Status
Available
Series
Publication
Del Rey Ballantine (1986), Edition: 1st, 182 pages
Description
HTML:A deadly epidemic was sweeping across Pern! Everyone, holder and dragonrider alike, pitched in to help�??except Nerilka�??s father, who refused to share Fort Hold�??s bounty with the other Holds. So, ashamed of her family and determined to do her part, Nerilka packed up medicines and supplies and sneaked off to aid her people. Her quest to help wherever she was most needed led her finally to Ruatha Hold, where Lord Alessan was frantically preparing the precious serum needed for mass inoculations against the dread plague. Nerilka had long ago abandoned her hope of marriage and a home of her own. Now she found happiness in being useful and appreciated�??first the Healers and then Alessan made very clear that they were grateful for her help. She had no idea that her new path would change the course of her li… (more)
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member maita
True, no dragons were involved in this story, well not directly. Nerilka is a very human character. She is a true heroine. Her struggles were real as earth and her reaction was as real too.
LibraryThing member jshillingford
Orson Scott Card stunned critics when he released "Ender's Shadow," which retold "Ender's Game" from the point of view of another character. Even more surprising was how susccessful a parallel story could be - standing on its own. However, Anne McCaffrey did it before him, with just as much
"erilka's Story" parallels the events in "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern." Moreta was a larger than life heroine, willing to sacrifice herself for her people, who rode a beautiful dragon. In a way, Nerilka is more courageous. She goes against the wishes of her family and sets out on a dangerous journey to help others in need. Hers is a story of quiet bravery that is just as moving as Moreta's. This is an excellent novel that deserves as much praise, and is a must read.
Show More
success."erilka's Story" parallels the events in "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern." Moreta was a larger than life heroine, willing to sacrifice herself for her people, who rode a beautiful dragon. In a way, Nerilka is more courageous. She goes against the wishes of her family and sets out on a dangerous journey to help others in need. Hers is a story of quiet bravery that is just as moving as Moreta's. This is an excellent novel that deserves as much praise, and is a must read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kyronae
While Anne McCaffrey does a wonderful job with most of her Dragons of Pern series, Nerilka's Story always stands out in my mind. McCaffrey shows how people can rise above their own expectations, creating a heart wrenching and touching story.
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I only rank this three stars because among McCaffrey's Pern books, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me the way the original trilogy or the Harperhall books, or even the book this is based on, Moreta, did. This book is short compared to most Pern books, centered on a minor character in Moreta
It's not a bad book really. It's readable and entertaining, and for those readers who can't have enough of Pern, you may very well enjoy this. I wouldn't let this be your introduction to McCaffrey or her Pern books however; there's better. I'd start with the first book published in the series, Dragonflight. I felt this particular book was too much in the romance novel vein rather than the science fiction/fantasy emphasis of the other books.
Show More
and paralleling the events there. It's not a bad book really. It's readable and entertaining, and for those readers who can't have enough of Pern, you may very well enjoy this. I wouldn't let this be your introduction to McCaffrey or her Pern books however; there's better. I'd start with the first book published in the series, Dragonflight. I felt this particular book was too much in the romance novel vein rather than the science fiction/fantasy emphasis of the other books.
Show Less
LibraryThing member fuzzi
I reread this book on a whim and for a challenge.
Nerilka is one girl in a large family that is suddenly struck by worldwide tragedy. Ashamed of her father's lack of compassion, selfishness, and hypocrisy in the situation, she leaves her home with the intention of assisting in the recovery efforts
I appreciated how the author told a story through the eyes of a woman who, despite her privileged background, was determined to serve and assist those in dire need.
Nerilka is one girl in a large family that is suddenly struck by worldwide tragedy. Ashamed of her father's lack of compassion, selfishness, and hypocrisy in the situation, she leaves her home with the intention of assisting in the recovery efforts
Show More
of a nearby settlement that has also suffered.I appreciated how the author told a story through the eyes of a woman who, despite her privileged background, was determined to serve and assist those in dire need.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Steph1203
This was a really quick read but very enjoyable, just like all of Anne McCaffrey's other Pern books.
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
There are so many books about Pern that I have never read all of them and this is one that escaped my notice until now. It is set in the time period when a deadly plague swept through Pern and killed people, dragons and other beasts. Quite a few of both Anne and her son Todd's books have dealt with
Nerilka is one of the many daughters of Lord Holder Holocamp of the Fort Hold. While her parents and three of her sisters go off to a Gathering at Ruatha Hold Nerilka is made to stay home. The plague strikes the people at the Gathering and Nerilka's mother and her sisters die. Her father, breaking the quarantine, flies home but sequesters himself in his room issuing orders to Nerilka and her brother Campen. One of his orders is to stop giving medicines to the Healers even though they have ample in their stores. Nerilka, already upset that Holocamp has brought his mistress into the hold, decides to leave and go to the nearby internment camp to help the sick. She is not afraid that she will get sick herself since she was one of the people who got immunized by the vaccine made from people and beasts who had survived the plague. When the internment camp is opened up Nerilka goes off with supplies for other habitations. She ends up in Ruatha where she helps with mass production of the vaccine but she has disguised her identity so she will not be known as a lady. The Lord Holder of Ruatha, Alessan, was married to her best friend Suriana but she died before the plague in a riding accident. It is time for Alessan to marry again and sire children to carry on but he is so depressed by the events, including the death of Moreta whom he loved, that he just wants to die. Nerilka convinces him to live at least long enough to sire children and he agrees marrying her.
Show More
aspects of this time but it is good to get another view of it.Nerilka is one of the many daughters of Lord Holder Holocamp of the Fort Hold. While her parents and three of her sisters go off to a Gathering at Ruatha Hold Nerilka is made to stay home. The plague strikes the people at the Gathering and Nerilka's mother and her sisters die. Her father, breaking the quarantine, flies home but sequesters himself in his room issuing orders to Nerilka and her brother Campen. One of his orders is to stop giving medicines to the Healers even though they have ample in their stores. Nerilka, already upset that Holocamp has brought his mistress into the hold, decides to leave and go to the nearby internment camp to help the sick. She is not afraid that she will get sick herself since she was one of the people who got immunized by the vaccine made from people and beasts who had survived the plague. When the internment camp is opened up Nerilka goes off with supplies for other habitations. She ends up in Ruatha where she helps with mass production of the vaccine but she has disguised her identity so she will not be known as a lady. The Lord Holder of Ruatha, Alessan, was married to her best friend Suriana but she died before the plague in a riding accident. It is time for Alessan to marry again and sire children to carry on but he is so depressed by the events, including the death of Moreta whom he loved, that he just wants to die. Nerilka convinces him to live at least long enough to sire children and he agrees marrying her.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Stevil2001
Nerilka's Story is a very lean novel (possibly a novella by actual word count?) that retells the story of Moreta. Spoilers for Moreta: at the end, following the death of Moreta, Alessan marries minor character Nerilka "Rill." Nerilka's Story retells the plague from Nerilka's perspective. It follows how did Alessan come around to Nerilka so quickly —was largely unaddressed, going by very fast at the end.
I think the publishers knew this wasn't up to much; the dust jacket insists this is a gift to Pern fans (a gift you had to buy yourself in hardcover?) and the pictures—which are not very good—and the maps and other appendices seem like padding.
Show More
some Pern tropes that will be familiar to anyone who's read Dragonsong and Masterharper: Nerilka's family is mean to her even though she's gifted, Nerilka strikes out on her own, everyone realizes how awesome Nerilka is, the end. It's 182 pages long, but there are pictures and generous typography; I blew through it in one day. Though I was generally entertained, I feel like the central question I had from Moreta—I think the publishers knew this wasn't up to much; the dust jacket insists this is a gift to Pern fans (a gift you had to buy yourself in hardcover?) and the pictures—which are not very good—and the maps and other appendices seem like padding.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1986
Physical description
182 p.
ISBN
0345331591 / 9780345331595