Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern - Volume 1) by Anne McCaffrey Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern - Volume 1)
Book Review: Decent, light fun
Summary: 3 Stars
Anne McCaffrey's famous Pern series is "Science Fantasy"--that is, it incorporates elements (such as, of course, dragons) commonly accepted as Fantasy, but explains them with science. Science that is sometimes a little shaky, but rational, not magical or mythical, explanations, nonetheless. So one person might call it "Fantasy" and another might call it "Soft Sci-Fi", and they'd both be right.That aside, the world McCaffrey has created is well-envisioned and fresh. Though the prologue is dry, it's interesting because the world itself is interesting.
"Dragonflight" was just starting to capture my interest and bring me into the world when it kicked me out... with time travel. McCaffrey introduces it too late for it to feel real, and serious logic holes in its operation (of the "why has nobody figured this out before?" type) cause some serious skepticism on the part of the reader. It pulls you out of the world and significantly damages the believability of the story.
As sketchy is it is, the time travel is necessary for this to be a novel rather than a novella... and for many other reasons. But it's still a tired plot device used in a problematic fashion, and it's the crutch this novel rests upon.
The time travel is but one part of why this novel feels like light fantasy. Though they're not caricatures, the characters aren't particularly deep--but they get the job done.
McCaffrey's prose turned me off at first, seeming a little flowery, but it either got better or I got used to it, because it was very easy to read for the rest of the novel.
But more than anything, the reason this novel is merely average is because the premise for the story does not offer a very good conclusion. This isn't a character drama, it's not about relationships. It incorporates those elements and more, but what this story is really about is saving the world. That in itself is not a serious flaw, but the fact that it takes fifty years before the world can be considered 'saved' is one. Because of the admittedly interesting setup, the peril that the dragonriders are fighting will last for half of a century... so since the characters are quite human, McCaffrey has to end the story without truly accomplishing what it set out to do.
And the way she ends it works... sort of. It doesn't feel completely fulfilling, but she did the best she could with what she gave herself to work with.
I could talk about the problems of "Dragonflight" for hours, but the fact is, it's still fun. It's just downright fun to read. Take it too seriously and you'll be disappointed, but come in looking for a "book snack" and you'll enjoy yourself.
Book Review: A Satisfyingly Rational Approach to Flying Dragons
Summary: 4 Stars
Anne McCaffrey walks the blurry line between science fiction and fantasy in this pleasing tale of men, dragons, time travel, and natural catastrophe on a faraway planet. Leesa is an undistinguished servant girl in her home town when the dragon rider F'lar arrives. He recognizes her considerable natural gifts, and takes her home to be queen of Brenden Weyr. Unlike most of the inhabitants of the planet Pern, F'lar and Leesa believe the ancient ballads that foretell the coming of the Threads - a calamitous rain of death that comes from the sky every 200 years. It having been almost 400 years since the last attack, most people believe that the Threads have ceased, or are mere legends that never happened at all, and that the elaborate ongoing defensive preparations are mere idle rituals of the distant past, which more and more are being abandoned. Can Leesa and F'lar convince the people of the error of their ways, and fight off the coming attack of the all-consuming Threads?
The whole argument about sci-fi vs. fantasy is probably not that important, although it can be interesting, and this book makes for a good test case. McCaffrey has done an excellent job of using the tropes of fantasy: an armored warrior class, their daring and headstrong Queen, fire-breathing dragons, a medieval social structure, age-old prophecies, etc..., and giving them just enough historical and scientific background to make them credible. It seems a little too much to call this science fiction - the scientific explanations given are rarely more than a sentence or two, and they in no way dominate the story; but at the same time the very fact that there are explanations puts this book beyond the realm of garden-variety fantasy. There's no magic at work here - this story takes place in a logical universe where everything that happens does so for a reason.
McCaffrey's prose is sometimes a touch awkward, especially towards the beginning of the book, but it's still much easier reading than Tolkien or Cherryh, and the length is not intimidating, although there is a whole series of sequels available to those who want more (and many surely will). This novel is an excellent selection for teens, particularly young women, who may find Leesa easier to identify with than the standard fantasy hero. For them, this should be considered a 5-star selection.
Book Review: A must read book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Elves shooting bows, dwarves built like solid stone, and wizards enchanting little creatures with magical spells. Doesn't all that fantasy stuff get kind of boring after awhile? Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, Sword of Shannarah, and many others are all the same, just with different names in different places doing different things. For the first time, I have finally read a fantasy novel that is different. With unimaginable imagination, author Anne McCaffrey creates a whole world of fantasy very different from the traditional styles. With realistic descriptions, complicated twists in plots, and a great, drawing style of writing, the author takes you on a journey you'd never thought existed. With the idea of dragons and humans as the main figment of fantasy in this novel, Anne McCaffrey combines just enough modern day sci-fi with medieval fantasy to create one great novel. Combining the ideas of dragons with a modern world where planets orbiting each other cause dangers, the author creates a magical world you would've thought had never existed. Not giving too much at a time, the author slowly draws you in and slowly, things become more and more clear as you near the end of the book. Many a time I have had to slap my head and say, "Geez! How come I never thought of that?" The complicated plot makes it hard for readers to guess the story and not get any delight out of reading it and being surprised by the answers they find to the plots. Though the book has a rather weak introduction and takes a while for the reader to get completely drawn into the world of Pern and it's dragons, it doesn't take long before you are unable to put the book down again. The suspense that the author creates at the climax of this book is amazing. I read for 5 straight hours through the climax because it was simply too fantastic to put down. I just HAD to know what happened next. Like an addiction, the book just draws you back and back like a magical spell was cast on you. Anne McCaffrey makes it seem so realistic that it's as if I was there throughout this whole adventure! After reading this book, I can't stop daydreaming day after day what a life on Pern with dragons would be like!Book Review: Not just for young adults -- a great science fiction novel!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book begins Anne McCaffrey's wonderful long-running series, "The Dragonriders of Pern." Although sold as a book for young adults and looking on the surface like a fantasy novel, "Dragonflight" is actually neither. Certainly, teenagers will (and do) love this book, but McCaffrey's work is mature and complicated enough for older readers of science fiction and fantasy to enjoy it on the same level as they would any work from an author of "mature" novels. And although the word "dragon" conjures up images of heroic fantasy, "Dragonflight" is actually science fiction: it only wears the outer clothing of fantasy. New readers will find this a surprise, as they learn that Pern isn't a "neverland" fantasy world, but an Earth-colonized planet; that the dragons are the native alien species who consume special minerals to chemically create their fire-breath; and that the evil menace that threatens the planet -- the "threads" -- are not supernatural monsters, but spores migrating from another planet that passes near Pern. Perhaps most surprising for a new reader is the focus on time-travel and time paradoxes; some of the most exciting parts of the book deal with the complexities, dangers, and potentials of time-travel.The story takes place as Pern nears another invasion from the threads, but the planet is unprepared. Many people no longer believe in the threads (it has been hundreds of "turns" since the last attack), and there are fewer dragon dens (called "weyrs") than there once were to produce the creatures who can destroy the threads. Dragonrider T'Lar searches for a Weyrwoman to help him replenish the dragons before it is too late and unit the dragonriders to face the invasion.
This only scratches the surface of a tale full of suprises and unexpted turns. McCaffrey builds an intriguing world and wonderful characters, and each section of the book bursts with new revelations and plot turns. "Dragonflight" is not at all what you expect it to be...and that's an extremely high recommendation in these time when most science fiction and fantasy advertised for younger readers is bland and predictable.
This book also sets up the excellent second novel, "Dragonquest," which you will definitely want to read after this terrific book. Recommend for all fantasy and science fiction fans who have yet to take a wild trip on the back of Pernse bronze dragon.
Book Review: In reply to the query as towhy has this not been a movie....
Summary: 5 Stars
I personally think that the effect of the book would be ruined if the made it a movie as many of good or great novels have been. To list a few Harry Potter, Chroncicles of Narnia, etc...I love that she leaves so much to the imagination but still gives enough that you have a base.