Rating: Summary: Another piece to the puzzle of Pern Review: As a fan of Pern I was glad to find another book about it. My only complaint is that it left me wanting to know more about the Dolphin Hall. There must be a book to finish the story. I don't understand why Aramina has such a dislike for the dolphins, especially when they also saved her life and her husband's. Maybe another book would also clear that up.
Rating: Summary: An unusual Pern story. Review: Pern through the eyes of dolphins. This is a charming and worthy addition to the Pern library. It has all of Anne McCaffrey's usual great style and story telling ability in it. It isn't quite on the same level with "The Dragonriders of Pern", but it's hard to equal a previous classic by writing on the same subject. All in all, this book is a satisfying read.
Rating: Summary: Disappointing, plus a PKD idea makes a mess here Review: I agree with many others that this book seems like it was "just tossed off," with much of the freshness of the original books gone. It suffers from Series Syndrome. I won't rehash the plot (the dolphins were "Island of the Blue Dolphins", but cuter), but I did think it deserved mention that her AIVAS (artificial intelligence voice address system) is totally a homage to/steal from Philip K. Dick, who wrote VALIS (Vast Active Living Intelligence System) after several mystical visions of a pink light visited him in real life. VALIS is worth your attention if you have any interest in the concept of religion+science. But here it just seems stuck on. It's disappointing to think that lots of people will think that the VALIS-type idea is original to McCaffrey, but oh well. Anyhow, I would categorize this as science fantasy, because the science is overtaking the fantasy elements. It's more like "technology meets the Middle Ages." It wasn't a book that set me on fire, obviously. And that was a disappointment. I wish we could have another book like _The White Dragon_.
Rating: Summary: A good Bridging Book Review: Dolphins of Pern was a very enjoyable read. All the favorite people are back and again you are transported to the beautiful Pern. This is a good bridging book in that is picks up right after Renegades, and then parallels All the Weyrs of Pern and then goes on a bit farther.I had only two problems with this book. One was Aramina. How did she go from being the poor abused lovely heroine in Renegades to being the shrewish "female-Janus" in Dolphins? Did she go and take lessons from Menolly's parents on how to be an evil person? My other problem was the feeling that on page 360, Anne must have looked up at her clock, realized what time it was and decided to get the book done with NOW! The last few pages read like "and all the people had a change of heart, and all dreams come true, and everyone joins together in a happy party and everyone lives happily ever after." Personally I feel that it would have been better to have ended the book when Readis walked out. Anne could then have picked up the story in another book and given some more details instead of the way it was hurried over in the last few pages. I would have loved to have given this all five stars. but the ending was so rushed and glossed over that I can only give it four.
Rating: Summary: The Dolphins of Pern Review: I think the Dolphins of Pern was a wonderful book. The Dragonriders of Pern is probaly one of the best book series that I've read. I felt so sorry for Readis and T'lion when everyone said the "shipfish" were a bad influence and should be avoided. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes Anne McCaffrey books. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.
Rating: Summary: Listing badly......... Review: ........The Dragonriders of Pern series needs saving badly and the"Dolphins" don't exactly help. Previous books havn't been as good as the early ones such as "Dragonquest" or "The White Dragon". "Moreta" had a lame ending; "Drangonseye" left too many plots open and "Dolphins" would have been much better as an epilogue to "Renegades". Still, the series isn't finished- a book about post-Thread Pern is badly needed (Toric needs sorting out if nothing else, preferably by Jaxom), as well as some background about the rest of the universe, both pre- and post- "Dragonsdawn". The series also would be good as a CD-ROM game (who wouldn't like the chance to control a few hundred dragons). Anyway, "Dolphins" doesn't do the overall story any good at all. Aramina is vilified for for trying to protect her child, we learn nothing new about any of the main characters, except Menolly, and the jumping about in the text doesn't work as well as in "Renegades" as we miss years of Readis' development. The series needs finishing off, but with something better and more general than this. ...
Rating: Summary: well...ah..... Review: It's OK, I suppose. Frankly I think her writing style is flagging, and I do believe she is running out of things to write about. I think it's time we lose the books for awhile and focus on the TV show(which I EAGERLY anticipate!) It was nice to hear about Mirrim and T'gellan again, though. I rather liked Mirrim's character, b*tchy attitude and all! It was nice to see things come full circle for her.
Rating: Summary: Good book. Not a masterpiece, but enjoyable Review: After reading at least 5, maybe 10, Pern books, I think I need a break. The Dolphins of Pern isn't quite as enthralling and exciting as the others. Latter parts of the book basically retell the events of All the Weyrs of Pern. One thing that really bugs me about Anne McCaffrey's books is the subtle but overall feeling that men are superior to women. Men make all the decisions. Only men can be lord holders (basically the rulers, much like medieval lords). Only men can ride dragons that can actually fight thread. (Queen dragons, which only women ride, and which are the only dragons that breed, fight thread, but only with puny flamethrowers--they can't chew the rock that allows them to breath fire because that makes female dragons sterile.) Yes, women do some things--some of them are even brilliant. But in the end, they all wind up sitting at home, pumping out children for their beloved husband. The only woman so far who wanted to be a Lady Holder (remember, usually only men can be rulers) ended up going renegade and being a heartless robber and killer. The main purpose of the riders of queen dragons is to keep their dragon healthy so it can spawn, and sleep around so they can pop out some more potential dragonriders. Anne McCaffrey's books are very good. I do recommend you read them. I do think there is an undertone of male superiority, but, well, most of the books are enjoyable enough that you can get over that. Like I said, they are good books. You (probably) won't be wasting your money.
Rating: Summary: Not up to McCaffrey's standards Review: After reading the other Pern-books, I felt let down by this one. The overall plot was good, but there were just too many questions left unanswered to my liking, and it was far to longwinded at some parts. The idea of the dolphins was overall fantastic, but the way it was presented was not. I'm waiting for a sequel of "what happened next", in hopefully a little more capturing style. And if you haven't read other McCaffrey's books, this is NOT the one you should start with.
Rating: Summary: A very enjoyable book Review: I thought as a whole that it was a very good read only a few problems with it but no author is perfect and I do enjoy Anne's books, I have now read them all and am sorry to see the series end but there really isn't much more she could write about Pern. I think that this book was needed to make the saga complete, now that thread is going to be no more, or is it? Might be more novels here, sorry just had to slip that in. Read this book!
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