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mobcob's review against another edition
3.0
The world of Pern is starting to grow so maybe I have more patience with its flaws than in the first book. I am still upset, however, that for a book who's climax involves the strength of Brekke's love, there is very little of the book that actually focuses on Brekke. I swear I remember more strong women in this series the first time I read it.
par3's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars! While not quite on par with Dragonflight, this one is still great. Took me awhile to get through it but I think that’s mainly cuz I don’t have a ton of time these days and the chapters are so long. But it is quite an enjoyable book. Focused more on F’nar and Brekke rather than F’lar and Lessa. The fire lizards are cool too! Enjoy!
tehani's review against another edition
4.0
Marisol and I are rereading and reviewing Pern. Our Dragonquest review is here: http://fablecroft.com.au/miscellaneous/revisiting-pern-the-great-mccaffrey-reread-dragonquest
mal_eficent's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Dragonquest should have a leg up on Dragonflight by virtue of not being three short stories smashed together - but this has always been the disappointing book of the first trilogy for me.
Originally I put it down to the pacing and plot being much 'drier' and the more obvious science fiction elements. On a reread I think it's mostly the men. F'nor and F'lar are such misogynistic dicks. I can appreciate parts of their character–and do enjoy them as characters–but their constant snide comments about women is infuriating. They focus how attractive they are or are just baffled by women existing and doing jobs–and the other men riders are no better. Not understanding a large chunk of how the world around you works is not a masculine flex.
Outside of that, this is a very politically driven story, with great world building that's grounded in the perspective of the characters. It doesn't feel like people have no agency in the plot and there is enough going on that it's not just a story following people along their daily lives on an alien planet (as the Harper Hall Trilogy does). Kylara is always one of my favourite Pern characters and she's used to great effect here.
Originally I put it down to the pacing and plot being much 'drier' and the more obvious science fiction elements. On a reread I think it's mostly the men. F'nor and F'lar are such misogynistic dicks. I can appreciate parts of their character–and do enjoy them as characters–but their constant snide comments about women is infuriating. They focus how attractive they are or are just baffled by women existing and doing jobs–and the other men riders are no better. Not understanding a large chunk of how the world around you works is not a masculine flex.
Outside of that, this is a very politically driven story, with great world building that's grounded in the perspective of the characters. It doesn't feel like people have no agency in the plot and there is enough going on that it's not just a story following people along their daily lives on an alien planet (as the Harper Hall Trilogy does). Kylara is always one of my favourite Pern characters and she's used to great effect here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
jessmcphee's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jayhwu's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
anaiira's review against another edition
3.0
Better than the first book, same amount of awkward pacing and turns of phrase, but much fewer unpleasant characters.
A fundamental incoherence of communication, where obedience and compliance are expected from secondary characters by main characters or they are considered contrary or hateful. All the Pernese are insidious gossips and judgmental assholes, it seems like.
The content of the book is less interesting, more a continuation of the previous novel more than anything, and an oddly contrived antagonism between the Oldtimers and the Newtimers, that makes sense in a backpedalling hindsight kind of way. Actually, all the antagonism in these novels felt contrived and convoluted
A fundamental incoherence of communication, where obedience and compliance are expected from secondary characters by main characters or they are considered contrary or hateful. All the Pernese are insidious gossips and judgmental assholes, it seems like.
The content of the book is less interesting, more a continuation of the previous novel more than anything, and an oddly contrived antagonism between the Oldtimers and the Newtimers, that makes sense in a backpedalling hindsight kind of way. Actually, all the antagonism in these novels felt contrived and convoluted
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
5.0
Continuing a quick romp through Dragonriders of Pern. Its been a long while and I'm enjoying visiting this old friend (while waiting to be deluged by new books from the library).
caddarn's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5