Status
Available
Series
Collection
Publication
Corgi (2013), 496 pages
Description
Xhinna, the first female Weyrleader, and her group of young dragonriders struggle to rebuild the decimated dragon population and protect the world from a deadly alien spore by collecting dragon eggs and protecting baby dragons from predators and saboteurs.
User reviews
LibraryThing member 4fish
Final book in the series Todd McCaffrey co-authored with his mother Anne, Sky Dragons brings the series to a triumphant conclusion, saving Pern once more. While a Pern addict like myself can get her fix of dragon/human interaction, the whole series is convoluted and muddled. Characters are
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introduced, then dropped, then reintroduced in later books without much explanation. The time-travel elements are very confusing, evidently to the characters as well as the reader. If you haven't read any of the Pern books, don't start here. Start with Dragonsong, followed by Dragonsinger, IMO the very best of the Pern books. Show Less
LibraryThing member susiesharp
I received this book from Netgalley (an uncorrected proof)
At the end of Dragon’s Time the plague and sickness are over but there are few dragons and riders left, Sky Dragon’s starts where that one left off, sort of, at first it is a little off putting because they don’t tell the story of how
For the main part of the book we have some familiar folks, and some new faces but I do believe Todd & Anne have set us up for a new story arc that I am sure Todd will finish on his own after the sad death of his mother Anne McCaffrey, I for one am very glad that Pern will not end!
I must admit this one did move a little slow for me, it’s not the strongest Pern novel out there but still a good story more about characters than action although there is action. Since the big story arc about the sickness ended in the last book this one is about rebuilding Pern before threadfall. This small group of dragonriders becomes a dysfunctional family as they fight and love to save Pern.
I did enjoy this book and am curious to see where it goes from here. I will purchase the completed book when it comes out to see what correction/updates have been made to it.
If you are a fan of Pern of course you should read this and if you’ve never read any of the Pern books why not??What are you waiting for??This is a wonderful series!
3 ½ Stars
At the end of Dragon’s Time the plague and sickness are over but there are few dragons and riders left, Sky Dragon’s starts where that one left off, sort of, at first it is a little off putting because they don’t tell the story of how
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they came to be where they are till later.For the main part of the book we have some familiar folks, and some new faces but I do believe Todd & Anne have set us up for a new story arc that I am sure Todd will finish on his own after the sad death of his mother Anne McCaffrey, I for one am very glad that Pern will not end!
I must admit this one did move a little slow for me, it’s not the strongest Pern novel out there but still a good story more about characters than action although there is action. Since the big story arc about the sickness ended in the last book this one is about rebuilding Pern before threadfall. This small group of dragonriders becomes a dysfunctional family as they fight and love to save Pern.
I did enjoy this book and am curious to see where it goes from here. I will purchase the completed book when it comes out to see what correction/updates have been made to it.
If you are a fan of Pern of course you should read this and if you’ve never read any of the Pern books why not??What are you waiting for??This is a wonderful series!
3 ½ Stars
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LibraryThing member aethercowboy
It’s funny. I’ve only read three books that have to do with Pern: A collection of the original trilogy, the novella that appeared in Legends II, and Sky Dragons, the last Pern story to be touched by McCaffrey prior to her death in 2011.
Having only read the series at a dragons-eye view, I must
In Sky Dragons, we are presented with a makeshift weyr, which, as time passes (both ways, since this is Pern), they must build up enough dragons to help stop the next wave of Thread.
As far as Pern books, this seems pretty standard fare. It seems the biggest driving factor within this book are the characters, as otherwise, it struck me as “yet another Pern book,” based on my impression of what “yet another Pern book” would be like. I think that it’s this reason why I never really got into Pern. My impression is that all Pern stories are about dragons, Thread, and going between. Ultimately, that leaves very little to drive the story other than the characters. And I wouldnt’ want to invest in a series of books just for character development.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked the book. I’ll admit that I may be way off when it comes to what’s between the books I’ve read. I’m sure that if it’s such a popular series, the characters can’t be the only reason. Nevertheless, I never got into them.
If you are an established Pern fan, I probably don’t need to tell you to read this book. If you are a newcomer to the series, while I don’t recommend you start here, I do think that one could approach this book with a more basic understanding of Pern and get a decent read at the same time.
Having only read the series at a dragons-eye view, I must
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say that while there is nothing that particularly grabs me about the Pern stories, they are nevertheless enjoyable to read.In Sky Dragons, we are presented with a makeshift weyr, which, as time passes (both ways, since this is Pern), they must build up enough dragons to help stop the next wave of Thread.
As far as Pern books, this seems pretty standard fare. It seems the biggest driving factor within this book are the characters, as otherwise, it struck me as “yet another Pern book,” based on my impression of what “yet another Pern book” would be like. I think that it’s this reason why I never really got into Pern. My impression is that all Pern stories are about dragons, Thread, and going between. Ultimately, that leaves very little to drive the story other than the characters. And I wouldnt’ want to invest in a series of books just for character development.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked the book. I’ll admit that I may be way off when it comes to what’s between the books I’ve read. I’m sure that if it’s such a popular series, the characters can’t be the only reason. Nevertheless, I never got into them.
If you are an established Pern fan, I probably don’t need to tell you to read this book. If you are a newcomer to the series, while I don’t recommend you start here, I do think that one could approach this book with a more basic understanding of Pern and get a decent read at the same time.
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LibraryThing member gypsysmom
This was the last book that Anne McCaffrey wrote before she died. As her co-author and son Todd explains in the forward "After we had finished this book but before it was copyedited, my mother, Anne McCaffrey, passed away. She was eighty-five, she died "in the arms of a handsome man"(her
This book is the story, mainly, of Xhinna who made history by becoming the first woman to impress a blue dragon. She is forced into a leadership role when she takes an endangered group of people and dragons back three years in time to a site on the Western Isle where they will be safe from Fall and can rebuild dragon numbers so when Fall does come they have the forces to fight it. The first place they settle is a group of broom trees which provide continuous shelter; the Pernese can take shelter on the tops of the trees from the vicious felines that attacked them at the first spot they landed. There is another danger on the Western Isle though. Tunnel snakes can come up under eggs and kill the dragonets inside by making a hole in the shell. It takes a girl with extra-sensory perception and domesticated felines to save the eggs from the tunnel snakes. The girl can also see the future and so she knows some events before they happen although she cannot tell anyone. Xhinna figures out that she has seen Xhinna's death but she carries on with her duties.
I've missed reading some of the books in this series so I had a bit of trouble following some of the occurrences that were based upon things that happened in other books. I decided it wasn't necessary to know everything to enjoy this tale.
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son-in-law, Geoffrey), she died at home, quickly." That sounds like a great way to die; we should all hope for the same. I wonder if Anne felt that she had completed her life's work since this is the last book in the Pern Second Interval series that Anne and Todd wrote together. She must have felt that she had left her creation of Pern in good hands.This book is the story, mainly, of Xhinna who made history by becoming the first woman to impress a blue dragon. She is forced into a leadership role when she takes an endangered group of people and dragons back three years in time to a site on the Western Isle where they will be safe from Fall and can rebuild dragon numbers so when Fall does come they have the forces to fight it. The first place they settle is a group of broom trees which provide continuous shelter; the Pernese can take shelter on the tops of the trees from the vicious felines that attacked them at the first spot they landed. There is another danger on the Western Isle though. Tunnel snakes can come up under eggs and kill the dragonets inside by making a hole in the shell. It takes a girl with extra-sensory perception and domesticated felines to save the eggs from the tunnel snakes. The girl can also see the future and so she knows some events before they happen although she cannot tell anyone. Xhinna figures out that she has seen Xhinna's death but she carries on with her duties.
I've missed reading some of the books in this series so I had a bit of trouble following some of the occurrences that were based upon things that happened in other books. I decided it wasn't necessary to know everything to enjoy this tale.
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LibraryThing member EowynA
This is the last Pern book. I am sad, knowing that. However, it opened up a whole new geography within the world of Pern, and a method to save the world during the Third Fall.
I was still a bit confused by some of the time traveling, and by the wealth of named characters. This time the main
I was still a bit confused by some of the time traveling, and by the wealth of named characters. This time the main
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protagonist is one who had been featured in earlier books, Xhinna. I enjoyed the book, but in some ways, happy to see the conclusion of this story arc. It ended well. Show Less
LibraryThing member Andy_DiMartino
Saddened to find out that Anne passed away last November. Her universe will never be the same
LibraryThing member GlenRH
I don't know exactly what was wrong with this book. I cannot put my finger on it. Many of the characters were familiar. The setting was new but not so unknown as to be bizarre. The clairvoyant was a twist but fit the story. The relationships were as expected. Maybe that's what made this not the par
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for a PERN tale. The suspense was low. If Todd continues the series this may be a link to new stories but didn't do much as a stand alone book. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012
ISBN
0552162469 / 9780552162463