Dear Todd,

I read Dragonsblood and I hope you can take a bit of fan criticism but I found it rather lacking. I especially dislike what you wrote about whers, and I have met quite a few others on-line who agree.

There has been some heavy discussion about how there is know way a wher would be able to fly with its body to wing ratio. Not unless the wher flaps its wings proportionate to that of a hummingbird or bumble bee. No offense, but I thought you were a pilot.

Can you explain this about the whers withOUT reffering to Telekenesis?

Dear Paul,

I’m sorry that Dragonsblood didn’t work for you.

As to your question, nope, you can’t explain how watch-whers (or dragons) fly without referring to telekinesis. That’s all part and parcel of the original design work done by John Campbell and Mum way back before “Weyr Search” was published in Analog.

Although, for contrast, you might be able still to find on the Internet an article I once read about the design of lighter-than-air fire-breathing dragons (designed to trim tree tops) and their wings were small triangular affairs only intended for attittude control (the article was tongue-in-cheek but a lot of fun).

Cheers,
Todd

Dear Todd,

When exactly did the Plague start? I don’t remember any mention of it in DRAGON’S KIN and I don’t think that much time went by in the timeline between DRAGON’S KIN and DRAGONSBLOOD. Thank you!

~Heather

Dear Heather,

Actually there is about sixteen Turns between the start of Dragon’s Kin and the start of Dragonsblood. If I remember correctly (I’m not looking at my notes), the Plague sprang up twelve Turns before the start of Dragonsblood.

Obviously, the Plague is a story that has yet to be told.

Cheers,
Todd

Todd,

I just finished “Dragonsblood” and it is undoubtly one of the best books I have ever read (and I have read ALL of your mums Pern books and “Dragon’s Kin”). You are definitely carrying on the Pern saga in a grand style. My only question is, how were the fire-lizards and Arith able to go between times to a time and place that Lorana had never seen? She didn’t give the fire-lizards a visual. She just told them to go. Arith went on her own without a visual. Was there some sort of generational link between Wind Blossom and Lorana? I have read every Pern book and short story published and look forward to your next book.

Chester

Chester,

Thank you! I’m glad you liked Dragonsblood.

To answer your question, yes, there was a generational link between Wind Blossom and Lorana. There was also much more involved when Arith found her way back to Wind Blossom which you might find if/when you re-read Dragonsblood.

Cheers,
Todd

Todd McCaffrey,

I just finished Dragonsblood and would like to congratulate you – you did your mother proud by doing a superb job. Thank you for sharing with your readers more of the world of Pern – I sincerely hope that you enjoyed yourself writing the book and that you have more Pern stories eager to write. I can’t wait for your next Pern book!!!

Sincerely,

Ingrid (a German reader transplanted to the US

Ingrid,

Please just “Todd” will do fine. I have many fond memories of Germany, having spent six months in Dusseldorf way back when I was six and then more time in Bavaria when I was in the US Army. Great food, great beer, great company.

I’m glad that you liked Dragonsblood. Did you read it in English or did you get a copy of the German translation? If the latter, how did you like the translation?

Cheers,
Todd