It's finally time for Jyothky and eight other misfit adolescent dragons to go off to an unexplored, dragon-free universe and decide who will marry whom. They're astral dragons, mighty and arrogant, with devastating breath weapons and vast magical powers, and they're not even there to conquer the place. What kind of trouble could the natives possibly be — even civilized and technologically sophisticated natives? Or the mind-controlling parasite worms, or the undead god, or any of Hove's other surprises? …Maybe quite a lot of trouble, but not as much as they will bring upon themselves.

Jyothky and her fellow dragons were supposed to have a nice simple mating flight on Hove. Instead they got tangled up in everything — accidentally conquering a sophisticated, unwilling country, unleashing an undead god upon an innocent city, discovering horrible mind-controlling parasites, an invasion by some of their older and more powerful friends, and massive violations of draconic etiquette. How can they possibly get out of this with their honor or even their hides intact?

Let Anne McCaffrey, storyteller extraordinare and New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author, take you on a journey to a whole new world: Pern and discover not only its flora, fauna, population and cultural hierarchy, but the history of an entire civilization. If you like David Eddings, David Gemmell and Douglas Adams, you will love this. **Finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel** ** Winner of the HOMer Award for Science Fiction** **Finalist for the Locus Award for Best Novel** 'Anne McCaffrey, one of the queens of science fiction, knows exactly how to give her public what it wants' - THE TIMES 'You have many hours of happy reading ahead.' - ***** Reader Review 'Would certainly recommend to anyone looking for a story to lose yourself in and come out the other end replete.' - ***** Reader Review ******************************************************************** A science fiction classic from a master of the genre. When AIVAS -- the Artificial Intelligence Voice Address System -- was first discovered at Landing, the entire planet of Pern was awed at the knowledge it divulged. All the history of the people of Pern was there. Dragonholders, Lord Holders and Craftmasters crowded into the tiny inner room to learn the secrets of their beginnings. Ana AIVAS had other gifts to offer -- stored information of old crafts that had been forgotten, of medicine, music and technology. But the greatest promise AIVAS offered was the chance to rid Pern of Thread forever. All the great ones of Pern began the long and arduous task of learning just how to operate the incredible plan. This was a plan of such daring and epic proportions that both dragons and riders would be put at risk...

"Report of Pennsylvania Forestry Commission", published in 1896: 1895, pt. 2.