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shaouais's review against another edition
slow-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
jackiepreston's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I can see why this book was so influential to future fantasy authors, but reading it now it's very boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Misogyny
rosemaryfay's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Definitely a comfort reread for me, but dang does McCaffrey hate women. Biggest not like other girls energy from this author. The universe of pern is incredibly misogynistic and women are treated more as sex objects (with the exceptions of lessa and brekke) than anything else. also. uh. the weirdness around oooo the weyrs are so ~promiscuous ~ women can have ~sex~ here, but then the only named women who you know, do that are treated as evil manipulative sluts by the narrative? legitimately what are we even doing here.
side note on bad worldbuilding, apparently going between makes a woman barren? because it's too cold? what in the bad science?
the storyline is really enjoyable to me, probabl because I've read it a thousand times, but I have more trouble reconciling it with the aggressively patriarchal world building.
I like this series for nostalgia reasons, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it. there are better fantasy series out there. read one of them instead .
side note on bad worldbuilding, apparently going between makes a woman barren? because it's too cold? what in the bad science?
the storyline is really enjoyable to me, probabl because I've read it a thousand times, but I have more trouble reconciling it with the aggressively patriarchal world building.
I like this series for nostalgia reasons, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it. there are better fantasy series out there. read one of them instead .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual assault
some of the sex scenes could be read as dubious consent or nonconsensual.uranaishi's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Violence, Self harm, Classism, Grief, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Misogyny
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Abandonment, Blood, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
starknits13's review against another edition
4.0
The continuation of the story of Pern started in Dragonflight. I really love this series. I do get a little miffed at the "women" being regulated to the kitchen and the housework. But the introduction of the fire lizards in this story is wonderful.
katewutz's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, the world building is so good and the plot so bad it makes me want to write fan fiction. I feel like I’ve had no idea when either of these books would end because there’s not really much of an arc? Or if there is, I can’t find it.
This would, however, lend itself well to a TV show, I think. The little incidents that crop up would work well as episodes of an overarching season with a loose arc to tie it together.
This would, however, lend itself well to a TV show, I think. The little incidents that crop up would work well as episodes of an overarching season with a loose arc to tie it together.
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