Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey

After seeing Dragonsong listed in A Mighty Girl's 2023 Summer Reading List I decided to revisit Anne McCaffrey’s classic books which I had read when they were first published. I was not disappointed with Dragonsong, the first in the Harper Hall of Pern series, and which was written by McCaffrey for adolescents.

Menolly is fifteen years old and lives in a hold close to the sea, where her father oversees the people and the fishing industry. She has been allowed to work with the hold’s Harper, creating music, singing and playing and dreaming of one day becoming a Harper, but when he dies her father refuses to allow her to play or sing because she is a girl, and she is left to the drudgery of menial work. Finally, when she can no longer bear not to make music, she runs away but is caught in the dreaded Thread fall which could destroy Pern, as there are fewer and fewer dragonriders to obliterate it. Seeking shelter in a cave she discovers a clutch of fire lizards, who imprint on her and change her life forever.

This is a classic science fiction story that has stood the test of time. Menolly tries to be a dutiful daughter, but eventually she can no longer suppress her musical talent as demanded by her father and the only way out seems to be to run away. Her courage and determination is inspirational, and the setting of Pern, a world full of dangers, dragons, and wondrous little fire dragons brings a story of bravery and adventure. Readers can expect to enjoy a feel-good, escapist and motivational book, and will be quick to recognise like me, the influence that McCaffrey has had on later stories featuring dragons.

Themes: Dragons, Courage, Music, Harpists.

Pat Pledger