern Series , #14
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	157,881
Product dimensions:	4.23(w) x 6.70(h) x 1.07(d)
Lexile:	980L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Anne McCaffrey, one of the world’s most popular authors, is best known for her Dragonriders of Pern® series. She was the first woman to win the two top prizes for science fiction writing, the Hugo and Nebula awards. She was also given the American Library Association’s Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Literary Achievement in Young Adult Fiction, was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and was named a Science Fiction Writers of America Nebula Grand Master. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1926, McCaffrey relocated to Ireland in the 1970s, where she lived in a house of her own design, named Dragonhold-Underhill. She died in 2011.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER I
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Dragonseye"
by .
Copyright © 1997 Anne McCaffrey.
Excerpted by permission of Random House Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

The 11th book of McCaffrey's popular Dragonriders of Pern series, just entering its 30th year, revives the menace of the deadly Thread, silver strands that rain from the sky and destroy all organic life. The planet Pern hasn't seen Thread for more than 250 years. But ominous signs-violent winter storms and sudden volcanic eruptions-herald the approach of the Red Star, believed to be the source of Threadfall. While loyal Dragonriders begin training in earnest, trying to sharpen Thread-fighting skills that haven't been needed for centuries (dragon's fire being the only effective weapon against Thread), the Lord Holders of the land must prepare Pern's inhabitants for the coming danger. A single stingy Lord's refusal to cooperate in the preparations, however, threatens the safety of everyone around him. Meanwhile, teachers toil to develop a new curriculum to preserve knowledge before it is lost forever. McCaffrey (The Dolphins of Pern) brings us another diverse cast of responsible, heroic good guys and dragons in a novel that's going to please fans old and new-and probably burn up the charts like dragon's fire. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In this long-awaited "Dragonriders of Pern" novel, the Dragonriders finally get to protect their world from the danger they've been anticipating for 200 years. When signs appear that Thread, the deadly silver strands that devour everything organic, will soon make an appearance, Dragonrider Chalkin's failure to believe in the danger of Threadfall threatens to destroy the entire civilization. Recommended for fantasy collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/95.]

Library Journal

YAWhile not as good as the first "Dragonriders" novels, this 11th in the series comes closer than most of the more recent Pern books. It has been more than 250 years since the first Thread fall, but everything seems to indicate the imminent approach of the Red Star. The Dragonriders have been practicing and passing down knowledge for over two centuries to be prepared, but there are skeptics unwilling to believe. The worst of the lot is Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, a greedy, self-centered, abusive leader. He refuses to take any action to prepare, threatening the survival of the planet, because all must work together to overcome Thread. Interesting, fleshed-out characters combined with a well-written story makes for a very good read. While this entry can stand alone, it is best read along with the other Pern novels, especially Dragonflight (1978) and Dragonquest (1979, both Ballantine).John Lawson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

School Library Journal

Another visit to planet Pern (The Dolphins of Pern, 1994, etc.), home of the famous Dragonriders, who—mounted on their genetically engineered, flying native dragons (with whom they form a mental bond)—battle the deadly corrosive lifeform known as Thread that periodically threatens the planet. Two centuries have passed since Thread last fell. The colonists have lost the last of their Earth-derived technology and now face the problem of how to ensure that their descendants know when to expect Threadfall and how to deal with it. As volcanic eruptions and terrible storms herald the approach of the baleful Red Star and its Thread, Dragonriders K'vin and Zulaya train their squadrons as best they can. But one Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, rejects even the possibility of Threadfall (such an eventuality would disrupt his gambling habits), refuses to make any preparations, and continues to run his Hold like the worst of feudal fiefs. Elsewhere, inventor Clisser devises teaching ballads to educate future generations about Thread, and talented young artist Iantine falls in love with dragonrider Debera.

Comfortably cozy and domestic: an undramatic but meticulously detailed entry that should satisfy most dragonfans.

Kirkus Reviews

McCaffrey continues the mythology she created in earlier “dragons of Pern” novels. Two hundred years after its first appearance, the return of a deadly force again threatens to end all life on the planet. Hill’s use of vocal characterizations adds little to the presentation, primarily due to the substantial list of two-dimensional characters. The limitations of the story become even more apparent through the forced attempt to enliven the personalities of the characters and read excitement into an otherwise predictable novel. J.L.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine

OCT 97 - AudioFile