Robinton

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Robinton, also known as "The Harper", is a fictional character in Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series.

1 Role within the Pern Chronicles
2 Masterharper
3 Family
4 References

[edit] Role within the Pern Chronicles

Robinton is a central character in many different Dragonriders of Pern books set in the Ninth Pass. When Anne McCaffrey first wrote about him in Dragonflight, his character was a sketchy representation of the Harper Craft Hall. In Dragonquest his personality became more fully developed and this process was continued throughout Dragonsong, Dragonsinger and Dragondrums. In The Masterharper of Pern, the story of young Robinton is the canvas for developing the backstory alluded to throughout the original Pern Chronicles.

The early stories of Robinton's life allowed McCaffrey to develop characters such as F'lon, father of F'lar and F'nor, and Silvina, Camo and Shonagar of the Harper Hall. McCaffrey also used him to expand the story of Fax, allowing Robinton to provide an extra perspective on scenes that were some of her earliest writings.^[1]

[edit] Masterharper

Robinton, as the Masterharper, embodies McCaffrey's ideals for the Harper Hall. A musical prodigy, he surpassed both his parents by composing popular songs throughout his childhood, and becoming a Journeyman harper at fifteen. He was faced with professional jealousy (which caused estrangement from his father when young), similar to that which challenged Harpers Menolly and Piemur in Dragonsinger and Dragondrums.

A wise diplomat, teacher and leader, he helped the Benden Weyrleaders, Lessa and F'lar, deal with the return of Thread and the Oldtimers, gaining the love and respect of everyone on Pern. Of course, McCaffrey ensured that he had redeemable character flaws, such as his great fondness for Benden Wine, which could be said to have saved his life in one point in The White Dragon.

When Robinton eventually moved to Cove Hold on the Southern Continent, he became close friends with Lytol, former Lord Warder of Ruatha Hold and a former Benden brown rider, as well as D'ram, rider of bronze Tiroth and a former Oldtimer Weyrleader of Ista. This friendship reflects the lessening of the isolation and rigidly controlled autonomy of Weyr, Hold and Hall, which was a constant theme of the original Pern Chronicles.

Robinton's death, in All the Weyrs of Pern, along with the AIVAS voice, is a metaphor for the end of the great struggle with Thread which had consumed the lives of all Pernese since shortly after Landing on Pern.

[edit] Family

Parents: Mastercomposer Petiron and Mastersinger Merelan (Robinton was named after Merelan's father, Roblyn)
Spouse: Kasia (she died after their honeymoon)
Son: kitchen drudge Camo, mentally retarded (with Silvina)
Cousin: Sebell (on Merelan's side)
Bronze fire-lizard: Zair