Masterharper of Pern - a fair review?

[I, Brian]

http://www.chronicles-network.com/bo...-reviews-1.php

Is it a fair review of the book?

[erickad71]

Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

I've loved all of the Pern books, but I haven't read them in a while so I don't remember the exact details of the book. It didn't really sound like a review to me.

[Esioul]

I've read a few of them, some time ago. They were all right as fun reads, if I remember, but not particularly remarkable in any sense. I quite enjoyed the first one, I think. I haven't read the book in the review, so I couldn't possibly comment on that.

[Sirathiel]

This is not the first time that I hear that a reader was disappointed with that particular book.

I, myself, am still reading through the main part of the series and have not yet reached that particular book.

But I, too, have noticed inconsistencies in McCaffrey's writing. I think in Dragonquest it was mentioned by Lessa that Moreta could, like herself, talk to all dragons. While reading the book about Moreta, I was surprised to find out that that was not the case. At the end she talked to 3 dragons, or rather they to her...

Considering that McCaffrey isn't the youngest anymore, I'm inclined to attribute that to her age. But inconsistencies like those revealed in that review are quite a lot to deal with.

[dwndrgn]

I don't recall reading that one, although most of the Pern books I read around 15 years ago so I may have forgotten. I did just recently read her newest book, cowritten by her son. I found that the story was quite 'pat' and some things were a little off-kilter in consistency - I did still find it enjoyable however. It is quite possible that she has written so many Pern-based books that she has forgotten all that she has written, and thus the inconsistencies come in.

This is a good warning for all new authors. Re-read your own works, or keep detailed notes on the major characters etc. so that you don't fall into this type of problem.

[Princess Ivy]

it is true, although not a disapointment to me. Ms MacCaffery tends to like putting her major characters into major events, even if they weren't there originaly. rather like in soap operas when things are done to justify a story line. She also doesn't seem to like having her characters have easy beginings. They all must have stife in their early lives. and she will twist characters and events to make it so. i'm used to it.
A major problem with this book is, i think, that it was not one that she wanted to write. Robintons story was demanded by the fans. and rather like Thomas HArris with Hannibal, she didn't really have his story in her mind. so she used events already in print to build the story. As I have said before, this is the only pern book i don't own. I loved robinton as a secondary character, but as the main one, he was a bit to much of a good thing. paragons don't make good characters. its to difficult to identify with them.

[dragonqueen]

I thought this book was excellent, so much so that I've read it 4 times! I've read a lot of her books, and found this, and Dragon song, and Dragon singer the best ones! Not that the others arn't good

[Princess Ivy]

dragon quest, the first novel in the pern series is by far the most outstanding. of the more recent novels, my fave is the dolphins of pern.

[dragonqueen]

Dragonquest is the one I can never seem to find a copy of, I've only read it once, and can't remember it much, must read it again. I'd agree with you that the dolphins of Pern is the best of the newer ones, I wasn't so keen on some of the others for some reason

[Princess Ivy]

Originally Posted by dragonqueen

Dragonquest is the one I can never seem to find a copy of, I've only read it once, and can't remember it much, must read it again. I'd agree with you that the dolphins of Pern is the best of the newer ones, I wasn't so keen on some of the others for some reason

although not the first in the series chronologically, it is the first book written, and one of her best.

[Clouddragon]

I read Anne's books to be entertained. I don't particularly care if there are inconsitencies, it's fiction, not something that your life may depend on.

Inconsistencies creep into nealy all authors' work sooner or later, even Tolkien's LOTR is an inconsistent foolow-on from The Hobbit.

In the wider scheme of things, does it really matter?

Clouddragon

[manephelien]

Dragonflight's the first written, Dragonquest the second. The first trilogy is completed by The White Dragon.

I notice inconsistencies and sometimes the more blatant ones bug me. For me, Anne's greatness as a writer stems from the fact that she can keep me entertained for hours, in spite of some quite glaring continuity errors, which could be corrected by decent editing.

I think AMC suffers from the "successful author syndrome" where no editor dares to suggest other than cosmetic changes. Skies of Pern is, frankly, a mess and could be reduced by at least a third by tightening up the story and weeding the chaff out.

I don't normally like retconning much, and the Robinton story was definitely inconsistent with the earlier stories. Where did the female sea captain and MasterSinger come from, not to mention the female MasterHealer? Given that background, Menolly's struggles to become a recognized Harper in the Harper Hall trilogy lose much of their power.

I must admit I fully agree with the reviewer, this book was a disappointment for those who've read and loved the original trilogies.