Kevin's Watch

Will definitely search them out Fist. Found the first book(s) by serendipity in a box of half-dollar giveaways. Expect the rest might be a bit harder to come by, but I will give it a good try.

Am currently reading The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall, by Anne McCaffrey.

Cord Hurn wrote: ↑ Am currently reading The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall, by Anne McCaffrey.

Not my favorite of the series.

It has its place, and is a decent explanation of the settling of Pern and why they’re isolated from the rest of humanity. But it gets much too technological for me in the origin of the Watch-whers, fire lizards, and dragons.

However, there are some plot elements in First Fall which are crucial in understanding Renegades and All the Weyrs.

First Fall in particular is a reason why I prefer reading the published order of the books, rather than the chronological order. For me, this would have eliminated all of the wonder and fantasy elements of the series from the beginning.

TCOP:FF isn't my favorite Pern book either, Menolly. This year, I have decided to go back to reading all the Pern books I have only done once (which would include Dragonseye, Dragon's Kin, The Masterharper of Pern, The Dolphins of Pern, and The Skies of Pern)--and alternate between reading them and Stephen R. Donaldson's The Man Who mysteries (which I have also only read once). Maybe I can get them all re-read this year; we'll see.

"The Dolphins Bell", a short story in TCOP:FF that takes place around the time of the Part III: Crossing section that concludes Dragonsdawn, is harrowing enough and has enough cuteness factor with the intelligent & thoughtful talking dolphins that I enjoyed re-reading it. Finished it the other night, and just starting on the story about the founding of Ruatha Hold ("The Ford of Red Hanrahan").

Menolly" wrote:But it gets much too technological for me in the origin of the Watch-whers, fire lizards, and dragons.

I think that you are probably referring to Dragonsdawn, the earlier book about Pern in First Fall. This book I am reading doesn't get really technical about all that. The most fantasy-like feature about the dragons for me is that they go through this mysterious between to travel space and time, and that feature is in the dragon stories right from the first chronological Pern book onward. Even with all the genetic explanations for the origins of dragons and watch-whers, the existence of a between dimension still makes it all magical and mysterious for me.


Again, not my favorite Pern book. The Pern books Dragonsinger, The White Dragon, and All the Weyrs of Pern are the ones that I REALLY love!!!

Wait, really? I think First Fall is my favourite.

I could never really get into the Pern books. I'm not sure why...as a kid I read a short story...(uh...The Littlest Dragonrider maybe? (not searching it) ) which I loved, but my first actual proper encounter after that was Nelrika's Story & Other Stories or something and it felt very impenetrable. And then after that I read them very piecemeal, (basically whatever the library had) and just never clicked with it much.

I think I liked FF because it was more sci-fi and removed from the other books. I much preferred her Crystal Line books, the Rowan books, and even the Ship Who books.

Anyway, I've been terrible. Haven't read anything for months. Can't get off the damn computer. Very unlike me. Also, nothing new to read either.

--A

Avatar wrote: ↑ Wait, really? I think First Fall is my favourite.

I could never really get into the Pern books. I'm not sure why...as a kid I read a short story...(uh...The Littlest Dragonrider maybe? (not searching it) ) which I loved, but my first actual proper encounter after that was Nelrika's Story & Other Stories or something and it felt very impenetrable. And then after that I read them very piecemeal, (basically whatever the library had) and just never clicked with it much.

I think I liked FF because it was more sci-fi and removed from the other books. I much preferred her Crystal Line books, the Rowan books, and even the Ship Who books.

Anyway, I've been terrible. Haven't read anything for months. Can't get off the damn computer. Very unlike me. Also, nothing new to read either.

--A

Agree that FF is more sci-fi than some of her other Pern books, though I think McCaffrey considered most all of her books to be sci-fi (and I always think of Pern as being more fantasy). Strongly agree that her Crystal Singer books are good, especially the finale Crystal Line, which I found very heartfelt and touching as protagonist Killashandra Ree struggles to reconnect with her memories of loved ones.

currently reading the kings justice. like it so far! still dreaming of going back to the chronicles. haven't read them in english yet so wanna do that sometime.

And hello to you, inkinen!

inkinen wrote: ↑ currently reading the kings justice. like it so far! still dreaming of going back to the chronicles. haven't read them in english yet so wanna do that sometime.

Nice to see you around.

--A

inkinen wrote: ↑ currently reading the kings justice. like it so far! still dreaming of going back to the chronicles. haven't read them in english yet so wanna do that sometime.

I enjoyed SRD's The King's Justice. Reading it felt like a western, a mysyery, and a fsntasy all rolled into one story.

Currently reading Anne McCaffrey's Dragonseye (known in the U.K. as Red Star Rising).

Fist and Faith wrote: ↑ And hello to you, inkinen!

Avatar wrote: ↑ Nice to see you around.

--A

hey there, thanks for the welcome Fist and Faith and Avatar!
Agree about the western/mystery feel of Kings Justice.
Just finished Kings Justice and started on Augurs Gambit and really dig the first chapter.

Cord Hurn wrote: ↑ Currently reading Anne McCaffrey's Dragonseye (known in the U.K. as Red Star Rising).

Ah, the Pern series. What do you think of them? On my list to read someday.

Be Welcome to The Watch, @inkinen .
Be Well Come and True.

inkinen wrote: ↑

Cord Hurn wrote: ↑ Currently reading Anne McCaffrey's Dragonseye (known in the U.K. as Red Star Rising).

Ah, the Pern series. What do you think of them? On my list to read someday.

I would say my username answers that question on my behalf…

inkinen wrote:

Cord Hurn wrote: ↑ Currently reading Anne McCaffrey's Dragonseye (known in the U.K. as Red Star Rising).

Ah, the Pern series. What do you think of them? On my list to read someday.

The dragons are empathetic and charming, inkinen, and so are a great deal of the human characters. There can be "shades of gray" with a few of the human characters, granted, but the humans that are villains tend to be really, really evil. I say they are worth reading!

I've probably told this store once or twice over the years. I had the first Pern book in my car. A friend saw it and said, "Read this instead," and handed me LFB. Never got around to Pern.

Menolly wrote: ↑ Be Welcome to The Watch, @inkinen .
Be Well Come and True.

inkinen wrote: ↑

Cord Hurn wrote: ↑ Currently reading Anne McCaffrey's Dragonseye (known in the U.K. as Red Star Rising).

Ah, the Pern series. What do you think of them? On my list to read someday.

I would say my username answers that question on my behalf…

Thanks for the welcome! Im a longtime lurker on the forum and fan of SD. Have a bunch of blind spots on the fantasy author maps but Pern series I've seen recommended many times so will check them out someday.

Cord Hurn wrote: ↑

inkinen wrote:

Cord Hurn wrote: ↑ Currently reading Anne McCaffrey's Dragonseye (known in the U.K. as Red Star Rising).

Ah, the Pern series. What do you think of them? On my list to read someday.

The dragons are empathetic and charming, inkinen, and so are a great deal of the human characters. There can be "shades of gray" with a few of the human characters, granted, but the humans that are villains tend to be really, really evil. I say they are worth reading!

Sounds right up my alley

Fist and Faith wrote: ↑ I've probably told this store once or twice over the years. I had the first Pern book in my car. A friend saw it and said, "Read this instead," and handed me LFB. Never got around to Pern.

Ah yes LFB and the following books kind of wiped everything else for me. Wish there was something that could scratch that itch in the same way. Closest i came was probably some of Gene Wolfe, but there is nothing quite like Donaldson IMHO.

@inkinen Nothing gets a higher recommendation from me than Malazan. It's tied with Covenant. Extraordinary. And it's huge, so it keeps you busy for a while. First book is Gardens of the Moon.

Well, finally put aside my attempt to reread the Illuminatas! books. Warmed up with the 3 Hunger Games books, then re-read King's Dark Tower series (just the DT books) last week.

Just starting a "general fiction" novel called Shantaram that the GF suggested I read, but not sure if I like it yet. (Only barely started though, so giving it a go.)

--A