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Del Rey, Jan 2005, 24.95, 436 pp. ISBN: 0345441249 When the colonists landed on Pern, they didn't know that the red star would align with the planet every two hundred and fifty years. When that event happens, spores from the red star fall onto Pern destroying anything organic in its path. To combat this problem, geneticists changed fire lizards into telepathic dragons that bond with a human; together they unite to fight spores or thread as it is now called in 507 years after the initial landing of the spaceship. In AL 507, Lorana sends her fire lizards away when she thinks she is dying, but she is saved and brought to Bendon Weyr where she meets a hatchling dragonet Arith. A plague infects the dragons killing many including Arith just when the thread is coming. Arith and Lorana's two fire lizards go back to 42 AL where geneticist Wind Blossom concludes that the three visitors come from Bendan Weyr in the future. She devises a plan to help her descendents battle the deadly dragon killer plague if the future people can interpret the clues she left behind to save them. Two women living centuries apart work to find a cure to save the dragons. There is plenty of action scenes especially when dragons and their human rider battle thread, but also strong characterizations especially the grieving Lorana who can communicate with any dragon while reminded of the loss of her Arith to the plague. Harriet Klausner | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes Explore: Adversaries are… - dragon buddy Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book GIANT monster(s) Yes Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Main Adversary Identity: - natural phenomena How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount Setting A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a contemporary society Planet outside solar system? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript |
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