Who wills,
Can.
Who tries,
Does.
Who loves,
Lives.
Welcome to the conclusion of our group read discussion for Anne McCaffrey’s seminal classic, Dragonflight. This has been my first experience with McCaffrey and I will admit to being impressed. It was a tale of two halves for me, with the first half of the book (parts I and II) being a bit clunky in parts yet paired with engaging ideas and characters and the second half (parts III and IV) settling into a great rhythm of suspense and mystery, revelation and wonderful relationships. Wow!
As in part one there will be spoilers from here on in. If you’ve read Dragonflight and have any thoughts on it whatsoever I do hope you will join the conversation. For those of you participating in the group read, please be sure to leave the links for your posts in the appropriate section below.
Let’s fly…
1. The Threads are further explored and become very much the focal point in parts 3 and 4 of Dragonflight. What are your thoughts on the Threads in general and how do you feel these worked as an enemy vs. the traditional enemies you see in SFF novels?
I mentioned in the previous discussion that it surprised me that McCaffrey killed off Fax so quickly and that it was a welcome surprise. As was pointed out in the comments in the first discussion post, this was one of two short stories bound together to create a novel and so perhaps it wasn’t as shocking that Fax met his demise when he did in the shorter version.
What I liked about this is that it immediately took a part of the storyline and made it unexpected. Instead of a traditional bad guy we see him done away with and it becomes a long-standing external threat that is the antagonistic party against which all of the land must unite.
I maintain that I wish more work had been done in the process of crafting these two short stories into a novel to ease into the idea of the Threads differently. What felt very smooth and structured in the second half of the book felt much more haphazard in the first part. I am pleased with the Threads as an idea. I don’t even mind that we still know so little about them. It was clearly established in the second half of the book that they were a definite threat to the environment and thus the livable conditions on Pern. Having a non-sentient, at least from our current point of view, enemy left more time in the story to focus on the various human and dragon characters in the story and that worked really well for me as I found them to be the most interesting part of the story.
2. The science fictional concept of time travel becomes an important device in the later half of Dragonflight, how do you feel McCaffrey did in working time travel into the plot?
I’m a fan of time travel as a plot device and I usually don’t care about the plausibility of it as long as it isn’t completely ridiculous. Sometimes it works even if it is completely ridiculous if the type of story supports that. I thought McCaffrey’s unveiling of the fact that the dragonriders could utilize the between to go back and forth in time was very well done. It added an element of danger which built suspense and it later became the source of what became the most fascinating twist in the story–that the five weyrs had disappeared without a trace all those turns ago because they all had all left to arrive in the future, at Lessa’s behest no less. Frankly I was blown away. I hadn’t seen it coming and I loved the idea. I was so locked in during this entire second half of the novel as I think it was a much stronger and more coherent story and the time travel element was just one part of what made it work so well for me.
3. Of the new characters introduced in this second half of Dragonflight, who did you like/not like and why?
I suspect many of you will say Masterharper Robinton and how could you not? He was great. His willingness to take the Council to task was a treat. I liked the character very much and hope to see much more of him in future stories.
That being said, Mastersmith Fandarel was my favorite of the newly introduced characters. I liked his mannerisms, the way he talked, his focus and determination. I’m not sure that I can put my finger on exactly what it was but McCaffrey did a masterful job rendering the character with very little description and really very little on screen time. He just clicked with me.
And although he wasn’t new to this section of the book I have to put in a word for F’nor. He was fine in the first half of the book but he was a richer character in the second half. I couldn’t help but envision Faramir from The Lord of the Rings (book and films) as he came into his own in the second half of the book.
4. We talked about it in the first discussion and there is no way we can get away from it in Part 2: What are your feelings on the progression of the relationship between F’lar and Lessa throughout this second half of the book?
I finally figured it out.
During the first week’s reading I knew that F’lar and Lessa reminded me of a couple in some story and it dawned on me this morning what that story was—The Taming of the Shrew by one William Shakespeare. Have you seen the Richard Burton/Elizabeth Taylor film based on the play? That is where my brain was going. I don’t picture either character looking like Richard or Liz, but what I do see in them is this fiery passion for one another. The brutish behavior of Petruchio and the stubborn defiance of Kate is reflected in the relationship between F’lar and Lessa. While they treat each other this way there is also a burning passion that they have for each other that lies just below the surface.
I loved spending time with the two of these characters in the second half of the book. In that scene where F’lar kissed her as she slept and told himself something to the effect that he could never let Lessa see this affection when he was awake I wanted to SCREAM. I was thinking, “NO! He better not leave it this way”. Then as I read on and got to the part where Lessa returned from her trip to the past and:
“She was conscious only of F’lar, racing across the Courtyard toward her. Yet she could not move. He grabbed her in his arms, holding her so tightly to him that she could not doubt the joy of his welcome.
“Lessa, Lessa,” his voiced raggedly chanted in her ear..”
I just burst into tears. I wasn’t even aware at that point how far into the story I had tumbled, how much I had fallen under McCaffrey’s spell, and it was a spontaneous reaction. I confessed as much to Deslily last night as I felt that she, with her ongoing passion for Pern, needed to be the first to see me admit to such.
Did I mention that I love these two?
5. And finally, what is your overall assessment of Dragonflight? How does it measure up against other classic science fiction you’ve read? Would you recommend it to modern readers, why or why not?
For a novel with some of the gender issues consistent with the time period that it was written, even though or despite of the fact that is was written by a woman, Dragonflight is one heck of a book. Presumably a contemporary editor would assist an author to find a way to more smoothly blend two short stories together but regardless of what I felt was an occasionally sputtering opening narrative the book is filled to the brim with fascinating world-building and a handful of characters that one cannot possibly forget. And don’t forget–dragons!!!
I am a huge sucker for romantic relationships in my SFF and this one was a real treat to watch grow and evolve. On top of that McCaffrey added some very intriguing ideas with the way knowledge of the threat was passed down from generation to generation. I enjoyed that there was an element of faith to the story and that faith was placed in a mystery that unwound as the story went on.
I leave the story enamored of Pern and interested in learning more about not only the origins of humanity on the planet from some of the earlier books but also look forward to reading the direct sequels to Dragonflight.
And in the end, how could I not enjoy a story that had one of the greatest lines I’ve ever read regarding the male-female relationship:
“He answered her the only way a wise man could.”
Thank you all in advance for another great week of discussion. I had fun bantering with all of you here and on your sites as we enjoyed this experience together and am thrilled we get to start doing it again today.
Still bummed I missed out but glad you enjoyed. And good to know your were impressed. Will keep an eye for a new copy at the library.
Do, and let me know when/if you find it to read. We *may* do a further group read, although I suspect some may dive into the sequels right now.
you should too! .. just sayin’ (working on my comment)
The problem is that I am currently in the middle of reading…5 other books. And as much as I really do want to continue with the gang we met in Dragonflight I have to admit that I am MOST curious about reading Dragonsdawn next which I not only have a copy of waiting in my basement (with its great Michael Whelan cover) but also discusses what I am most interested in which is the start of humanity’s presence there, the creation of the dragons, the first Thread invasion, etc.
well.. it is sounding like McCaffrey might make your “favorite new authors” list.. if you had one lol.. I have Dragonsdawn in hardback and love the cover also.. but then what’s not to like? lol
If I had a favorite new authors list I would be in trouble as I have a pretty good track record in picking out books I end up liking. This one was easy given so many still love it today.
That is great that you have that one in hardback. Such a cool image, especially when you see the whole thing front and back.
oh I have quite a few of her books in hardback.. but not “the big three” in 3 separate hardback books. I have them in one fat book by doubleday but not the individual hardbacks (except for 2 of the white dragon.. one is even signed by the artist! Imagine that! lol)
Yes, the big three would be nice to have. Pretty pricey now, I imagine.
on ebay: dragonflight hb ..189.00
dragonflight hb signed…899.00
dragonquest hb.. 320.00
dragonquest hb signed….1,195.95
so.. gunna buy me one? LOL LOL LOL
I really encourage you to leave Dragonsdawn alone for a while. The tale unfolds better reading it in publishing order. I know too many people who “jumped the gun” and were disappointed that the missed the slow reveal of the history. So after Dragonflight read Dragonquest. Then Dragonsong, Dragonsinger and Dragondrums. Then White Dragon.
I believe this was Anne McCaffery’s preferred order too.
Moreta and Nerlika at some point too…
I must admits to reading these books as they were published… so I had no choice of the order I read them.
As always I enjoy your web site, it is such fun to see these great books read through new eyes.
Thanks Ian, appreciate your insight. One of the fun things about reading this book was discovering how many more books there are in the series besides the ones I was already aware of. So happy to have finally read Anne McCaffrey.
Carl, I highly, highly recommend reading at least the other two original dragonriders books (Dragonquest and The White Dragon) before going on to Dragonsdawn. There’s a bunch of stuff in TWD especially that ties in to Dragonsdawn and I truly think make it an even better read. It’s one of my favourites, but the better you know Pern, the more rewarding some of the small things she includes are.
Great review of the second half! I am so looking forward to seeing how everyone reacts to the reveal on the weyrs/whether they saw it coming or not. In my very hazy memory of reading this the first time, I think a later book had already spoiled that twist for me, so it’s fun to see how other people react to it.
Taming of the Shrew–YES! I definitely can see that. Thank you, I think you just saved this romantic pairing for me. That, and McCaffrey’s wonderful moments when Lessa goes back in time–and then returns. That was lovely.
I also was so frustrated with F’lar in that scene with Lessa sleeping–something about kissing her with a tenderness he’d never show while she was awake, which prompts a big resounding WHYYYYY? So I’m very glad he finally cracked in the end. 🙂
I hope we go on to another group read, and even if we don’t, I look forward to a flurry of other Pern reviews on the participants’ blogs! I know I’ll be revisiting Pern again soon…
In some ways that scene with F’lar in which he is acting like the “manly man”, aka, “don’t show emotions, emotions are weakness” coupled with the later scene in which that facade breaks could be seen as McCaffrey purposefully breaking down conventions. Now I am the first to admit that there is an ENORMOUS amount of critical analysis of literature of all kinds that pulls out valid things but is not something the author did consciously. And as Anne McCaffrey has passed away we cannot ask her. But I like the idea that she either consciously or unconsciously showed us with those scenes that the old way of having this he-man without a tender side, merely showing his “tender side” with sex, was out the window.
I’m actually very happy that frustrating scene happened as it set up the later scene to be an extremely emotionally powerful one…at least for me. *blushes*
I’m not averse to considering moving on to book 2 in February if enough people want to and are okay with taking a couple of week break (in other words exercising patience, lol!). I would also want some volunteers to help with questions.
So…I wasn’t actually planning to read the direct next Pern book…kind of like you said farther up in the comments with Dragonsdawn, there are others in the series I’m more interested in reading (and there are too many books stacked up!) Maybe instead of a direct group read, people would be interested in a sort of Pern-week…everybody read something of their choice in the series and review it the same day/week. In February, maybe.
No pressure, I just had the thought and figured I’d throw the idea out into the void…
That is an interesting idea. My only fear would be something spoiling one of the books. It is hard not to do spoilers sometimes even when trying.
First of all Carl.. YOU made ME cry! Not when you said you liked the book but when I heard you wanted to read “more”. I really hope you do and I hope you do it before you are so involved with others that it drifts from your mind. Life on Pern needs to be experienced by those who have not yet felt it’s presence.
That being said… I never knew book one was 2 short stories put together. Rather I read it as one hellava hook! One that would make you stay and read more and more of Pern. One to tease you, “oh look here.. there’s dragons! And you ride them and talk with them!” “And look again! “I have brought you forward in time on another planet, while at the same time, I bring you back in a simpler time of life”. Anne McCaffrey Just blows me away even thinking of this trilogy.
Ah yes, time travel. I can’t say I am a lover of the way it’s used in many of the books I’ve read or tried to read. But *blinking out* hummm kida Star Trekky isn’t it? Now you see me now you don’t. “Dammit Jim I don’t like my molecules spread all over the galaxy!” I realize to many it doesn’t seem to become the actually time travel until Lessa stumbles on it and see’s herself at Ruatha. Without giving away too much..you have yet to see just what “blinking out” can do.
As the story progresses there are others similar to Mastersmith Fandarel although he remains in the background only to keep appearing as needed. So.. you touched on Masterharper Robinton. (*grin* sigh* lust..cough cough excuse me) Robinton plays quite a large part in all the books and is a real addition to her list of memorable characters, and it helps that his music and journeymen add to the entirety of the story
LOL I love your comparison to Dick and Liz for F’lar and Lessa! Actually they seem quite alike from their real life relationship! And as for the courtyard scene when Lessa gets back from time traveling I would say that was one small step for males and one giant step for females!
I find it impossible to read a Pern book and not mention the Hatchings. They take my breath away. The instant bond. The love. And knowing you will never have to be alone again. What outstanding scenes filled with emotion she wrote when she wrote of the Hatchings.
I will just say that as much as Dragonsdawn is calling to you… you should finish this trilogy first. To me, when I read Dragonsdawn some time after the trilogy it was more like reading a history book, and I enjoyed it because of that.
Books I want to read don’t usually drift from my mind. They sit around and whisper to me, they pop up unexpectedly in my head and they find a way to stay in the corner of my eye, so no worries.
I do firmly believe the mechanical issues I complained about are because of the short story format vs. long story format. As she won awards for both short stories I imagine that they exist in the novel with very little changes made, at least to the first one. It would be fun to go read the original short stories sometime to see.
When Robinton was introduced I thought of you because I could recall you having mentioned his name before. 🙂
I have a feeling the “acting” in Taming of the Shrew was pretty much just an every day portrayal of Burton and Taylor’s tumultuous relationship. I do love that movie though and so it is a very loving comparison I am making.
The imprinting of the dragons is a really cool idea. It is like taking the actual thing that happens in nature, with ducks for example, and making it infinitely cooler.
It is funny because your description of Dragonsdawn as a history book has me wanting to read it even more. Makes me think of The Silmarillion, which feels like a history book to me, which I actually love as much as LOTR.
my thought go along with Ian.. with one exception.. I read each trilogy in succession. (dragonflight/ dragonquest/ the white dragon and then the harper hall trilogy.) when I came to dragonsdawn (and not sure if I read others before that or not.. it seemed to make more sense to me. however… having said that, you who likes sci fi so much would probably like dragonsdawn and morita’s ride more than the others.. I liked the two trilogies best because I am so, soooooooooooooooooo character driven. and it was a case that once I began them I found I didn’t want to stop until I had read all that she had out and published at the time.. then I was forced to wait for her newest publications.
I’m really character driven too so that appeals to me but I also like the ideas and the world-building aspects, when they are done well. The ideal is to have all that happen in the same book.
I loved the relationship between F’lar and Lessa in this half. The part of the story where she returns with the riders of the other five Weyrs was just brilliant and frankly gave me goose bumps. It was great to see F’lar get in touch with his emotions a little bit more – I guess, like you say, he doesn’t want to show his emotions as it feels like a weakness. Also, I suppose if you admit that you love something then you also admit the possibility of being hurt at some point. The earlier scenes with the two remind me of two teenagers (which I suppose Lessa was?) where they’re both afraid to admit their feelings and won’t go first.
Yes, I never, for one moment, guessed about the five weyrs and the reason why they were empty. What a really excellent reveal – I was bowled over by that.
I will certainly be interested in reading on.
Lynn 😀
I got quite a few goose bumps in the second half of this one too…and tears of course, lol!
McCaffrey’s presentation of Pern certainly made you realize that it could be very costly to show yourself vulnerable and there has often been, in real life, a tendency to see someone showing outward love, especially a male, as being a sign of weak vulnerability. I’m glad that has changed some over the last few decades and that men are finally realizing that in order to be a real genuine person it is okay to show your feelings.
I also think that F’Lar has spent his whole adult life concentrated on his aim of preparing for Threadfall and there is little suggestion that he has had time for women. I don’t think he had really spent any time thinking about how much Lessa meant to him until she disappeared and he suddenly realized that he would be lost without her.
Late to the party today! Sorry… had Jury Duty and couldn’t post early this am. 🙁
Carl, you got emotional! Yes! I love it. 🙂
SPOILERS IN COMMENT:
I really like the growth I saw during this second half of the book for Lessa and F’lar’s characters. I particularly like that McCaffrey slowly did away with F’lar’s alpha attitude and Lessa’s “lack of judgment” (or TSTL) moments. They continued to have that edgy, slightly competitive relationship, but it grew into a loving and tender one too! I was RELIEVED that McCaffrey brought in other strong women by the end of this story and that the males in Pern finally realized that they had taken the “wrong path.” Pheww…. I’m so glad that’s the way it turned out.
I still had my problems with F’lar… actions can’t be taken away, but with growth comes wisdom. So, I’m with you, I really want to continue by reading the second book! Or as Cheryl suggested maybe we can all choose a Pern book and I’ll just read the second one in the trilogy. *g*
Thanks for hosting this group reading. I’ve had much fun!
You should have just showed up and started shouting about your dragon and the need to get back to Pern. *That* would have gotten you out of jury duty pronto!
I am a big sap, so no surprise really that I got emotional. I tear up at the end of almost every Dr. Who episode. But this was more than tearing up, they were running.
Yes, McCaffrey did a great job of subtly rubbing off some of the rougher edges of both characters. I too love seeing the other strong females. It balances out with the beginning of the book and makes the whole thing seem very deliberate, like she was very cunning and was sucking us in all along.
Ultimately I am glad neither F’lar or Lessa were perfect. Would have made for a boring story for one thing but it also fits with the kind of early world Pern had devolved into over the many Turns. Like you I’m not excusing behavior but seeing character growth does a lot to endear one to the characters.
I’ll think about what Feb. holds and get back to everyone to see how feel about a second book group read soon.
I’m trying to picture avoiding jury duty by ranting about dragons… 😀
I think I could pull it off pretty easily.
Why didn’t I think of that?!!
At any rate, we’ve got your back!
I bet it would persuade them that you weren’t “of sound mind”! 😀
At the risk of turning people against me, here is my review from late 2011. I don’t dislike the Pern books, but I had more trouble with it than some. It still gets a mostly positive review though!
http://twodudesff.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/dragonflight/
I realize that a lot of things I take issue with are of a politico-economic nature, stuff that doesn’t bother 90% of the reading public, but that’s what you get with me.
I will check it out! No one is in love with the same books, so no worries about anyone showing up at your door with pitchforks. 🙂
Here’s hoping! This is a series that people seem to be deeply emotionally involved with, so one gets nervous. I’m happy to explain myself though, either here or there. (As we have already started to do.)
Ah well. I’m pretty emotionally attached to my favorites and can still listen to criticism about them. I often won’t agree, lol, but I can listen and even criticize them myself. It rarely changes my affection for the story.
@Two Dudes in an Attic: I read your post and I think you stated your points clearly. After reading the first book, I happen to agree with your view of the paternalistic society that evolved in Pern and it bothered me until the end of Dragonflight that the “rape” or non-consesual sex scene was pretty much glossed over by McCaffrey.
The economic situation and the stagnation going on in that society bothered me to no end during the first part of the story. I did have some hope by the end. However, it seems to me that McCaffrey’s world-building is based on that feudal system you mention in your post, which she follows to the end of Dragonflight.
Since I’m new to Pern and the world-building, however, I wonder if the Southern Weyr will have to fend for itself at some point? And, will that change how the Northern Weyrs might function at some point? Just speculating of course from a blind point of view.
PS: I didn’t realize people were so deeply emotionally involved with this world/series. It’s an interesting experience, coming to this series as an adult with a fresh eye. 🙂
And that just tells you how clueless I can sometimes be as a leader because I didn’t see the sex scene after the queen’s ride as rape. Non-consensual maybe but I also read it…or really just glossed past it…as a part of the societal expectations that the dominant male and dominant female mated after that ritual and that is just the way things worked.
I think any classic science fiction or fantasy series that has stood any test of time has done so because people are very emotionally involved with it. Which is why you get people on one hand lamenting the fact that people still read the Foundation novels or Heinlein’s work or, I would imagine, the Pern books. Why those who complain so loudly about those old books still being lauded don’t understand how readers emotionally connect to novels is beyond me. (I’m not referring to you Hilicia, just to be clear).
I’m curious about what we’ll learn about the Southern Weyr later on too.
I mentioned over on Two Dudes post that the economic issues didn’t bother me in that I saw it as a plausible outcome given the history that we have to look at where feudal systems and various unfair and dying political and economic systems went on stagnating for years before some situation forced a change.
I understand Carl. I think that reading vintage SF, just as reading any book that reflects past views is important and eye opening. They reflect past views and show us growth, not only in history and our society but in how literature interpreted the times.
I particularly enjoy reading vintage SF because they not only reflect vintage SF, but some of them as in Heinlein and Haldeman also reflect political views of the times. They become a study, a window into the past. So yes, I understand.
In this case, McCaffrey’s depiction of the relationship between Lessa and F’lar was right on line with the romantic (or romances) written during that time. She very much reflected books marketed during the time within that genre. The alpha male, the ‘forced’ first encounter (never called rape at the time), and the virgin heroine. However, we as so called ‘modern readers,’ interpreted it as such because we are looking at it from a different perspective. But it’s always important when reading vintage anything (SF, romance, or otherwise) to place ourselves during the time the book was written.
Like you, I can’t wait to see where McCaffrey goes with the economic issues. That should be interesting. 😀
PS: Sorry forgot to say this: One of the reasons I was surprised about the gender issues in this novel is because SF is usually ahead of other genre lit, and in this case it was not. 🙂
I missed posting during the first week so my week 2 post is a combination of both. Thanks for hosting this group readalong.
Awesome, I’m glad you got in on this and look forward to checking out your post.
Mastersmith Fandarel, how could I forget! He was so funny in a distracted sort of way. And all queen riders need flame throwers! Yes, he certainly paid a pivotal role in getting rid of Thread that has gone to ground. I hope to see him, F’nor, Robinton, Lessa, and F’lar in the rest of the series.
1. In some ways, I find that the lack of knowledge about Thread makes it more menacing. It also shows how much of Pern’s effort has simply been aimed at surviving it and that studying it has been something that they did not have the people or resources to pursue.
2. I do agree with you that the second half of the book is much more cohesive and I raced through it in a single sitting, which is somewhat unusual for me! 🙂
3. Fandarel is great, isn’t he? He and Robinton end up forming a great double act and are wonderful characters in the rest of the series. I like your comparison of F’Nor with Faramir: I was particularly amused by his subtle requests that he would not be needed to ‘service’ Kylara, especially the bit where he said something like “I don’t mind taking one for the team, but . . .” 😀
4. Oh, Carl, you old softy! We’ll have you reading Harlequin titles next! 😀
I like your analogy to The Taming of The Shrew, although there is not so much obvious verbal sparring between these two. However, they do share the way that the man physically reprimands the woman, which I really disliked, though F’Lar’s shaking is nowhere near as demeaning as Petruchio putting Kate across his knees to slap her bottom. I also like the fact that F’Lar did not really ‘tame’ Lessa, so that she stayed more or less herself whilst eventually showing her love and passion for him.
5. I am so glad that you enjoyed the book and that it survived the 40+ years since publication without becoming obviously outdated. If only the gender issues were not so much of a problem, this could have been written last year.
Thanks again for organizing this Read Along: I think I might have to reread the series now . . . if I can find time! 😀
I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading Dragonflight and I have read with interest the comments made by you and the others involved in the read along.