The Dolphins of Pern

The Dolphins of Pern  

Rowena cover of all US editions[lower-alpha 1]
Author(s) Anne McCaffrey
Cover artist Rowena Morrill
Steve Weston (UK)[lower-alpha 1]
Country United States
Language English
Series Dragonriders of Pern
Genre(s) Science fiction novel
Publisher Del Rey Books
Publication date 6 September 1994
Media type Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages 340 (first US hardcover)
ISBN 0-345-36894-0
OCLC Number 30357873
Dewey Decimal 813/.54 20
LC Classification PS3563.A255 D65 1994
Preceded by The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall
Followed by Dragonseye
or Red Star Rising

The Dolphins of Pern is a science fiction novel by the American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey. It was the thirteenth book published in the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne or her son Todd McCaffrey .[1]

The Dolphins of Pern was first published in 1994. The cover painting by Rowena Morrill was used again for the biography Anne McCaffrey.

Contents

Plot summary

This novel follows Dragonsdawn and the short story The Dolphin's Bell (short story contained in The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall) by discussing the present state (Ninth Pass) of the dolphins that were brought to Pern by the colonists. Set near the end and after the events of All the Weyrs of Pern it further integrates the science fiction aspects of the origins of the Pern series with the fantastical aspects presented by the original books.

The plot focuses primarily on two young characters and chronicles the birth of the Dolphincrafthall and its first Dolphineer. Readis, the Paradise River Lord Holder's son, is saved by talking dolphins ("shipfish") as a young boy after falling into the sea and subsequently develops a strong fascination with the dolphins. T'lion, the young Eastern Weyr dragonrider of Bronze Gadareth, also develops an interest after being involved in an early dolphin encounter. The two befriend each other due to their shared interest and, in their own ways, defy family, Hold and Weyr to maintain their friendships with dolphins and convince others of the dolphins' intelligence and ability to speak. While familiar characters struggle to end the era of Thread, Readis, T'lion and others struggle to begin a new era in which dolphin and human work together again.

Well-known characters from previous Pern novels are also involved in the plot, including Benden Weyrleaders Lessa and F'lar, and Masterharpers Robinton and Menolly.

Notes

  1. ^ a b The Dolphins of Pern publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database lists only Rowena Morrill cover artist of US editions as of 2011-10-12, three distinct ISBN; only Steve Weston UK, three ISBN.

References

  1. ^ Dragonriders of Pern series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved 2011-10-09.

External links

The Dolphins of Pern publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database