Anne McCaffrey: Where do I begin?

[deer of the dawn]

Our school library (the only one i have access to) has a display of Anne McCaffrey, likely in honor of her recent passing. I read Dragonriders of Pern a few years ago ( I actually own the anthology of like, 3 or 4 books?) but was wondering what else of hers is most worthwhile with limited reading time. I know I read a few others, like 30 years ago but I don't remember which. Which ones are the stand-outs? Thanks!

[Savor Dam]

Deer, I will nudge Menolly, who is both always eager to help and a repository of Pern lore. I am sure she will have some suggestions for you.

Besides, it is only fair, after she summoned you to the Summonsing last night...

[sindatur]

In the meantime, here's the Pern Wikipedia page that chronicles what order they come in chronologically

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonriders_of_Pern

And Anne McCaffrey's Wikipedia Page that shows you everything she's written and how they fit together

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_McCaffrey

[Menolly]

In the meantime, here's the Pern Wikipedia page that chronicles what order they come in chronologically

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonriders_of_Pern

*whew*

You had me worried there, Sin.
(I capitalized this time... )

That list is in publication order, not chronological order. I strongly recommend reading in publication order over chronological order. The books that were written earlier, but take place later in Pern history, lose what I consider their magic if you read the earlier chronological ones first.

I read Dragonriders of Pern a few years ago ( I actually own the anthology of like, 3 or 4 books?)

uhm...
You do know that the entire series of Pern is now at 22 novels or so, plus the occasional short story here and there, right?

Other series by Anne that I enjoyed include the Crystal Singer, the Tower and Hive, and while others think it's silly, the Acorna and Acorna's Children series. I have heard good things about the Brain and Brawn Ship and the Talent series, but have not read any of them yet.

I will admit I know next to nothing about any of the other series and stand alone novels listed.

[sindatur]

In the meantime, here's the Pern Wikipedia page that chronicles what order they come in chronologically

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonriders_of_Pern

*whew*

You had me worried there, Sin.
(I capitalized this time... )

That list is in publication order, not chronological order. I strongly recommend reading in publication order over chronological order. The books that were written earlier, but take place later in Pern history, lose what I consider their magic if you read the earlier chronological ones first.

I can't argue about best reading order, as I don't know the books (I did some Wikipedia-ing for my mom, when Ms. McCaffrey passed away). But, regarding Chronological Order, it also provides you comments about where the books fit chronologically. IE: It lists them in Publication order, and then says what's set in between what.

[Avatar]

The Tower and Hive books rock. Crystal Singer is pretty good too. So are the Ship books. In fact, I like them all better than I like Pern.

I've never made much effort to follow the Pern series chronologically or otherwise...just read a few random ones here and there. I think First Landing or Threadfall or whatever it was, (the prequel) is the only one I own of those. (I have all the tower and singer books.)

--A

[Merlanthe]

Decision at Doona, the Crystal Singers trilogy, the Freedom's landing trilogy, the first Acorna book and the Talent trilogy are the best of Anne's non-pern books imho.

The Talent trilogy is actually a prequel series to the Tower and Hive series and features the first Peter Redinger as one of its characters. Even though it is probably blasphemy to say so i actually prefer the Talent trilogy to the Tower and Hive series as they are only just discovering their 'talents' and trying to establish themselves in a skeptical sometimes hostile socioty where the non-talented are fearful, envious and often downright prejudiced against those with talent rather than the seemingly perfect future socioty of the Tower and Hive series where talent is accepted and respected, even celebrated and the non-talented dont really feature much.
The Brain & Brawn series is good and takes place in same universe as the Crystal Singer trilogy but the novels are quite episodic in that each one is a seperate story about different characters. There is no overarching story that ties them together into one grand narrative like her other series though they will occasionally refer to or briefly feature characters and events from other B&B novels.

Nimisha's ship is also quite good and takes place in the same universe as the Coloura (sp?) and possibly the planet pirates and dinosaur planet novels are set in that universe but i dont recommend those series as, and i feel guilty for criticising here since she is so good in all her other novels, but imho Anne gets so caught up in describing the technology and alien races that the story and characters suffer because of that. Thankfully Nimisha's ship did not suffer that same flaw.

I cant comment on Restoree or the novels set in the Petaybee universe as i havent read those.

[deer of the dawn]

uhm...
You do know that the entire series of Pern is now at 22 novels or so, plus the occasional short story here and there, right?

That's why I'm asking. I'm overwhelmed by the choices...

Thanks so much for the 411, peeps!!