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I spent an entire summer about 6 years ago reading all of the Dragonriders of Pern books. I really enjoyed the premise, the strong characters that Anne McCaffrey portrays and the dragons. I love the telepathic link between the dragons and their riders. I loved Lessa, F'lar, F'nor, Ruth the White Dragon and of course Master Robinton.

The latest book, Dragon's Fire, was written by Todd McCaffrey along with his mother Anne. That being said, it bears little resemblance to the original Dragonriders of Pern books. The characters are interesting but it is slow at times and there is so much jumping between points of view that it is difficult to really sympathize with the characters.

The story begins with Pelar, a mute apprentice harper who is sent on a mission to learn about the Shunned. A mission started and seemingly failed by another harper. Pelar is a boy about 15 years old that is coming into his own. Of all of the characters Pelar is the most interesting. However, because of the format of the novel, he is only really found in Book One of this two-book series. The group of characters found in Book Two are Shunned or nearly Shunned people, mostly children that are not portrayed in a manner that engages the readers.

There are very few dragons in this novel. It should, in fact, simply be called a Pern novel because none of the Dragon Riders are main characters; some of the Dragon Riders are portrayed in a very poor light. I also found it difficult to determine where in time this book was situated in relation to the Dragonriders of Pern books in which Master Robinton was the Master Harper of Pern.

Yes, it is fun to go back to Pern, a world that is stepped in history. However, of all the Dragonriders of Pern books that I have read, this was the one that I found least enjoyable. Perhaps I will revisit Pern by re-reading my collection of original Anne McCaffrey Pern books.

Lise Murphy has been reading science fiction and fantasy ever since she was little. Aided by Star Wars, her Dad introduced her to the genre. Educated as a virologist, she has worked in rabies research for the federal government and is now working in laboratory safety. She lives in Ottawa, Canada with her husband Brad and beagle Madigan.