Sky Dragons

July 2, 2012
Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series has been beloved for more than four decades. The saga continues with her fifth and final collaboration with her son, Todd, before her death in 2011. Young Xhinna, the first woman to ride a blue dragon, finds herself playing a key role in the desperate struggle to rebuild Pern's dragon population, which has been decimated by Plague and fearsome egg-eating tunnel snakes. Separated from Weyrleader T'Mar and Weyrwoman Fiona, Xhinna takes on the mantle of honorary weyrwoman and leads her small, battered group of dragonriders and infant weyrlings to shelter in what will become Sky Weyr. Relationship tangles take center stage as Xhinna struggles to lead the young weyr while convincing herself she is actually strong and skilled enough to do so. While minimal backstory will make it difficult for new readers to find their way into this chapter of the Pern story, longtime fans will enjoy the latest adventures of the cheerful dragonriders and their colorful mounts. Agent: Diana Tyler, MBA Literary Agents Ltd.

Starred review from July 1, 2012

Although the dreadful plague that killed many of Pern's dragons has passed, the scarcity of these creatures, whose fire breath is vital to destroying the deadly Thread that periodically falls from the sky, leaves the world vulnerable. Xhinna, the first female rider of a blue dragon, leads a few survivors back in time to an uninhabited goup of islands where they hope to provide a base for breeding and raising enough dragons--and training new dragonriders--to ensure the safety of Pern. Peril awaits them in the form of unforeseen dangers to the unhatched eggs as well as constant challenges to Xhinna's ability to guide the new colony. Written shortly before Anne McCaffrey's death, the fifth (after Dragon's Time) and final collaboration between the creator of the Pern universe and her son fills in another portion of the planet's history, exploring the complex relationships between the dragons and their riders and the delicate balance of power needed for a society to survive. VERDICT Memorable characters and a good balance of individual dramas and large-scale action make this a strong addition to the Pern saga, one made more poignant as the responsibility for continuing the series passes from mother to son.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.