Dragon Harper (The Dragonriders of Pern)
by Anne McCaffrey, Todd J. McCaffrey
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Book Summary Information
Author: Anne McCaffrey, Todd J. McCaffreyEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-12-26
ISBN: 0345480309
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of Dragon Harper (The Dragonriders of Pern)
Book Review: The Pern Pandemic
Summary: 5 Stars
Dragon Harper (2007) is the third SF novel in this subseries of the Dragonriders of Pern, following Dragon's Fire. In the previous volume, Pellar tried to stop Tenim from destroying the last firestone mine, but failed. He also lost his fire-lizard to Tenim's falcon. Later, Cristov found a bed of the old form of firestone and starts a new mine.
Pellar is highly respected by the High Reaches Weyr leaders and was invited to the Hatching so that he might Impress a dragon. Instead, he stayed with Halla and supervised the new firestone mine. They were very happy to be digging up a form of firestone that didn't explode when wetted.
Cristov attended the Hatching and Impressed the bronze dragon Sereth. Later, C'tov returned to visit Pellar and Halla. He discovered that they have expanded the camp to three mines.
In this novel, Kindan hopes to ride back from High Reaches with M'tal, the Benden Weyrleader. Instead, he rides to Harper Hall on Gaminth, the bronze dragon of D'vin. M'tal does renew his promise to take Kindan as the Benden Harper when he is promoted to Journeyman.
Verilan is the youngest apprentice. Kelsa and Nonala are female apprentices. All three have been harassed by Vaxoram, the senior apprentice. Kindan -- himself a latecomer among the apprentices -- takes these three under his wing and protects them from Vaxoram and his cronies.
Kindan and his friends walk out to meet a dragon in the fog. M'tal appears and Kindan introduces the others to him. M'tal comments that Verilan should see the healer about his cough. When Verilan protests the idea, his friends agree with M'tal. After giving a bucket of fire-lizard eggs to Kindan and sending him to the kitchen, M'tal carries Verilan to the healer.
One day, Vaxoram makes a snide remark about Nonala and Kindan slaps him in the face and challenges him. Vaxoram hits him back, but Weyrleader M'tal arrives just then and stops the punching. Kindan repeats his challenge and they agree on a time.
Masterharper Murenny soon heats about the challenge and calls Kindan to his office. The masterharper has M'tal with him and they discuss the situation with Kindan. They decide to let Mikal prepare Kindan for the duel.
In this story, Kindan is called to Fort Hold for the hatching of the fire-lizard eggs. He helps Korianna -- daughter of the Lord Holder -- to impress her gold fire-lizard, Koriss. Meanwhile, he impresses Valla, a bronze fire-lizard. The Lord Holder's two sons are supposed to get their own fire-lizards, but the queen chases the hatchlings away.
Kindan is infatuated with Korianna and she seems to respond in kind. Lady Sannora -- Korianna's mother -- doesn't seem to approve of their relationship. Neither does Lord Bemin, Korianna's father.
This story tells of a disease that infests all of Pern. Only the dragonriders are not effected, but the other Weyrfolk are susceptible. Kindan early recognizes the danger of the new disease and spreads the word to the other holds, halls and weyrs.
Searching through the archives, Kindan and his friends find evidence of the first instance of the disease. He is sent to Fort Hold to help fight the disease there and develops some effective countermeasures. Yet, the disease kills twenty percent of the Hold inhabitants.
This novel relates the actions taken by Kindan to solve the problems around him. With the assistance of his friends and others, Kindan discovers and executes solutions to various situations. He displays both wisdom and leadership.
Highly recommended for McCaffrey fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of interpersonal relationships, problem-solving and a touch of romance.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Summary of Dragon Harper (The Dragonriders of Pern)
For millions of readers the world over, the name Pern is magical, conjuring up grand vistas of a distant planet whose blue skies are patrolled by brave dragons and their noble riders, a paradise threatened by the periodic fall of deadly Thread. But not all dangers descend from the skies. Now, in their third collaboration, Anne McCaffrey and her son, Todd McCaffrey, spin a tale of a mysterious illness that may succeed in doing what centuries of Threadfall could not: kill every last human on Pern.Life in the Harper Hall is busy for best friends Kindan, Nonala, and Kelsa. As the only female apprentices, Nonala and Kelsa are the butt of jokes and easy targets for the bully Vaxoram and his cronies. But when Kindan springs to Kelsa?s defense, he winds up in a fight for his life against the older, bigger Vaxoram?a fight that will lead to a surprising friendship.
Meanwhile, in nearby Fort Hold, a clutch of fire-lizard eggs is about to hatch, and Lord Bemin?s beautiful young daughter, Koriana, is determined to Impress one of the delightful creatures. At the hatching, Kindan Impresses a fire-lizard of his own . . . and wins the heart of Koriana. But Lord Bemin mistrusts harpers and will not hear of a match between his daughter and the low-born Kindan.
Then fate intervenes in the form of a virulent plague as fast-spreading as it is deadly. Arising suddenly, as if out of nowhere, the contagion decimates hold after hold, paying no heed to distinctions of birth. In this feverish crucible, friendship and love will be tested to the breaking point and beyond. For with Threadfall scant years away, the Dragonriders dare not expose themselves to infection, and it will fall to Kindan and his fellow apprentices to bravely search for a cure and save humanity.
The price of failure is unthinkable. But the price of success may be even harder to bear.
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