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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
In theory, a book about Master Robinton would be interesting--he's a well respected, almost omniscient character with a role in every event in Pern. However, I struggled to read it. It was not interesting, a lot of occurrences didn't fit into the already established universe of Pern, and it recapped scenes from previous books without any addtional insight. Too much telling, not enough showing. I was going to read my way through this series but I am having second thoughts as these later books are just awful.
I think my main problem was that this was not the book I wanted it to be. I was expecting something more like a fun episode (or series of episodes) in the life of the much beloved Robinton, but instead I got a biography of him (filled to the brim with deaths!) that was really a thin pretext for trying to cover holes and create extraneous links in the world of Pern. I was never interested in Pern for the continuity and was happy to ignore the mild inconsistency here and there. I didn't mind that McCaffrey so fundamentally changed tack after the first book and I was more in it for the feel-good collective problem solving with a strong focus on music. The MasterHarper of Pern definitely had a strong focus on music, but it didn't quite sit right and a lot of the technical language felt peppered in for effect rather than suitable to the situations it was employed in.
I think that McCaffrey got too carried away with trying to reconcile the disparities across her massive series, specifically trying to explain the anomaly of the first entry in the series, that she neglected all the things that I enjoy in her books. This was a shame and I don't think I'll read any further in the Pern series. I did enjoy the circling back at the end and certain episodes were engaging but overall it was very underwhelming.
I think that McCaffrey got too carried away with trying to reconcile the disparities across her massive series, specifically trying to explain the anomaly of the first entry in the series, that she neglected all the things that I enjoy in her books. This was a shame and I don't think I'll read any further in the Pern series. I did enjoy the circling back at the end and certain episodes were engaging but overall it was very underwhelming.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Fatphobia
Okay enough for a prequel. Trying to jam in references to every damn thing that occurs in the more famous books later on in the timeline was irritating. Too much fat-shaming!
A nice Pern novel, gives you the overview life story of one of the more popular characters. Not the most exciting Pern book, but a nice leisurely read.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Oh, these books will be the death of me. I'll die from all the tears.
Poor dear Robinton. WHY did she give you such a heartbreaking life?
It was, however, lovely to see how the MasterHarper had a hand in much of the good done on Pern, how he was connected to so very many important people. He was one of the most important of the important people himself, naturally. He deserved happier than what he got.
But then, if it hadn't been a life of sorrow, would be be who he became?
This is one of my favourites of the Pern series, thus far.
4.5 out of 5.
Poor dear Robinton. WHY did she give you such a heartbreaking life?
It was, however, lovely to see how the MasterHarper had a hand in much of the good done on Pern, how he was connected to so very many important people. He was one of the most important of the important people himself, naturally. He deserved happier than what he got.
But then, if it hadn't been a life of sorrow, would be be who he became?
This is one of my favourites of the Pern series, thus far.
4.5 out of 5.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
I love Anne McCaffrey
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated