Dragonsong - An Introduction and a Forward

[kalinara]

So, I did say I was returning to Pern. And here we are. I had a few options in terms of how to proceed. Technically, The White Dragon finishes off the trilogy that starts with Dragonflight. But I tend to like reviewing series in chronological order when possible. I like seeing how ideas and concepts develop in sequence. So I went with Dragonsong instead.

Dragonsong should be interesting because it was specifically created for a young adult audience. Hopefully that means we'll avoid a lot of the really dodgy sexual politics of the main trilogy. At least we won't have any mating flights.

I remember reading Dragonsong and its direct sequel, Dragonsinger, in middle school. As far as I can remember, I enjoyed it. I didn't see the need to reread however, because I've always been the kind of fan that gets attached to the original batch of characters. So I wanted more F'lar and Lessa rather than these new people. No accounting for taste. (Though Lessa is always worth it.)

I don't remember a lot of details, and I think most of what I do remember comes from Dragonsinger instead. So this should be interesting!

( Our Forward )

Dragonsong - Chapter One

[kalinara]

So Dragonsong, like Dragonquest, has actual chapters. Like Dragonflight however, it also begins with a song. It's a song that we've already seen:

Drummer, beat, and piper, blow
Harper, strike, and soldier, go
Free the flame and sear the grasses
Till the dawning Red Star passes.

And we start with a dead man.

( Or rather, a dead Harper )