Dear Mr. McCaffrey,

I wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much your work is admired and appreciated. Your mother has long been my favorite author–one of my most prized possessions is a letter from her, which I received in response to my high-school request for her opinions!

There is a certain elusive subtlety in Anne’s work, that you have succeeded in grasping and pinning down in your novels. When I read, I’m always searching for this style, and I so rarely find it…it is a style that speaks of the author’s awareness that his audience is able to comprehend the unspoken. It’s like instinctively feeling the meaning in a person’s glance; there is not a more personal or more satisfying experience to be had as a reader. I applaud you and look forward to your future works with anticipation!!!

Thank you for writing about Pern.
Jo

Dear Jo,

Thank you! Maintaining Mum’s high standards is important to me, I’m glad to hear that you find it so!

I hope that you’ll like my next book even more than my last!

Cheers,
Todd

WOW! That’s what comes to mind when I think about Dragonheart.. only Pern books have managed to hook me so much that I can’t put them down.. and this, Todd, was no different! I loved the book and was very disappointed to reach the end!! You have such an art for writing, and I very much am looking forward to the next book you write, whether it be alone or with your mom!

So many thanks! I’d been finding hard to get into books again recently, so that really helped!

Carla.

Dear Carla,

Thank you! Dragonheart’s sequel, Dragongirl is even now with my publishers so, hopefully, you won’t have too long to wait for your next trip to Pern.

Mum and I are also noodling on our next collaboration.

Cheers,
Todd

Dear Mr. McCaffrey,

I just finished Dragonheart on audio (which I loved by the way). I was wondering, in which future book will the loose ends be tied?

Loose ends upon Fiona’s return:

1. Dragon illness still occuring
2. Mating flight of Terenth and who becomes WeyrLeader?
3. Who (and what) is the story on the woman that led the weylings back 10 turns?

Sincerely,
Linda
constant reader of all things Pernese

Dear Linda,

Good questions all! You’ll get answers to questions (1) and (2) in Dragongirl. You’ll have to wait for the sequel to it to get the answer to question (3).

Cheers,
Todd

Sir –

I have been a fan of the PERN series for many years and I do have to wonder, given the resurgence of astronomy, space travel and telekinesis, what would happen if the Pern settlers met people from Earth and contact was re-established?

Hi Randy!

Good question. Mum has been thinking about it and is trying to find enough energy to write about it.

For myself, I’m not sure that it’s a good idea. What seems to me to be so special about Pern is how the Pernese manage, in their isolation, to save themselves from the threat of annihilation by Thread.

But perhaps the Pernese could Terrans a thing or two.

Cheers,
Todd