Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern

Title: Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern

Author: Anne McCaffrey

Publisher: Del Ray

Copyright Date: 1983

Print Date: October 1983

ISBN: 0345298748

Pages: 267 + Dragondex

Series: One of the pern books, in particular, the Renegades of Pern. The order is complicated, but for more detail, check out this PDF.

Book Description (from dust jacket):

An air of pleasant anticipation hung so thickly over the Halls, Holds and Weyrs of Fern that it had affected even the businesslike ways of Moreta, the Weyrwoman of Fort Weyr.

Her dragon, Queen Orlith, would soon clutch; spring had made a glorious debut; the Gather at Ruatha Hold was extremely merry; and Moreta was enjoying the attentions of Alessan, the new Lord Holder of Ruatha Hold. With only eight Turns remaining before the deadly Thread ceased to Fall, all seemed well on Pern.

Then without warning, a runnerbeast fell ill. Soon myriads of holders, craftsmen, and dragonriders were dying; and the mysterious ailment had spread to all but the most inaccessible holds. Pern was in mortal danger. For, if dragonriders did not rise to char Thread, the parasite would devour any and all organic life it encountered.

The future of the planet rested in the hands of Moreta and the other dedicated, selfless Pernese leaders. But of all their problems, the most difficult to overcome was time...

In this marvelously entertaing tale, Anne McCaffrey draws the reader back in time to an earlier Pern to tell the story of one of Pern's great and true heroines.

Comments:

I first started reading Anne McCaffrey's books in middle school, but it's been awhile. When I started this, I was thinking, "Yeah, I could read more of this. Why'd I stop?" But that was before I remembered how gut-wrenching classic fantasy books can be. I honestly can't say whether I liked this book or not. I liked most of it, but... wow, that ending.