The first but not the last
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When I first picked up this book I wasn't too sure about it (having read over 100 fantasy novels) however the story started to reel me in and although I do not consider it complex it was refreshing to read a 'down to earth' storyline involving unlikely heroes. I became so engrossed I had finished it over the Easter Weekend. Now looking forward to reading another.
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A worthy addition
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Dragon's Kin is the first Pern novel to have the involvement of an author other then Anne - namely Todd McCaffrey, her son. (The first Pern story to have the involvement of another author was the short story Impression, which was written by Jody Lynn Nye, with input from Anne.)
Set some sixteen years before the Third Pass of the Red Star, Dragon's Kin is a nice look at Pern some five hundred years after the colonists came to the planet. The story is a nice change in that the main focus is on the Miner Craft, and more importantly the Watch-whers; creatures that have been mentioned since the first book (Dragonflight) was published - but so little is known about. Watch-whers seem to have many talents in common with dragons, and a few unique to them as well.
The novel focuses on Kindan, and Nuella mostly, with other characters getting a look in now and then. Nuella is the more interesting of the two main characters, and I have a suspicion she will have a major role to play in any future Third Pass stories.
Aside from the very obvious pun in the books title (Dragon's Kin - get it?) you could be forgiven for expecting a longish novel, especially after books like The MasterHarper of Pern and The Skies of Pern. Dragon's Kin surprisingly isn't that long, and although not as long as the previous two novels the length of this one actually works well with the story. It is not one that needs to be over long, extremely descriptive, or for that matter too in-depth. Dragon's Kin does have a very abrupt ending, but it hardly unique, as both Dragonsong and Dragonsinger: Harper of Pern both have "abrupt" endings too - that and Todd and Anne will be following Dragon's Kin up.
One thing I can say is that I really enjoyed this novel. I read it over one day, and found myself engrossed, and caught up in the story. Pern's future seems to be in very safe hands where Todd is concerned, and I look forward his other Pern novels, whether solo, or co-authored with Anne.
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Exasperating read.
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Somebody needs to proof-read Todd and Anne's books before releasing it for publishing because it is getting very annoying to read the inconsistencies (whether deliberate or not).
I really enjoyed the Pern series and own almost all of its books. I have to say that this one is not the best Pern book.
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Is Pern on a downward spiral?
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With the first few original books being something worth reading, I was glad when I refused to read past All The Weyrs. I won't touch 'Skies' but yet when I was coerced into into flicking through the pages of Dragon's Kin, the... skewed-ness of the logic had me somewhere between appalled and crying with laughter.
Whers flying at night because the air's.. thicker?
I rest my case.
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A fascinating new outlook
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Reviews of Dragon's Kin have been mixed: I suspect that this is because the glamorous Dragons and Dragonriders are pretty much peripheral to the plot. If you're a Dragon fan, then, this probably isn't the book for you. If, like me, you're a Pern fan, then this book provides an insight into the lives of some of hte ordinary folk just trying to earn a living. When they do arrive, the Dragonriders are a neat shorthand for the politics of Pern, and although early on the harper telegraphs part of the second half of the plot, this almost adds to the intrigue between the various factions. I was also impressed by the sensitive way in which some of the personal issues were handled, and I laughed out loud at the impromptu lesson in project management, which, if you've encountered bad consultancy and project management, is very funny indeed.
A cracking good read
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