Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern - Volume 1)
The first novel in the legendary and magical New York Times bestselling dragonriding series, “a masterpiece of adventure, intrigue, and romance” (Danielle L. Jensen), from Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Anne McCaffrey
“Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels are truly foundational books; it’s hard to imagine the modern-day landscape of fantasy and science fiction without them.”—Naomi Novik, author of the Temeraire series
On a beautiful world called Pern, Lessa is an outcast survivor—her parents murdered, her birthright stolen—a fierce young woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. That is, until an ambitious young dragonrider, F’lar, offers her something even greater: the chance to lead Pern at his side by Impressing a golden dragon with whom she will share a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. Although there is also her intense relationship with F’lar himself.
But Lessa’s fierceness and courage will be put to the test when an ancient scourge returns to the land: a deadly silver spore that falls from the sky, destroying all it touches. Only dragons can fight this Thread, and there are not enough dragons to protect all of Pern. Lessa and her dragon may hold the key to their world’s salvation . . . but executing her daring plan may be costlier than she ever envisioned.
Don’t miss the original trilogy from Anne McCaffrey’s beloved Dragonriders of Pern series:
DRAGONFLIGHT • DRAGONQUEST • THE WHITE DRAGON
“Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels are truly foundational books; it’s hard to imagine the modern-day landscape of fantasy and science fiction without them.”—Naomi Novik, author of the Temeraire series
On a beautiful world called Pern, Lessa is an outcast survivor—her parents murdered, her birthright stolen—a fierce young woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. That is, until an ambitious young dragonrider, F’lar, offers her something even greater: the chance to lead Pern at his side by Impressing a golden dragon with whom she will share a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. Although there is also her intense relationship with F’lar himself.
But Lessa’s fierceness and courage will be put to the test when an ancient scourge returns to the land: a deadly silver spore that falls from the sky, destroying all it touches. Only dragons can fight this Thread, and there are not enough dragons to protect all of Pern. Lessa and her dragon may hold the key to their world’s salvation . . . but executing her daring plan may be costlier than she ever envisioned.
Don’t miss the original trilogy from Anne McCaffrey’s beloved Dragonriders of Pern series:
DRAGONFLIGHT • DRAGONQUEST • THE WHITE DRAGON
BUY THE BOOK
These clubs recently read this book...
Community Reviews
This is a fantasy classic. I decided to re-read this book on a whim. It's been over 30 years since I first read it. Reading it now as an adult I am definitely more aware of aspects I missed before like the sexual politics among the Weyrfolk and how brutal life in the Holds were. I think that, like alot of sci-fi/fantasy from the late 60s and 70s, it is written for a general but more mature audience. The book is very much a hero's journey centered around both Lessa, a young woman who lost her family and her birthright to a conquering lord but who was able to use F'lar, a dragonrider, as a tool to enact her vengeance. But she is unable to claim this birthright as she is instead taken to the Benden Wyer to eventually become their Wyerwoman and rider of their queen dragon. The worldbuilding is fantastic and it's very easy to forget that, amid the trappings of the fantasy novel, there is a science fiction basis. Pern is a plan colonized by Earth so far in the past that the space-faring technology has been lost and what memories or records are left are more myth than reality. It's a wonderful blending of the two genres with fully-fleshed out characters. Lessa and F'lar are both very human, both likable and irritating. As much as there are some clear good vs evil characters, there is also enough nuance that you can understand the motivations of the Lords who oppose the Weyr. The story is fast-paced and doesn't do much in the way of handholding. I was invested in the story rather than feeling like I had to slog through to finish the book. This is the first book in the Pern series and I definitely plan on re-reading the rest of the series.
I really didn’t like this book it was such a disappointment that I had to give up. I didn’t like the way that it’s written, the storyline made no sense at all.
YA fantasy with a strong female protagonist. If you like dragons, give this a try. Well read by Adrienne Barbeau.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.