Book 4, Dragonseye: Dragonriders of Pern

Dead Heat is a truck full of dynamite careening through
a narrow tunnel with land mines on either side. It is a
wild and violent ride, full of both brilliant and brutal
prose, but Del Stone, Jr., never lets the story get out of
control. I was never a big fan of Zombie movies but I loved
this book. The lead character, Hitch, IS a zombie, but a
zombie with a twist. He still has his intellect. He knows
what he's lost. And that makes all the difference in this
really excellent novel.

For those who are confused, this book takes place 257 years after LANDING. That is to say, about 230 years after the events in Dragonsdawn, and about 2000 years BEFORE the events of the main books (Dragonflight, Dragonquest, Dragonsong, yadda yadda). It's mainly there for two reasons: to show how the Teaching Ballands and the Finger Rocks were made, and to give you a little view of what it was like to gear up for the start of a Pass when everyone was ready for it (not like in the main books, where no one believed). That's why it was called "Red Star Rising" in Britain -- I think that's a better name for it. It's coming, and they're getting ready.
Now, as for the question: is the book good? No, not really. It's sort of dull. Which is not to say that you won't enjoy it, if you're a Pern fan. But it's the main plotlines of the other books (put-upon young woman escapes a domineering family, mean Lord Holder doesn't believe in Thread, brilliant leaders come up with A Plan Just in Time) all sort of mixed up and redistributed. There are too many characters to get really involved in any of them. [There were lots of characters in Dragonsdawn, too, but somehow there she supported them well.] The plot is thin; it's supposed to tell the story of how certain things came into being, and it seems that what happened was, someone decided to make them. Um. Is that a STORY?
Despite all this, it's still Pern, and for those crazy Pern-ys out there, you can't help it. It's good to read just as some more insight into Pern and life there. Buy it used, or borrow it from a friend or something -- once through is enough.

I purchased this book because I always buy Anne McCaffrey's books all in fact. And the books of Pern have always been the best stories I've read. This book though ends abruptly and gives a whole section to the characters P'tero and M'leng I think the nature of these two characters and the
purpose for their being in the story was way more than I for one needed to read. If Miss McCaffery had some sort of publisher quota for minority references then I think the publisher should leave

their quota's out of existing story lines. It wasn't needed. Also it had no bearing on the story what so ever.
Sorry so critical. I will continue buying and reading your stories but, don't trash a story line and a world you created with our problems and lack of sexual knowledge and gender based problems. Pern was supposed to be above this. Your stories are great without corrupting them with real world problems and issues.
I'll look foward to the next story from Pern.. Just don't leave me hanging. Do they make it.

:) your fan still

Steven J. Rairdon

Probably my favorite Pern book although it is in compitition with The Skies of Pern. However I would recomend reading the original Dragonriders of Pern trilogy first, it will give you a better understanding of the other Pern novels. I hope to see another book about Iantine and Debera. This book seemed to be written with at least one sequel in mind, but none have been published. I admit to being heterosexual so it is understandable that I prefer female green riders. But considering the link between dragon and rider I wondered in the first Dragonrider novels why green(female) dragons were impressed by men when it would make much better sense for them to be impressed by women.

I started reading the Dragonriders of Pern many years ago and have never been disappointed by any of the books including this one. It explains many questions that any true Pern fan asks deep in their core as they read these fabulous books. From Finger Rock to the Harper Hall you will learn how these came into being. Anne McCaffrey writes books that can be read again and again (Believe me I've read the complete series four times and am now working on number five!) Enjoy this book as I know you certainly will.

Anne McCaffrey again recaptures the spirit of the Pernese as they continue their fight to settle and survive on the planet picked by ancestors to become their home. The setting is immediately prior to the second pass of the deadly menace Thread. The people are preparing for this and adjusting to the agragarian lifestyle as the technologies of their ancestors rusts and crumbles. It doesn't meet the extremely high ratings that I would give the Harper Hall Trilogy or the Dragonriders of Pern Trilogy. It does, however satisfy the need within me to get more from McCaffrey. The storyline has many heroes as compared to McCaffrey's tendency to have at least one Lessa, Moreta, or Killashandra. I look forward to reading her next release (Masterharper of Pern) which is already on my bedside table. In fact, I am late for that now. Enjoy the book, I know that I did!!!

Anne McCaffrey is the quintessential writer of fantasy books pertaining to dragons. These books are always wonderful, well written, and perfectly characterized. All of her series are great but the ones that take place on Pern are the best of all.

With all things of dragons, Anne McCaffrey never fails to deliver. From teen to older woman, I Am immediately hunched over my pc, iPad now, lol, and barely breathe as I walk, ride, fight and flame with her characters. I've turned them over to my children, now grown. And yes, I still re-read them when I can.

After reading most of Anne McCaffrey's other books, I was very delighted to have been able to find Dragonseye. I wished she hadn't brought up the subject of homosexuality - we were all fine and happy, even though we kind of knew already, until she mentioned it! I especially enjoyed the friendliness between dragonrider and non-dragonrider (the artist and the green). Anne, if by any chance you ever read this, are you planning on writing a book that goes on after Chronicles...? I hope so.

Reading the entire series again...I remember WHY I would love to see these books turned into a movie, or TV series. Give it back to Ron Moore! If he can pull off Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander", then he could certainly do this more justice than anyone. Not to mention great improvements in CGI...just imagine the amazing dragons we would see!

I thought the book was great, but Anne McCaffrey really,REALLYshould have stuck with the illustrator from The Dolphins Of Pern.(Thedragon on the cover looks like it has a bad toothache) But it had a good storyline and it was over too soon. I liked the way it filled in the gaps of the history of Pern. It even explains how AIVAS was lost with the other high tech stuff. One of the best of Anne McCaffrey's works so far. I'm waiting for the next in the series!

Dragonseye (Red Star Rising in the UK) was a great book. I especially liked Zulaya, the senior queenrider at Telgar Weyr, and her dragon Meranath. But WHAT is with the homosexuality? Okay, we all know what blue and green riders are. No problem there. But the details it went into destroyed much of what the dragons ought to represent. Great book in other respects, wonderful characters, but a bit too graphic for my liking.

Excellent portrayal of the challenges of accepting a truly oral and non-technical existence and the preparations for future generations who would not have the same education or access to records. The editing could be better as there are many misspellings. But worth reading. It fills in some of the questions that might arise reading books that take place in Pernese future.

Though the characters and the time reference are new, the same storyline as Dragonflight... unprepared for Thread after a long interval, the people and dragon riders of Pern try to battle the menace again. However, there are some interesting parts...and what we all expect and demand from McCaffrey...dragons!

Anne McCaffrey is the quintessential writer of fantasy books pertaining to dragons. These books are always wonderful, well written, and perfectly characterized. All of her series are great but the ones that take place on Pern are the best of all.

Dead Heat is a truck full of dynamite careening through
a narrow tunnel with land mines on either side. It is a
wild and violent ride, full of both brilliant and brutal
prose, but Del Stone, Jr., never lets the story get out of
control. I was never a big fan of Zombie movies but I loved
this book. The lead character, Hitch, IS a zombie, but a
zombie with a twist. He still has his intellect. He knows
what he's lost. And that makes all the difference in this
really excellent novel.

After reading most of Anne McCaffrey's other books, I was very delighted to have been able to find Dragonseye. I wished she hadn't brought up the subject of homosexuality - we were all fine and happy, even though we kind of knew already, until she mentioned it! I especially enjoyed the friendliness between dragonrider and non-dragonrider (the artist and the green). Anne, if by any chance you ever read this, are you planning on writing a book that goes on after Chronicles...? I hope so.

Though the characters and the time reference are new, the same storyline as Dragonflight... unprepared for Thread after a long interval, the people and dragon riders of Pern try to battle the menace again. However, there are some interesting parts...and what we all expect and demand from McCaffrey...dragons!

Anyone following my reviews will notice that I'm reviewing the Pern books in chronological order. Dragonseye is definitely one of my favorites as it is a great example of transitional book. The weyrs are questioning their purpose, the holders their power and the craftsmen their learning. And the Red Star keeps rising...

If you grew up with the original series, you're used to rooting for Benden Weyr, but here you have a new favorite: Telgar. It's a bit of a shift, but I loved Sallah Telgar so it was easy to get on board. K'vin is unsure of his standing with his older Weyrlady (dating a younger man, I enjoyed that bit) but very adamant that they must be prepared for Thread when it returns.

Iantine was a real scene stealer, whether painting or wooing Debera. We have always seen plenty of Harpers, so I enjoyed getting a glimpse of a different Craft on Pern. The interaction between Weyr and non-Weyrfolk was intriguing as well. I would definitely read a sequel to Dragonseye to see how all these relationships play out.

Dragoneye is a very will written novel in the series. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is about people in a new world preparing for conflict with a old enemy. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys will written SI-FI novels. Enjoy reading