A place in my heart!

[Reiver]

The first ever fantasy book I read was Dragonsong when I was 12 (won't say how long ago that was!) and since then I've been hooked on reading fantasy! So, Anne McCaffrey will always have a fond place in my heart - not to mention the fact that she's a damn good writer!
The Pern books will always be my favourite but the Tower and Hive series is coming a close second!

[Talysia]

I think it was the Dragonriders of Pern books that first got me into fantasy, too. The first one I read was The White Dragon, and I loved it. It's still a favourite series with me - no matter how many new authors I discover, I'll always keep going back to them.

[SpaceShip]

Hi Reiver - welcome to the Chronicles.

[manephelien]

Welcome, and glad to see other Anne fans around.

Just don't ever make the mistake of referring to Anne McCaffrey's books as fantasy in her hearing. She's adamant they're science-fiction, not fantasy. Admittedly not very hard sf, but the dragons are genetically engineered and there's no magic, even if it's mostly rather low-tech (that changes in later books, and not for the better).

[KoffeeKat]

Originally Posted by manephelien

that changes in later books, and not for the better.

I'd disagree with that, I quite like the re-discovery of Aivas and all the techno stuff that goes with it.

[ambershadow]

I have to agree with you koffeekat. I have always enjoyed all the pern books and have gotten my daughter hookedm on them tooo

[KoffeeKat]

Originally Posted by ambershadow

I have gotten my daughter hooked on them too

Half ya luck!
I wish I could get my lot away from the chuffin playstations and such like!
What's worse is the wifes only into "true life" books (A boy called it, etc) still wouldn't do for us all to be the same, I suppose.

[ambershadow]

It was easy we never owned any video games and the library was our second home

[Nesacat]

Dragonsong was my first introduction to the world of Pern as well and I was quickly charmed by Menolly, the Masterharper, Piemur and especially Lessa. I went on to read Dragonsinger and then Dragondrums, White Dragon and all the rest of the Pern books in fairly quick succession.

I like the spunk and gutsiness of her characters, the very individual personalitles of her dragons and the bond between the people, dragons and fire lizards.

[manephelien]

Originally Posted by KoffeeKat

I'd disagree with that, I quite like the re-discovery of Aivas and all the techno stuff that goes with it.

I'm not an AIVAS hater, exactly, although I do think the earlier novels were much better written. It's just that I have a hard time suspending my disbelief in the AIVAS books, especially All The Weyrs of Pern. Even with a tutor from a starfaring culture, it's hard to believe that people who had just rediscovered Newton's laws of gravity on their own (17th-18th century physics) would be able to understand computers at the drop of a hat, within a few years. Granted that the Pernese were aware of some concepts Newton and his contemporaries didn't know about, such as how bacteria work, it still seems very far-fetched.

[Sketti]

My first SF book was Anne's "Nimisha's Ship" actually It got me hooked to SFF. The Pern books followed, I think it was the Moreta one first.

I agree with manephelien. I think it was better without the tech they discovered. It just seems wrong to have computers on Pern >.<
I loved All the Weyrs of Pern because it was a good story but hated the consequences.

[Faceless Woman]

I hate the tech ones, all of them. Ann has a tendancy to waffle on and on and on when it comes to technology.
Actually, I didn't notice that so much with the Acorna ones or the Ship Who Sang, but on Pern, she waffled.

[Talysia]

Come to think of it, I preferred the books before they discovered AIVAS, too. I think it was the reduced level of technology that endeared the books to me - that and the music. I think I have to count the Harper Hall trilogy as my favourites - especially Piemur's story, Dragondrums.

[manephelien]

My favorite book is Moreta, mainly because there for once she shows the world as it is; dragonriders hook up because their dragons mate, not because of "twu wuw". Sh'gall and Moreta don't get on very well, and they certainly don't love each other. Moreta is free to seek love outside the Weyr, even if she must be more discreet about it than a man would be.

[Goldrider Thais]

Anne will always have a special place in my heart as well. i love all her Pern books, but i haven't gotten around to reading Dragonseye/Red Star Falling, but its not for lack of trying! i really liked the AIVAS discovery, especially since the people of Pern know nothing about lost traditions and all. They were really eager to learn about their past as well, with the exception of the abominators.