Letter from Sabrina

By Todd | May 2, 2008

Dear Todd,

I’ve only been a fan for a short time and although I haven’t read all the books of Pern – I have read quite a few and have looked up as much as I can about it.

Wonderful stories and captivating characters from both of you and I look forward to every new book that shines a light into the world of Pern. A while back a dear friend handed me “The White Dragon”, and after reading it I was completely thrilled with how the dragons were seen in a beautiful light instead of monsters.

I’ve grown curious about everything involving Pern. The most interesting subject on my hands at the moment are the length of the Dragons. In Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern it is stated they are meters in length. As well in Dragonlover’s Guide to Pern – Where both state Ramoth is 45 meters in length (her height’s a mystery) and although I believe what is stated – Fellow fans have attacked me for believing for even one second that the ‘Meters’ is true. Many people have stated that countless interviews with Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey have said ‘Feet’ instead of ‘Meters’ – alas all have turned up empty. Is Ramoth 45 Feet in length or is she 45 meters?

Thank you,

Sabrina

Dear Sabrina,

Ramoth is the largest dragon on Pern, as large as described in the Dragonlover’s Guide to Pern.

Some fans never saw the original cover art for the Analog magazine editions that introduced us all to Pern for the first time. Even so, I’m surprised that they don’t recall Mnementh caging Lessa in his claws nor conversations about how Ramoth’s head was as tall as Lessa.

Since then, however, dragons seemed to have shrunk in proportion, I suspect, to the amount of time Mum spent riding horses to hounds. But all the same, I think Ramoth is just plain ordinary huge — as large as an L1011 — and Mnementh only slightly smaller. I imagine Jaxom’s Ruth would be about the size of a large horse.

It is, however, very difficult to convey such size in a drawing because it means that the riders either look very small or not all of the dragon can be visible.

Cheers,
Todd