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Summary: The Sky's the Limit!
Review: Our Anne has managed to find a new challenge for the Weyrs: Pern has decided that anything that comes down from out of the sky is the proper business of dragonriders. Now, all that the resourceful F'lar and Lessa, aided by their son, F'lessan, and his weyrmate, have to do is to come up with a way to meet that expectation, and to do it in spite of fire, felines and fall. Unlike some of the books that followed the destruction of the Red Star, this one does not have the feel of something churned out just to satisfy the demands of the fans. Instead, it adds to the saga. It opens up a whole new dimension for the dragonriders to explore, and possibly, a whole new continent for them to settle. It is, in short, a quality addition to the series, a pleasure to read, and a promise for the future.
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Summary: Not the best of Pern.
Review: I've loved Anne McCaffrey since middle school, but The Skies of Pern was not very good. I had a lot of trouble getting into it and the whole plot was fairly uninteresting. I was really looking forward to it, but now I'm having difficulty making it all the way through the book.
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Summary: Another great one from McCaffrey!
Review: Ive read all of the Pern books and Im working on reading all of McCaffrey's other books. Either way, The Skies of Pern is a really great one. It has a lot of new interesting stuff in it to do with dragons (and people). I read it in one day (really two since i stayed up reading till 6am the next day!) So, if you love Pern as I do, I'd say to buy this book. It didnt dissapoint me in the least bit and I enjoyed it greatly.
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Summary: About Mirrim's dragon and T'gellan
Review: I keep seeing this come up in reviews. Some people did not read this book carefully and think that because T'gellan is the Weyrleader of Monaco Weyr, it means that Mirrim is the Weyrwoman there. Then they wonder how it's possible because Path, Mirrim's dragon, is a green and not a queen (gold).The answer is simple. Mirrim is not the Weyrwoman of Monaco Weyr. She is T'gellan's weyrmate, the woman he loves, lives with and has a child with, but she is not the Weyrwoman of his weyr. The Weyrwoman is Talina, who is mentioned several times in the book, but not in much detail. The senior queen at Monaco is Talina's dragon Arwith. T'gellan is Weyrleader the same way any other Weyrleader is; his dragon Monarth won the queen Arwith. By the way, Talina, the Weyrwoman with T'gellan, is the girl who impressed at the hatching in Dragonquest when Brekke didn't want another dragon. This situation is similar to F'lon (F'lar and F'nor's father) being Weyrleader with Jora and in love with Manora. Moreta and Kylara were also not in love with the Weyrleaders. Maybe the confusion about Mirrim is because she attends a council meeting with T'gellan and Talina, or because she has a bossy personality? But her dragon is still green. The reviewer below also mentioned Ptath. Ptath is not Path, but another green dragon with a rider named Danegga. But it is a bit confusing and puzzling that with only 3 greens with female riders, Anne McCaffrey chose to name one Path and one Ptath.
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Summary: Dragons should have flamed this manuscript!
Review: I almost put this book down in the first chapter, the middle, and by the end, I was PUSHING myself to finish. Now I love Anne McCaffery's older Pern books, but her newer ones are just poorly written, poorly plotted, and "rushed". Case in Point: The Skies of Pern. The only part I found interesting in this book was F'lessan's blossoming love affair with Tai, a green rider. However, interesting issues weren't discussed-how did a Bronze rider, son of the Weyrleaders of Benden, innerly feel about loving a "lowly" green rider? (In all past books, the Greens were always considered lesser of all dragon colors). How did the rest of the Weyrs feel about the seriousness between a Bronze and Green pairing? Did he get jibed? Laughed at? Are you telling me that Lessa and F'lar didn't have any secret ambitions of him becoming Weyrleader, and took it all in stride? None of these interesting issues were touched. How about Tai's past rapes at the hands of dragonriders? Apparently after F'lessan seduced her during the mating flight, she was "fine". The main plot of the book resolves around people out to stop all of Aivis's new technology (VERY boring plot line) and a meteor that hits Pern. Meteors have NEVER been discussed in any past Pern books and all of a sudden, this one becomes so important that Dragons and their Riders will set up a "Star Hall" for After, in order to "divert" future meteors? Come on! Also things I bet you didn't know (I sure didn't, and I'm a devout Pern reader): The importance of Runners (huh?)? That Mirrim's "Ptath" is a gold? That in the thousands of years dragons have been around, no one discovered their ability of telekinesis(not even mentioned by their geneticist)? That man-killing felines are such a HUGE problem on Southern continent that they must be totally exterminated and dragons hunt them as tasty treats? The discrepancies are countless. Besides that, this was one of the most boring books I've ever managed to slog through. By the end I was sick of Aivis, sick of Lessa, whose "eternally moody, the biggest grump on Pern sarcastic ..." attitude has reached an all-time high, sick of Abominators (who are all "arch enemies" with no redeeming values, of course, SICK OF THIS BOOK! I'll have to go back and re-read some of her old classics, the ones that were really good. For those who haven't read this yet: Don't. Or save yourself [some money] and lend it from your local library, if you must. Ugh. Two stars for this Abomination.
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Summary: Anne McCaffrey gets an A plus from me
Review: Wether it be dragons or dinosaurs, I can really get into the McCaffrey books. They are all great reads and not one should be missed and this is no exception. I think everything has a time and a place and in this book, there is a time and place for everything. Anne McCaffrey has lead me into many new worlds and into many adventures, my favorites of the characters are Moretta, Menoly, Acorna and others. If you loved some of her characters as much as I do this is a book for you. Follow up on the world of Pern and begin a new adventure. Try not to miss out on the fun and exciting world of Anne McCaffrey by reading all of her books as I have an extended collection and all are my favorites and I enjoy rereading them and listening to them on tape. Very enjoyable, and I am thankful to her for creating such lasting fun for me to go to another place and time....Thank you.
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Summary: A McCaffrey Fan to the end!
Review: Okay - first of all, I have been a rabid fan of Ms. McCaffrey's for 25 years. I love Pern, the riders and most especially, the dragons. This book opens after AIVAS, the artificial intelligenced computer has shut down, and the dragonriders are now concerning themselves with what will happen "After". After is when Thread stops falling once and for all. This book continues where "Dolphins of Pern" left off, fleshing out more characters and the culture of Pern. F'lessan, rider of bronze Golanth is the focus of the book, but all the old characters are still around and participating. The problems that were solved in Dolphins of Pern have created a whole new set of problems, including The Abominators, a fanatic group bound and determined to keep Pern in the old ways, instead of the new, technological environment that is coming about thanks to AIVAS. Read the book in 2 days, loved every minute of it! I recommend it to all Pern fans everywhere!
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Summary: It might have been the editor's fault
Review: I discovered Dragonflight in paperback mmmmmph;) years ago and have been a fan of the author since Decision at Doona. This book only held one disappointment for me and it might not have been Anne McCaffrey's choice. Any who remember The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall, will remember that there were distinct stories, all taking place in the same time frame, but each dealt with separately. It seems as if Skies could easily have been treated the same way. The jumping around was distracting to all but the most diehard fan (which I am, by the way). As a professional writer, I have come to understand that often those types of decisions come from the editor and not the author. So let's lobby Ms. McCaffrey's editor to consider what worked well in the past. Otherwise, I loved the stories in the book. Even the one that resulted in a supposedly defunct AIVAS briefly activating again in self-defense. Another reviewer used the phrase "a little too deus ex machina." I agree. But for people who have lived with Pern for most of the their lives, there is little to not like about the book.
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Summary: If you can't get enough of Pern, this is for you
Review: If, on the other hand, you are not a diehard Pern fan there will be nothing here for you. In this volume McCaffery it seems that tries to include as many characters from prior books as possible, even if all they get is a bit part. A lot of the plot hinges on the extremely simple-mindedness of "the Abominators," and it wears quite thin after a chapter or two. In spite of this, I give this book four stars simply for the workmanship, and the clear talent McCaffrey brings to the mix.
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Summary: The Next Great Advance on Pern
Review: For those of us who have waited to see what will happen after Thread stops falling, this book is the answer. It also gives us some insight into what Dragons and their riders will be doing. I was very satisfied with the plot, the development of the newer characters and even the romantic interest held my attention. I especially liked seeing K'van and Heth again, as their story, "The Littlest Dragon Rider" (at least that's what I remember the title to be) is what started me on my journey to Pern. The book also shows a developing society. While some may nitpick with how dragons are referred to (calling Golanth Golly), I see this as an indication of an evolving people who are exploring their new found societal mores. I find nothing wrong with having seperate classes, ie; Holders, Weyrfolk, Craftspeople, as this is the society that was put in place by the original settlers of the planet. Instead of trying to put some type of modern PC spin on the series, readers should remember that it is a work of fiction, not a thesis on how to live. If I had to complain about any one thing, it would be the way the Abominators are dealt with. It seemed a bit deus ex machina for my taste, but one quibble in an otherwise terrific book doesn't stop me from wholeheartedly reccomending this book. Go out and order this one, it is the prelude of great things to come on Pern.
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