Hello

Sorry for my english, I am from Germany and I actually do better in speaking than writing.
I started reading pern books over 10 years ago. My first book was Dragonflight, I found the book in a small libary near my school that time. I always loved dragons, and the Pern stories where just great to read. So sad that in Germany most of the titles are out of print and very expensive!

I read now Dragonsblood, and I have to admit besides “All the Weyrs of Pern” and “The White Dragon”, Dragonsblood is now one of my favorite Pern books. Is there a chance that you write about ninth pass or a time after the ninth pass? Because I really want to know what happen to the dragons after the red star is gone.

greetings from germany,

anna 🙂

Hi Anna,

“Ich habe meine Mutti gefoloren!” — those were the words my then 4-year-old sister said when she got separated from my mother at a grocery store in Dusseldorf nearly 45 years ago.

We all have fond memories of Germany and I’m glad to hear that we’re bringing you joy with Pern. Are you reading it in English or German? My understanding is that the translator is very good. I’m sorry to hear that the books are out of print and expensive. Maybe that’ll change when we get a movie.

As for the Ninth Pass, I tend to leave that with Mum. I have enough to write about in the Third Pass!

Cheers,
Todd

Dear Mr. McCaffrey,

I just added another of your books to my Pern collection (Dragonsblood) and was so happy to find the complete list of chronologically ordered books in your FAQ here so I would know where to put it on the shelf when I’m done with it. I’ve been reading your mothers books for years and I was delighted to see when you started adding to the Pern world with Dragons Kin.

Books, reading and writing is a family affair in our home. My daughter and I both have small libraries that we have built over the years. My daughter still enjoys when I read to her, even though she’s in her teen years now. Our summer reading project for 2007 is to read through the entire Pern series from start to finish. We began about two weeks ago with Dragon’s Dawn and are now in the middle of Dragonseye. And she is enjoying Pern as much I have. Although she cried when Sallah Telgar died. (And cheered when Avril flew into the red planet.) I’ve always believed that it’s the mark of a great author when their characters can move you so.

Thank you for continuing to add to the Pern series. I am looking for Dragon’s Fire to add to my collection as well as looking forward to Dragon Harper when it’s released. Both you and your mother have created beautiful worlds to get lost in for hours on end. And I for one am most grateful you have.

Sincerely,

Patricia

Dear Patricia,

Thank you for your lovely letter!

Mum and I have Dragon Harper coming out this December and I’m working on the sequel to Dragonsblood right now.

Cheers,
Todd

I would like to know how come we here in the U.S. don’t get to have such a beautiful cover on our much awaited book as those in the U.K.? You write as good as your mum! Thank you for continuing her legacy.

Hi Keelin,

Sometimes we get better covers than the UK, like the marvelous Michael Whelan covers. I’ve been told that the real reason is that the US covers are more likely to sell books to most non-fans in the US.

Hopefully when we get the movie, we’ll get more interesting covers.

Cheers,
Todd

Hi!
I have so far read most of the books about Pern, both those by your mother and yours.
I simply love them! The connection between a dragon and its rider is an amazing thought.
However I have a question, I have not been able to find an answer to:
How big are the dragons? (I am thinking about the dragons in the last fall)
I have found this website, but I do not know if it is correct…
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/50464261/
I hope that you (and your mother) will continue to write more amazing books about Pern?

Love
Asta

Hi Asta,

The answer to your question appears to be “how big do you want them?”

When I first read “Weyr Search” (the first part of Dragonflight) as published in Analog, the illustrations made it clear that dragons were sized on a par with brontosaurus — just huge. Mum wrote in “Weyr Search” about how Mnementh held Lessa in a cage of his claws and how Ramoth’s head was as tall as Lessa herself (I think she had to lean up to scratch Ramoth’s eyeridges).

In “The Dragonlover’s Guide to Pern”, there’s a size chart that compares Ramoth to an L-1011.

Since Dragonflight, dragons seem to have shrunk. Is there a connection between dragon size and Mum getting a horse?

I think that dragons are rather like Hagrid in Harry Potter — “too big to be allowed.” But that’s my opinion.

Cheers,
Todd

P.S.: I suspect that when a movie is made, dragons will be smaller — otherwise you wouldn’t see the riders on the screen at all!