Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collections
Publication
Corgi Books (1980), Edition: 1st UK ed, 1st rep., Paperback
Description
Fiction. Science Fiction. Short Stories. HTML:A splendid selection of stories from the lady who taught dragons to fly and rockets to sing . . . Lady in the Tower The Rowan was one of a select group of telepaths�??a complete Prime, one of only five. Then one day, another Prime appeared mysteriously from the outer boundaries of space, asking for help in a savage battle against evil! Finder's Keepers Young Peter had a unique gift which earned him and his mother a little money and gave pleasure to others. Then, one day, an unscrupulous man forced Peter to use his precious gift in a crooked scheme�??and Peter grew up fast! Honeymoon Helva and her new brawn were sent on an especially urgent mission . . . a mission that not only put them both in great danger, but a mission that also caused them to break the ultimate taboo! The Smallest Dragon Boy The only thing Keevan wanted in life was to be a dragonrider, just like his father . . .… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member benfulton
The best part of the book is where the authors explain the title. They'd originally intended to call it "Get of the Unicorn" but a printer's error in a catalog accidentally renamed it...
LibraryThing member Katissima
I think this is a must read for any Anne McCaffrey fan. Not only are there some great examples of her less well known stand alone short stories, many of her most famous series (Pern and the Rowan for example) actually started off as short stories that are included in this collection. Most
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fascinating perhaps is a rather risque story that is the basis for the Freedom series and a story about polyamory. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Assorted stories - detailed reviews in individual stories. Skipped (well, skimmed) the two Tower ones - Lady in the Tower (3.5 stars); A Meeting of Minds (3 stars). Daughter (3.5 stars), Dull Drums (4 stars); skipped Changeling (2.5 stars); Weather on Welladay (3.5 stars); The Thorns of Barevi (3.5
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stars); Horse from a Different Sea (3 stars); Great Canine Chorus (4 stars); Finder's Keeper (4.5 stars); A Proper Santa Claus (3 stars); The Smallest Dragonboy (3.5 stars); Apple (3.5 stars); Honeymoon (3 stars). The interesting thing is how many times, in the introductions to the individual stories, she talks about how this is a story seed but she hasn't written the rest yet - and now (33 years after publication of this book), she has. Thorns of Barevi, the second (and third) generations of Rowan's children, and a good deal more in the Talent universe - including all of the Rowan books! - and more brain/brawn stories. An interesting snapshot of her ideas at the time. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
This is an enjoyable collection of 14 of McCaffrey's short fiction. Six of the stories are set within the universes of popular series she created. "The Smallest Dragonboy" is set in her popular Pern universe--it's an enjoyable, even if not outstanding story. Three of the stories are set in the
None of these works are going to be found on a list of science-fiction classics--nor should they be. They're not outstanding either in concept or style. But if these aren't first tier, they're definitely right below. I'd been rereading books to decide which I should winnow from my bookshelves. I recently reread short story anthologies by Orson Scott Card and James P. Hogan. Both wrote novels I loved, both anthologies had first been read much more recently. Yet I couldn't remember a thing about the stories within those books. In the case of McCaffrey I not only quickly remembered almost all the stories once I started reading, certain lines and events were vividly memorable. So no, McCaffrey might not be in the same league as Isaac Asimov or C.L. Moore--but she's very enjoyable--and, I decided, a keeper.
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"Talents" universe concerning psychics of To Ride Pegasus, The Rowan and Damia. "Lady in the Tower" (1959) was actually McCaffrey's first published story and I enjoyed the follow-up "Meeting of the Minds." "Apple" was, I thought, one of the strongest stories in the book. As were the two similarly themed "Great Canine Chorus" and "Finder's Keepers" although technically both are standalones. "The Thorns of Barevi" is set in the same universe of Freedom's Landing and its sequels (although to be honest, that was my least favorite story in the book--too rapey.) And my favorite story in the book was "Honeymoon." Definitely not a standalone, McCaffrey warns in her introduction The Ship Who Sang should be read first. But then, given that aside from the early Pern novels, there's no McCaffrey novel I loved more, I adored being able to revisit Helva.None of these works are going to be found on a list of science-fiction classics--nor should they be. They're not outstanding either in concept or style. But if these aren't first tier, they're definitely right below. I'd been rereading books to decide which I should winnow from my bookshelves. I recently reread short story anthologies by Orson Scott Card and James P. Hogan. Both wrote novels I loved, both anthologies had first been read much more recently. Yet I couldn't remember a thing about the stories within those books. In the case of McCaffrey I not only quickly remembered almost all the stories once I started reading, certain lines and events were vividly memorable. So no, McCaffrey might not be in the same league as Isaac Asimov or C.L. Moore--but she's very enjoyable--and, I decided, a keeper.
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LibraryThing member phyllis2779
I read the stories in this book in the late 70's or early 80's so I barely remembered the book. But I looked them over before I mooched it out and it's interesting how many of them I actually remembered once I just looked at the premise of each story.
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
A wonderful collection of stories from McCaffrey's early years as a writer (1959 to 1973).
LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne
Many of these stories have since been included in novels.
Language
Original publication date
1977 (Collection)
Physical description
316 p.; 6.93 inches
ISBN
0552109657 / 9780552109659
Local notes
14 short stories.
'Lady in the Tower' (later expanded to be 'The Rowan')
'A Meeting of Minds' (later incorporated into 'Damia')
'Daughter'
'Dull Drums'
'Changeling'
'Weather on Welladay'
'The Thorns of Barevi' (later expanded to 'Freedom's Landing')
'Horse From a Different Sea'
'The Great Canine Chorus'
'Finder's Keeper' (a Talent story)
'A Proper Santa Claus'
'The Smallest Dragonboy' (1973) (a Pern story, also appears in A Gift of Dragons)
'Apple' (a Talent story, also appears in To Ride Pegasus)
'Honeymoon' (ties up the Helva & Niall Brain & Brawn series)
'Lady in the Tower' (later expanded to be 'The Rowan')
'A Meeting of Minds' (later incorporated into 'Damia')
'Daughter'
'Dull Drums'
'Changeling'
'Weather on Welladay'
'The Thorns of Barevi' (later expanded to 'Freedom's Landing')
'Horse From a Different Sea'
'The Great Canine Chorus'
'Finder's Keeper' (a Talent story)
'A Proper Santa Claus'
'The Smallest Dragonboy' (1973) (a Pern story, also appears in A Gift of Dragons)
'Apple' (a Talent story, also appears in To Ride Pegasus)
'Honeymoon' (ties up the Helva & Niall Brain & Brawn series)