Dear Todd,

I wanted to let you know just how much I enjoyed Dragonsblood. I found the book engaging, and clever – and a very worthy addition to the saga that Pern has become. I will admit that I felt very nervous about someone else writing about Pern, but if your mum is confident in your ideas and work, then I as a fan can be too. After finishing the book I feel I can say that Pern is in very safe hands.

Thank you for sharing your book with us, and I look forward to where you take us next with Pern.

Jay.

PS: If I can be so bold, when can we look forward to your next Pern novel?

Dear Jay,

Thank you! I am relieved to read that you find Pern in good hands. I, too, cherish the world Mum has made of Pern and will always want to do it justice in my writing. It’s marvelous to hear that you feel I did.

The next book is Dragon’s Fire which Mum and I are working on. Our plan is to turn it in to our editor by the 1st of June at the latest (hopefully, sooner). Typically, with Pern books, it takes about 8-12 months from acceptance to actual publication (in hardcover), depending upon scheduling issues and available slots.

Cheers,
Todd

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Hi Todd,

I have read several times where you have hinted at the possibility of writing a novel, or series, regarding the Nathi War mentioned in the Pern novels. I know authors are busy people and that there are legalities/red tape involved in co-authoring, but would you consider writing with David Weber or Wen Spenser? I know that both of these authors are very comfortable in the military/action sci-fi genre and I know that both of these authors are fans of your mother’s work. I would love to see a novel of inter-related short stories, written by different authors, taking place during the Nathi Wars. Perhaps such an omnibus could be the catalyst of a Nathi War series?

On a more Pern-related matter: I was wondering how large the Watchwhers (WW) are? Are Gold WW’s larger than Greens? How come Beast- and Herd-Holders never complain about WW’s raiding their herds? Do the wild WW’s prey selectively, or specifically, on just wild game or fish? I promise I’m not nitpicking, there’s just not a whole lot of info on the WW’s.

Anyways, congrats on DRAGONSBLOOD! I’m very much looking forward to DRAGONS FIRE — hint, hint. 😉

With Regards,
Chad.

Dear Chad,

Thank you for such an inspiring letter! Wow! Great questions, great comments.

Firstly, Mum’s already invited someone to write the mil-sf history of the Nathi Wars and he’s accepted. She chose him on the basis of his knowledge of military history, the fact that he spent four years with the US Army in Germany, his knowledge as a pilot, his love of science fiction, his engineering background, his knowledge of space and systems engineering, his own love of historical fiction, his credentials as an author of military s-f stories, and his proven ability to write. Of course, she’s further refined her choice by ensuring that it’s someone she’s known for nearly forty-nine years, seen grow from boyhood into fatherhood, and someone with whom she’s already successfully collaborated.

Also, when Mum says, “Todd, I want you to do this,” the prudent answer is, “Sure! I’d be delighted.”

The issue isn’t so much finding an author, as selling a publisher. We’ll get it done, and the Nathi Wars will be every bit as interesting as you could hope.

With regards to your questions about watch-whers — well said! Those are great questions. I can answer one — watch-wher golds are bigger than both green and blue dragons. I don’t know how a watch-wher gold stacks up against a brown dragon, I’m pretty sure a watch-wher gold is smaller than a bronze and I’m certain that a gold watch-wher (even Third Pass) is smaller than a gold dragon.

As for your question regarding watch-whers, their eating habits and holder/crafter reactions to the same — some of those will be answered in Dragon’s Fire.

Cheers,
Todd

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Dear Todd,

I loved Dragonsblood and it made me want to read the seies again. I was also hoping to know if you or your mother will be writing anything in the 9th pass again I have grown attached to those characters the most.

From,
Brian

Dear Brian,

Wow! I’m so glad to hear that reading Dragonsblood has inspired you to re-read the whole series.

As for more Ninth Pass books, we’ll have to see. Right now I’m dealing with outraged characters in the Third Pass and First pass who are battling over which of them gets their story told next!

Cheers,
Todd

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