Dragonquest – Reviewing Classics
Ballantine, 1971
Fantasy
ISBN: 0345335082
352 pages
Synopsis
Pern is now safe from Threads, at least for the time being. However, there is other trouble brewing throughout the land. The Oldtimers are threatening the general peace, and making requests of the people that are difficult to meet. There is still general unrest between the Holds, the Trades, and the Riders, which F’lar is desperately trying to assuage. There is exploration throughout the Southern Continent, and to everyone’s surprise, a new hero is found in the unlikeliest of places, the earth. Thousands of years before, Pern scientists were devising ways to get rid of thread forever, and created a grub that makes the trees healthier as well as eats the Thread. Soon, the main Thread problem will be over. The last remaining question is whether or not to go to the Red Star, and F’Nor, F’lar’s half-brother makes the trip, only to come back nearly dead.
Critique
Almost everyone knows about Pern, even those who aren’t generally interested in fantasy or science fiction novels. I’m surprised that no one has tried to take this series and make it into a movie. At the very least, a Sci-Fi channel original series or an anime treatment of it is due. I’ve included this as part of the classics because I believe that McCaffrey’s ability to create a world and tell a story with lots of layers of conflict is far above and beyond that of most fantasy and science fiction writers. She doesn’t just rely on the fantasy and tension of the storyline as a crutch, but creates realistic characters who are fighting real battles, whether that be against the threads, other people, or even time itself. She’s also so intricately created the politics of Pern that it seems like a real place. A quick warning, though, there are elements of sexuality and murder throughout the text, so it may skew a little higher in age. I recommend this book to readers 14+.
There are many books in the Pern series, but the other two in the initial trilogy specifically are Dragonfight (book 1) and The White Dragon (book 3).
Rating Rubric
Enjoyable Read:
Original Fantasy:
Original Plot:
Language:
Asthetics:
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Depth In Story:
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Classroom Text:
Overall Rating:
For the Classroom
Since this text operates in a parallel world with separate cultures, societal issues, natural laws and histories than our own, there’s not much to use as a classroom companion.
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