The Dragonriders of Pern
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McCaffery
At least McCaffery can write--unlike Jordan and others of his ilk. I have no issue with McCaffery; I just point out that she writes CHILDREN'S stories.
"When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things."
If you are reading this and you are 16 or older, and you love science fiction and fantasy, broaden your horizons. McCaffery, Bradbury, and Asimov are fun for kids and teens; Simmons, Vinge, some Clarke, and some Heinlein are what I would classify as "adult light sci-fi"; but writers like Donaldson, Wolfe, Dick, Kay, and Burgess can change you.
"When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things."
If you are reading this and you are 16 or older, and you love science fiction and fantasy, broaden your horizons. McCaffery, Bradbury, and Asimov are fun for kids and teens; Simmons, Vinge, some Clarke, and some Heinlein are what I would classify as "adult light sci-fi"; but writers like Donaldson, Wolfe, Dick, Kay, and Burgess can change you.
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I always felt that Dick was a little simple. Not in a bad way, but... maybe "unpretentious" would be a better word. Dunno. Maybe it's because his work is so dated, but it just never felt hard to me. On the other hand, I felt that Bradbury could at times be quite deep (or that the Pern books could run a little risque, much less the Crystal Singer books... but I don't remember that much of most of it... back when I was about 13).
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
Porn? Well it all depends on the eyes that see I guess.Lady Althea wrote:Yes, it does! The Thorns of Barevi!
Anyway, didn't she extend this into a whole series later?
I will bet you 1 WGD that the Freedom's Challenge, Freedoms Landing and Freedoms Ransom is based on that short story.
"Und wenn sie mich suchen, ich halte mich in der Nähe des Wahnsinns auf." Bernd das Brot
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What I meant was that although she does state that it is porn (because it was written for Playboy?) I do not consider it all that seriously pornographic.Lady Althea wrote:Hmm, I dunno. I prefer short stories to a long series. And, she does state that it's porn.
It certainly does not hold a candle to Anne Rice's foray into pornography, and it is probably less pornographic than much that is published as mainstream these days; e.g. "A Caress of Twilight" by Laurell K. Hamilton, which is heavy on the (group) sex but not so heavy on the plot.
"Und wenn sie mich suchen, ich halte mich in der Nähe des Wahnsinns auf." Bernd das Brot
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Here's a quote from the lady who taught dragons to fly and rockets to sing.
That's from the book. And no, it isn't any of that gross stuff my dad watches. You could almost say this has class."The Thorns of Barevi" was an attempt to cash in on the lucrative market for soft- and hard-core pornography in the late 60's. The market paid well for such stories and many sf authors earned their monthly rent from such submissions. I thought I'd give it a try.
Why Earthy that is the true path to enlightment afterall.Earthfriend wrote:Personally, the older i get, the more 'child-like' i become!
I read a few dragonrider books myself. The Masterharper of Pern and a few with a little girl who controlled all those tiny dragons. They were very fun to read and great for the imagination.
"Hellfire! Everybody in this whole business, you and everyone keep accusing me of being some sort of closet expert. I tell you, I don't know one damn thing about this unless someone explains it to me. I'm not your bloody Berek."
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members.fortunecity.de/fantasystuff/fantasy/misc/image/dsuu.jpg
Just found this when I was shopping for a new avatar.
Just found this when I was shopping for a new avatar.
"Hellfire! Everybody in this whole business, you and everyone keep accusing me of being some sort of closet expert. I tell you, I don't know one damn thing about this unless someone explains it to me. I'm not your bloody Berek."
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Re: McCaffery
In regards to McCaffrey - well said. I have read all but one of the Dragonriders of Pern books, and enjoyed them, especially "All the Weyrs in Pern." But it's very light reading.Severian wrote:At least McCaffery can write--unlike Jordan and others of his ilk. I have no issue with McCaffery; I just point out that she writes CHILDREN'S stories.
"When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things."
If you are reading this and you are 16 or older, and you love science fiction and fantasy, broaden your horizons. McCaffery, Bradbury, and Asimov are fun for kids and teens; Simmons, Vinge, some Clarke, and some Heinlein are what I would classify as "adult light sci-fi"; but writers like Donaldson, Wolfe, Dick, Kay, and Burgess can change you.
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Re: McCaffery
Actually, I think that an excerpt from that book was what first introduced me to Anne McCaffrey, many years ago.dlbpharmd wrote:especially "All the Weyrs in Pern."
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The Dragon books are so good, and Pern would be the best place to live, if you read the books for enough years, they get into your heart. My Mum read about the death of Robinton and had to take a day off work. She told them one of her friends just died. Actually. her best friend did too...
"...if you want to be any more refined, you'd have to be dead. There's nothing more dignified than a mummy..." Pride and Prejudice.
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Master Robinton was my life. Then Sebell came along...Eruanne wrote:The Dragon books are so good, and Pern would be the best place to live, if you read the books for enough years, they get into your heart. My Mum read about the death of Robinton and had to take a day off work. She told them one of her friends just died. Actually. her best friend did too...
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Has anyone read the two most recent Pern books? <i><u>Dragon's Kin</i></u> by Anne and Todd McCaffrey or <i><u>Dragonsblood</i></u> by Todd McCaffrey alone?
<i><u>Dragon's Kin</i></u> really made me worried about Todd McCaffrey taking over the series. The idea that sucking blood was needed to impress any Pernese creature struck me as a totally unneeded idea, and I was worried it was Todd's influence on the series.
However, IMO <i><u>Dragonsblood</u></i> is a decent read, albeit with blatant Pernese errors. I hope Todd grows into the series more, and produces some well written, engaging Pern novels over time.
<i><u>Dragon's Kin</i></u> really made me worried about Todd McCaffrey taking over the series. The idea that sucking blood was needed to impress any Pernese creature struck me as a totally unneeded idea, and I was worried it was Todd's influence on the series.
However, IMO <i><u>Dragonsblood</u></i> is a decent read, albeit with blatant Pernese errors. I hope Todd grows into the series more, and produces some well written, engaging Pern novels over time.
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ZL...
It depends on how you feel about the series.
The collaborations between Anne and Todd, and Todd's single authored books are set in an earlier Pass than the main stories. Some things that are unexplained in the Ninth Pass are started or at least hinted at in the Third Pass, which is when the Todd books are set.
IMO, they are not essential to the main storyline, no. But, I believe the series will continue, even after Anne's passing, with Todd as author. Whether he will continue to concentrate on the Third Pass, or take up stories about the Ninth Pass I don't know.
I just looked up the series on Wikipedia. Apparently novel set for later release is being worked on. Its working is titled After the Fall. Considering how The Skies of Pern ended with the Dragonriders planning on settling the Southern Continent after thread stopped falling, perhaps the title implies the series will return to the Ninth Pass after all.
So, if you are willing to continue with the series with Todd as author, then read them. But I personally don't think the ones currently published (I have not read the newest release Dragonharper, so can't speak for that) with Todd are essential.
It depends on how you feel about the series.
The collaborations between Anne and Todd, and Todd's single authored books are set in an earlier Pass than the main stories. Some things that are unexplained in the Ninth Pass are started or at least hinted at in the Third Pass, which is when the Todd books are set.
IMO, they are not essential to the main storyline, no. But, I believe the series will continue, even after Anne's passing, with Todd as author. Whether he will continue to concentrate on the Third Pass, or take up stories about the Ninth Pass I don't know.
I just looked up the series on Wikipedia. Apparently novel set for later release is being worked on. Its working is titled After the Fall. Considering how The Skies of Pern ended with the Dragonriders planning on settling the Southern Continent after thread stopped falling, perhaps the title implies the series will return to the Ninth Pass after all.
So, if you are willing to continue with the series with Todd as author, then read them. But I personally don't think the ones currently published (I have not read the newest release Dragonharper, so can't speak for that) with Todd are essential.