Dragonsinger

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Title Dragonsinger
Author Anne McCaffrey
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Series Harper Hall Trilogy, Pern
Genre(s) Fantasy, Young adult novels
Publisher Atheneum Books
Released 1977
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 264 pp
ISBN ISBN 0-689-30570-2
Preceded by Dragonsong
Followed by Dragondrums

Dragonsinger, written by Anne McCaffrey, is part of the Harper Hall Trilogy which consists of the fantasy/science fiction novels Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums. These books are part of the series known as the Dragonriders of Pern.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Plot summary

The novel follows Menolly, now apprenticed into the Harper Hall, a type of music conservatory for harpers (minstrels) and other music professionals, as she begins her musical training to one day become a harper herself. The story begins within hours of the events of Dragonsong, rounding out the tale of Menolly's coming of age.

Menolly finds life in the Harper Hall has many unexpected challenges. Although she is glad finally to live in a place where she is accepted as a musician, she initially finds difficulty in living with other young women who mostly are more interested in romance than in the harper craft. She also finds herself torn between master musicians who have conflicting emphases and who want her to specialize in the way that they have. The situation is complicated by the interest of various people in her nine fire lizards, small dragon-like creatures whose properties are still being explored at the time of the story; while some members of the Pern communities want her help in learning what fire lizards can do, many of her teachers in the Harper Hall see them as a nuisance and a distraction that will keep her from developing her musical gifts. Over time she finds her place as a musician within the harper system and is sped through the apprenticeship system in near-record time.

Spoilers end here.


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