Product Description

Led by Masterharper Robinton and F'lar and Lessa, the people of Pern excavate the ancient remains of the planet's original settlement and uncover the colonists' voice-activated artificial intelligence system. Reprint.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #91162 in Books
• Published on: 1992-10-24
• Released on: 1992-10-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 448 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780345368935
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From School Library Journal
YA-- AIVAS, the Artificial Intelligence Voice Address System that was a part of the original colonists' settlement, is unearthed on the Southern continent after having been buried for generations. This latest volume in the Pern saga deals with the reactions of the various lords, dragonriders, and craftsmen as they realize the impact the artificial intelligence will have on their culture and traditions. With its help, F'lar, Robinton, Lessa, Menolly, and all of the other characters YAs have come to care about devise a risky plan to eliminate a serious threat to their environment. While All the Weyrs of Pern is not as tight and exciting as the earlier dragonrider books, it is a well-written novel that's sure to appeal to McCaffrey's many fans.
- John Lawson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The dream of generations of Dragonriders draws within reach as, with the aid of an intelligent computer, the possibility of destroying the devastating phenomenon known as "Thread" becomes a reality. Having exposed Pern's civilization to technology in Renegades of Pern ( LJ 10/15/89), McCaffrey proceeds with her customary skill and humor to explore all the ramifications of culture shock. Despite some weaknesses in plot and an odd notion of time travel, the latest novel in a popular series will not lack for readers. Especially for libraries owning the previous Pern titles.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher
There are dragons all over Anne McCaffrey's house. Some she's bought, but many have been made for her by adoring fans and given to her as gifts. I don't make dragons, of course. But whenever circumstances allow, I do try to bring her American bacon, something she can't get easily in Ireland, and something which she has taught all her friends there to love, as well! I remember the first time I went to visit her, when she was still living in her old, much smaller but very homey, house. My husband and I arrived at the doorstep, and she immediately began bustling about, frying up some of the bacon we'd brought and sharing a lovely late breakfast with us before sending us off to the hotel for a nap. She made us dinner that night, too--the one and only time in my life that I've actually liked shrimp cocktail. Maybe that's because if you squint your eyes and look sideways, shrimp are kind of dragonlike, and I was eating them in the right company!
                        --Shelly Shapiro, Executive Editor

Customer Reviews

The Magical world of Pern
AIVAS -- the Artificial Intelligence Voice Address System that was a part of the original colonists' settlement -- is unearthed on the Southern continent after having been buried for many generations. Finding this machine changes the whole way of life for the people of Pern.

This book is truely one of the best books I have read. For me, it was a definite climax to the Dragonrider's series -- and well worth working your way toward if you're starting the series. There's so much adventure, and so much humor that this is truely a must read.

But to read this one you must read the other 14. In chronological order (according to Pern's history), the reading order is

Dragonsdawn
The Chronicles of pern: First Fall
Dragonseye
Moreta: dragonlady of pern
Nerilka's story
The masterharper of Pern
Dragonflight
Dragonquest
Dragonsong
Dragonquest
Dragonsinger
Dragondrums
The white dragon
The renegades of Pern
All the weyrs of Pern
The Dolphins of Pern

Past and present meet to decide the future of Pern
This 1991 entry into the long running series begins with the rediscovery of the computer left by the first settlers to Pern. This computer, named AIVAS, complete with its vast store of knowledge, had managed to stay operational in the intervening 2,500 plus years since the settlers had been forced to flee the original settlement. In that time the settlers had developed a new society and found methods to deal with the menacing Thread that periodically attacked their world but had lost many of the technologies that their ancestors had brought with them from Earth. Now that AIVAS was available to them the people of Pern would have the opportunity to regain this knowledge, but at what cost to their society?

Favorite characters from previous novels are here, Jaxom and his white dragon Ruth, Master Harper Robinthon, dragonriders Lessa, F'Lar and their son F'lessan and numerous others. We see how the people and dragons of Pern adapt to the changes in their world and rise to met the challenges these changes have brought about.

For long time fans of the series there is a fear that this is the end of the saga but it appears that there are other entries writen more recently. In any case this is a must read for any fan of the series. It is not, however, a good place to start.

Great Story, Poor Continuity
In _All the Weyrs of Pern_ the large cast of characters from the Dragonrider and Harper Hall books, with the help of the Ancient AI device unearthed at the end of _Renegades_, settle down to their ultimate task: Ridding Pern of Thread for once and for all.

I've read all the Pern books over and over since I first discovered them in eighth grade -- _Dragonquest_ was the first book I bought with my own money. In the main, I really enjoy them. Anne McCaffrey writes well and her ideas are very original, particularly in the earlier books in the series. Some of the later volumes have not thrilled me, however. _Renegades_ I found particularly unmoving, so I picked up ATW with some trepidation the first time. But this is the Dragonriders series at its best, with all the characters the reader has come to know and love facing challenges with fortitude and even humour.

I don't argue that McCaffrey is a great storyteller. She is at her best in situationally-driven stories (rather than character-driven), particularly those where her charcters are put in a new, alien and/or hostile environment where they must develop the skills to succeed in various tasks. This is part of what makes her Dragonrider series appealing to fans of straight science fiction as well as fans of fantasy. And as the basic theme of ATW, it makes for an absorbing read.

McCaffrey needs a continuity editor, however. As her world becomes more and more complex it seems she has trouble keeping track of the details. Unfortunately, I am the kind of person who is bothered by this.

Is Jancis a Mastersmith or a journeyman smith? She seems to be both, often in the same paragraph. And how did she come to be Fandarel's granddaughter when he formerly stated he had no wife, only his work? How did Sharra appear at landing to exchange a significant glance with Jancis, when before and after that single incident it was clearly stated she wasn't there at all? Why is Menolly telling AIVAS about her three children when in _Dolphins_ at a later date she is shown to be pregnant with only the second? How did Lord Oterel appear in _Dolphins_, long after the close of ATW, when he died before ATW ended? These are just some of the details that distracted me.

But, well, this is still a great book and one that really ties up the Pern series. I could only wish that Anne McCaffrey had ended here.