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Starside: A Novel
Alex Aster
4.6
Dragonflight: Volume I in The Dragonriders of Pern
by Anne McCaffrey
Published Feb 26, 2002
About this book
On the planet of Pern, Lessa lives as a kitchen drudge, hiding her noble lineage beneath a veil of calculated invisibility. Haunted by the murder of her family and the theft of her birthright, she bides her time in the shadows of Ruatha Hold. Her life shifts irrevocably when F’lar, a charismatic dragonrider, arrives to search for a candidate capable of bonding with a legendary queen dragon.
Lessa’s fierce intellect and hidden strength propel her into the heart of the dragonriders’ society. By Impressing a golden dragon, she forges a telepathic bond that transcends human connection, thrusting her into a volatile partnership with F’lar. Their dynamic is defined by mutual suspicion and a growing, electric intensity as they navigate the rigid hierarchy of the Weyr.
The stakes escalate when an ancient, existential threat known as Thread begins to fall from the sky, consuming everything in its path. With the dragon population dwindling and the planet’s survival hanging in the balance, Lessa and F’lar must overcome political treachery and their own complicated attraction to save their world. Lessa soon discovers that the cost of salvation may require a sacrifice far greater than she ever imagined.
Available Formats
Kindle: $12.99 Kindle: $3.99
What readers are saying
QCDGreat book -- especially if you love dragons
"I first read this in middle school -- 2/3 of my life ago now! It's a great story, especially if you love dragons. Amazing world Anne McCaffrey created. ["
December 19, 2025 Verified Purchase
Erik + SarahBest OG bodice ripper
"Science fiction the way they used to write. Sweeping vista's with cryptic puzzles. One of the first to talk about telepathic bonding with dragons at birth. It has been widely imitated, looking at you GRRM. ["
December 5, 2025 Verified Purchase
Justin A Cooglebut the dip was pretty powerful here and it made the slow start feel ...
"Let me start by saying that this was the first Anne McCaffrey novel, and first Dragonriders of Pern novel, I've read in nearly 15 years. I read a few as a schoolchild and they had a notable impact on me, but I hadn't really touched them since. So, having found a new thirst for fantasy, I decided to revisit her series through the eyes of an adult and see if it held up. 1) General Impression: - I finished this novel over the course of 4 weeks. Although that isn't quite accurate to how I actually read it. I began reading it in my surgery rotation of medical school and found time in my Family Medicine rotation to finish it. But it does speak to the primary reason why I rated it 4/5 and not 5/5. The beginning starts slow. Very slow. Anne's world is fascinating and incredibly well crafted but she does throw you in the thick of it and explains very little. I actually prefer that, but the dip was pretty powerful here and it made the slow start feel slower. - The lack of plot and generic feel to both protagonists made the first half of the novel rather bland, but there is a huge shift once about 40% into the book when all the elements start to align and there is a course for the reader to see ahead. - Once the elements of the plot settle in, this gives the characters (Lessa and F'lar) real room to breathe and develop. Book got infinitely better. - By the end I was beyond hyped and thoroughly enjoyed the read. At about the 55% mark I couldn't put the book down. 2) Characters: - Lessa - Female lead. Very reserved, independent, and dealing with a troubled past while being kept in the squallor of Ruatha, her home Hold. I can't really reveal much more for spoilers sake. As a character she starts off rather generic. She is your prototypical passionate, vengeful, clever female lead. However, when her place in the plot is revealed, she is really given room to show incredible character depth. In fact, I was impressed with Anne's ability to add great levels of nuance. Her romantic relationship, her personal growth, her understanding of her role, her wisdom in knowing when to be overbearing and when to let others lead. It all made for a very unique and memorable character. - F'lar - Male lead. A born leader, big picture thinker, determined, and charismatic. His and Lessa's growth are very interwoven so it is difficult to truly analyze them separately, but he acted as a solid foundation for the story to move forward. His journey from mentor to partner is fascinating to watch and his obssessive drive to defend and lead his people made for a solid reason to root for him. It was relieving to see that his romantic relationship was only a facet of his character, one that very much took a backseat to his true motivation which was saving his people. 3) Plot - It takes a while to truly settle in, and even when it does there is a lack of urgency. The plot is essentially that the Red Star circling the planet will release Threads (deadly organisms that devour organic matter) upon Pern, which it hadn't done in 400 years. Only F'lar believes this to come true, everyone else is sceptic. When the events inevitably do come true it felt so sudden after what felt like a long, drawn out "doomsday clock" sort of vibe. It could have been smoother, but honestly, it was fine. There is a nice mystery element and plot twist that adds alot of fun. 4) Prose - Anne breaks a lot of rules and writes her world with that "old time" kind of feel, but it is strangely hypnotic and is actually a strong case to her successful series. She really knows how to make deep characters, her vocabulary and seamless transitions make for a steady read, and her clear depiction of perspective decreases confusion. However she does abuse certain adjectives. Be prepared to read "Sardonically" a million times. 5) World Building - Incredible. #1 reason I came back to this book. The planet and traditions of Pern honestly feel like another character in itself. Anne put serious work into her world, its history, its cultures, and its mechanisms. There were so many times where I just wanted her to keep describing elements of a new city as opposed to returning to the plot or the main characters. ["
April 9, 2018 Verified Purchase
Joseph BooneGreat start to a beloved series
"It's been 400 years since the world of Pern has had to deal with deadly Threads falling from the sky to destroy whatever organic life they come into contact with. Many no longer believe that the threat exists any more and the dragon riders responsible for destroying the threads before they hit the ground have fallen into ill repute. Enter F'lar, the new leader of dragon riders, and Lessa, who bonds with the newborn queen dragon. They struggle to get ready so that humanity can survive when the Threads begin to fall again. Lessa and F'lar are the main characters in Dragonflight but there is a large supporting cast and nearly all are well portrayed. Lessa's and F'lar's romantic relationship definitely has an adolescent tone to it, but it still makes for an enjoyable read. This is not a long book (less than 300 pages) and the pace moves along smartly as a result. The stakes are high and the story compelling. I read this book roughly 25 years ago and enjoyed it at the time but wasn't sure that my slightly older self would find it as engaging. I must say that it was a pleasant surprise how well Dragonflight has held up and it was a very enjoyable read. I fully recommend it to established fantasy fans as well as newcomers to the genre. ["
December 10, 2007 Verified Purchase
