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Dragondrums (Pern: Harper Hall #3)
When his boy soprano voice begins to change, Piemur is drafted by Masterharper Robinton to help with political work and is sent on missions that lead him into unusual and sometimes dangerous adventures.
Published
February 16th 1980
by Bantam Books
(first published 1979)
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Why couldn't she have stopped at two? Why does every fantasy series have to be a trilogy or longer? This mediocre book drags the whole Harper Hall trilogy down with it.
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Dear Mrs. McCaffrey,
What were you thinking? You had done a brilliant job with the first two books in this "trilogy", so please do explain why you felt compelled to switch your focus from our beloved heroine Menolly to her rambunctious sidekick, Piemur? This is no trilogy. Do you think you can just skip ahead three years and make Menolly a peripheral player? Do you think that you can write a slow-moving, rather repetitive adventure story that lacks the resonance of the first two books in this tri...more
What were you thinking? You had done a brilliant job with the first two books in this "trilogy", so please do explain why you felt compelled to switch your focus from our beloved heroine Menolly to her rambunctious sidekick, Piemur? This is no trilogy. Do you think you can just skip ahead three years and make Menolly a peripheral player? Do you think that you can write a slow-moving, rather repetitive adventure story that lacks the resonance of the first two books in this tri...more
When I picked this book up to read, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a continuation of Menolly's story. I wanted more about her. I wanted to watch Menolly and Sebell develop their relationship! Once again, I had to remind myself that these are not romance novels.
But I quickly got over my disappointment as I was taken into Piemur's world. He is all set to start practicing the part of Lessa in a new song to be performed, when his voice cracks. Piemur has never been thrilled with singing...more
But I quickly got over my disappointment as I was taken into Piemur's world. He is all set to start practicing the part of Lessa in a new song to be performed, when his voice cracks. Piemur has never been thrilled with singing...more
I reread this over Thanksgiving, having just read that Anne McCaffrey died. Resurgam. This is mostly going to be about its prequel, because I am useless at reviewing like that.
I picked up 'Dragonsinger' at a sidewalk sale for 50 cents when I was quite young, young enough that stopping at the sidewalk sale on the way home from school was naughty, and the couple dollars I spent at the sale came close to bankrupting me. I loved that book. It's a wonderfully straightforward story about a talented gi...more
I picked up 'Dragonsinger' at a sidewalk sale for 50 cents when I was quite young, young enough that stopping at the sidewalk sale on the way home from school was naughty, and the couple dollars I spent at the sale came close to bankrupting me. I loved that book. It's a wonderfully straightforward story about a talented gi...more
Each Pern novel can be read as a stand alone, but Dragondrums is the third book in the Harper Hall trilogy so if you want to read the books in the order, head over to Dragonsong (book 1) and Dragonsinger (book 2).
The story starts at the end of Dragonsinger where Menolly is made a Journeyman. Piemur prepares himself for a big event where he will be the lead singer until his voice breaks and he realises that his one and only ability which made him special has now disappeared.
But Piemur is very far...more
The story starts at the end of Dragonsinger where Menolly is made a Journeyman. Piemur prepares himself for a big event where he will be the lead singer until his voice breaks and he realises that his one and only ability which made him special has now disappeared.
But Piemur is very far...more
This book is ostensibly the third of the Harper Hall Trilogy. Except that, while the first two focused on Menolly, this third (though Menolly is still a significant supporting character) is about Piemur, scampish Harper apprentice.
Which causes a bit of narrative disconnect, but actually works for most of the tale. Piemur is a much more interesting character than Menolly is in her two turns. He does things. He makes things happen. In part he acts a bit as an agent of chaos, but he's a more active...more
Which causes a bit of narrative disconnect, but actually works for most of the tale. Piemur is a much more interesting character than Menolly is in her two turns. He does things. He makes things happen. In part he acts a bit as an agent of chaos, but he's a more active...more
I have finished the third book in the Harper Hall trilogy. Subliminally, I think I had the feeling of disappointment that this was not the continuation of the story of Menolly as was begun in the first book and continued in the second, especially since the setting was three years after the conclusion of the second book (Dragonsinger), but I was eventually drawn in to the character of the young singer, Piemur. The first two-thirds of the book chronicles events for Piemur at Harper Hall, and then...more
The story starts at the end of Dragonsinger where Menolly is made a Journeyman. Piemur prepares himself for a big event where he will be the lead singer until his voice breaks and he realises that his one and only ability which made him special has now disappeared.
But Piemur is very far from having just this one ability and Master Robinton knows how precious Piemur is. That is why Piemur is seemingly hired as a drums apprentice when in fact he is asked to becoming the Master Harper's ears and ey...more
But Piemur is very far from having just this one ability and Master Robinton knows how precious Piemur is. That is why Piemur is seemingly hired as a drums apprentice when in fact he is asked to becoming the Master Harper's ears and ey...more
** "Dragondrums" is so-called because the teen hero learns the drumming codes for distance communication. The third fantasy of the Harper Hall trilogy, by early Anne McCaffrey does start in the musicians keep, and spying is cleverly demonstrated as a career function, only hinted before. But dragons are just unusual vehicles, and I am disappointed that the titles imply a greater importance. Flying dragonriders fight falling fire, but shelter eliminates the need, how most civilizations protect fro...more
Nov 02, 2012
Annie
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1st-quarter-8th-grade,
8th-4th-quarter-books
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The story was still typically Anne McCaffrey with interesting characters that show their less than likeable sides, but you just want to know more about them.
Piemer is a very interesting character right from the get-go. He is scheming and conniving all the way, and you get the sense that he ultimately only cares for himself. But he still has his loyalties to his Harper Hall as well as his friends and you can tell that these loyalties are quite strong.
This book covered a bit more the political str...more
Piemer is a very interesting character right from the get-go. He is scheming and conniving all the way, and you get the sense that he ultimately only cares for himself. But he still has his loyalties to his Harper Hall as well as his friends and you can tell that these loyalties are quite strong.
This book covered a bit more the political str...more
Yikes.
I was not a fan of this book. First of all, though it's the third in the Harper Hall series, it's not about Menolly as the first two are. It's about, of all people, Piemur. "Gee whiz" rascally young Piemur, who runs about and talks about adventures that we never see and whines constantly because HE wants a fire lizard and life isn't fair. Everyone either chuckles at him for being such a silly goose or shakes their fist at what a scamp he is. *rolls eyes*
Not only that, but the "story", if...more
I was not a fan of this book. First of all, though it's the third in the Harper Hall series, it's not about Menolly as the first two are. It's about, of all people, Piemur. "Gee whiz" rascally young Piemur, who runs about and talks about adventures that we never see and whines constantly because HE wants a fire lizard and life isn't fair. Everyone either chuckles at him for being such a silly goose or shakes their fist at what a scamp he is. *rolls eyes*
Not only that, but the "story", if...more
Not my favorite of McCaffrey's books - in fact it ranks pretty near the bottom - generally I only read it to finish out the series. Now, I admit that part of the problem is that I feel like this is not really a 'third book' in a trilogy, but rather a one-off added into a two-part book in order to make it into a trilogy. At the end of the second book Menolly had just achieved a major triumph, but there was still a *lot* of schooling left for her to do - and a lot of new activities for her that ar...more
Don't go into this book expecting much Menolly; this is Piemur's book. He's a pretty entertaining character usually so you'd think that's a good thing, but in this installment he manages to take a personal journey similar to Menolly's in Dragonsong, and frankly he gets a little boring.
We do get some updates on Menolly, but she's older and established within the Hall hierarchy, and McCaffrey's decided to explore other bits of the Pern landscape using Piemur instead. Again, this is good for gettin...more
We do get some updates on Menolly, but she's older and established within the Hall hierarchy, and McCaffrey's decided to explore other bits of the Pern landscape using Piemur instead. Again, this is good for gettin...more
The last in the Harper Hall trilogy, this book is focused on Piemur, not Menoly. For this reason, I've heard it said that it shouldn't really be part of a trilogy, but if you read the three books together as the "Harper Hall Trilogy" and not the "Menoly Trilogy" then you're okay. The point of this set of three is to give you a glimpse into the lives of the most important people on Pern, to see major events through their eyes, and... of course... to get the chance to spend more time with our favo...more
This was one of my first "adult" fantasy books and I LOVED it! My mom bought it for me one summer and I devoured it (and began my love of Pern). I just started writing little bits for a mid sized daily in our area (or at least trying - I got a couple little mini features in - but I was only in 9th grade!).
Being so moved by this strange (to me) book, I decided to write Anne, never expecting to hear back, but sure enough, a great little handwritten letter found it's way into my parent's mailbox a...more
Being so moved by this strange (to me) book, I decided to write Anne, never expecting to hear back, but sure enough, a great little handwritten letter found it's way into my parent's mailbox a...more
SUMMARY:
Of all the young singers at the Harperhall of Pern, Piemur was the one chosen for the leading role at Lord Groghe's Gather...and then his voice broke. Suddenly his whole future at Harperhall became uncertain. But Masterharper Robinton, Menolly, and Sebell had other plans for Piemur. They were sure that his quick wits and discretion could be used to keep a check on the troublesome Oldtimers and their strange traffic in fire lizards. So, whilst serving as a messenger-drum apprentice, Piemu
Very engaging, and it's interesting being at yet another view-point. Piemur, is full of energy, and you can't help but like him for who he is.
I was strongly linked with him when he was being bullied, and he did all the same things I used to do in those times, occasionally I was a tell-tale, but it did no help for me, and made things a lot worse. Clearly Piemur has a good head on him, but sometimes he doesn't know when to raise his concerns.
I had a lot of affection to Stupid, I'm not sure why, an...more
I was strongly linked with him when he was being bullied, and he did all the same things I used to do in those times, occasionally I was a tell-tale, but it did no help for me, and made things a lot worse. Clearly Piemur has a good head on him, but sometimes he doesn't know when to raise his concerns.
I had a lot of affection to Stupid, I'm not sure why, an...more
Dec 31, 2008
Marilyn
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
7th - 9th grade
Shelves:
fantasy-sci-fi
This is only for those who loved the first two and want to finish up the trilogy. There were loose ends that never got resolved and some stealing that was deemed acceptable because the person stolen from a "bad" guy. This made me uncomfortable.
In the thrid installment of McCaffrey's Harper Hall series, she focuses on the character, Piemur. It's a nice change of pace, since we already saw Mellony progress very quickly in the last two books.
Piemur has his own coming-of-age struggles in the harper school, and then his own adventures as he seeks to prove himself to his classmates and his superiors. This gets him in some serious trouble, and actually lands him on the mysterious Southern Continent. While there he has a 'Robinson Crusoe-esq...more
Piemur has his own coming-of-age struggles in the harper school, and then his own adventures as he seeks to prove himself to his classmates and his superiors. This gets him in some serious trouble, and actually lands him on the mysterious Southern Continent. While there he has a 'Robinson Crusoe-esq...more
Book three in the Harper Hall trilogy (after the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy).
Menolly has found her place in Harper Hall, but now it is her friend, the mischievous Piemur, who finds himself in a difficult situation. When his voice begins to change and he no longer has control of the sweet soprano singing voice that gave him such high standing in the hall, he takes on a secret role for the Masterharper.
While learning to listen to drum messages, he finds that his reputation as "the boy who uses...more
Menolly has found her place in Harper Hall, but now it is her friend, the mischievous Piemur, who finds himself in a difficult situation. When his voice begins to change and he no longer has control of the sweet soprano singing voice that gave him such high standing in the hall, he takes on a secret role for the Masterharper.
While learning to listen to drum messages, he finds that his reputation as "the boy who uses...more
• This story was a little different from the first two books of the Harper Hall trilogy in that Menolly was an important character, but not the main character. In this one the main character was Piemur. I’m sure that the reason A.M. wrote about him is that even in the previous two books one could tell that he was her favorite. The story isn’t quite as long as the other ones, and is about as simple as the previous two. It did seem to end on somewhat of an abrupt note. Piemur was to stay on the so...more
May 31, 2010
Mollie *scoutrmom*
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of fantasy/sci-fi
I enjoyed this tale as much in my second reading as the first. A scamp becomes a young man, adventures and character growth being the foci.
I so want to give this book an excellent review, because one way or another, the Pern world is interesting, colourful, filled with interesting nooks and crannies to explore, and yet, this book is a bit disappointing.
First of all, It's the third of a trilogy about 'Harper Hall' - NOT about Menolly, but the unfortunate fact is that A.M. made us fall in love with Menolly by making her the protagonist in first two books, and then changed characters abruptly in the third, before they finished her st...more
First of all, It's the third of a trilogy about 'Harper Hall' - NOT about Menolly, but the unfortunate fact is that A.M. made us fall in love with Menolly by making her the protagonist in first two books, and then changed characters abruptly in the third, before they finished her st...more
Dec 02, 2011
Kevin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Harry Potter Fans
Shelves:
fantasy
This is really a 3 1/2 star book for me. (GOODREADS WHY DON'T YOU HAVE 1/2 STARS) It was quite a bit different from the 2nd novel in the trilogy which is my favorite of the series. This novel switched the focus to politics and the main character from Menolly to Piemur. The location also shifted away from the Harper Hall to other locations throught Pern.
The Harper’s are such an integral part of Pern and while the story moved from the Hall to various Holds and Weyrs, we see through the apprentice...more
The Harper’s are such an integral part of Pern and while the story moved from the Hall to various Holds and Weyrs, we see through the apprentice...more
This book starts about 7 years after the last one starring Piemur predominanly, though Menolly and Sebell were key characters as well. I didn't mind to much since I enjoyed hearing about mischevious little Piemur in the last book. One thing I really wished was that Menolly and Sebell would have gotten married. The one thing that really irked me was the part when the fire lizards were mating that Menolly and Sebell did it to, I was like why couldn't you guys have just gotten married?! The ending...more
Feb 12, 2013
Jeanne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
science-fiction
Although I was sad to leave Menolly's point of view, it was time to read about Piemur's story. This was my least favorite of the three Harper Hall books but I still really really enjoyed Piemur's adventures. Anne McCaffrey is simply a brilliant author with complex and wonderful characters that you cannot help but fall in love with. I will be quite sad when I have finished this complete series, but I am so glad there are many books ahead for me to read. This will be one of my most favorite series...more
Jun 22, 2009
Hannah
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
science-fiction
Surprisingly captivating and exciting read. Really makes you feel for Piemur as he tries to find his place as his whole world collapses around his ears, and the journey with him is particularly rewarding when he finds his own purpose. It's a shame that his personality seemed to take a 180 degree turn towards the end, once he met Sharra. What is it about that girl that changes so many endearing boys to snobs? That said, Piemur's snark is still there, and having "accompanied" him on his adventures...more
I remember distinctly not liking this book as much as the other two of this series when I read it back as a child (oh, yes I was doing a reread bit for a couple days), but it turns out that it's actually a fun book! I think it was just that Ms McCaffrey changed the focus of the story from my beloved friend Menolly and moved over to a newer face with Piemur. Piemur isn't a bad sort, just a rather impetuous boy who gets in a lot of trouble. There is some fun with the politics of Pern in the backgr...more
I loved the way this story focussed on one individual and his development. However, I felt as if it was too far removed fro the earlier stories on Pern in places.
The relationship between Piemur and the other characters was very interesting and complex. I particularly liked to hear about his interactions with Menolly.
The world of Pern seems more realistic in this book, and is less of an escape from life. However, it still stands well on its own too feet and is quite different from our own.
A goo...more
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Anne McCaffrey was born on April 1st, 1926, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at 1:30 p.m., in the hour of the Sheep, year of the Fire Tiger, sun sign Aries with Taurus rising and Leo mid-heaven (which seems to suggest an early interest in the stars).
Her parents were George Herbert McCaffrey, BA, MA PhD (Harvard), Colonel USA Army (retired), and Anne Dorothy McElroy McCaffrey, estate agent. She had two...more
More about Anne McCaffrey...
Her parents were George Herbert McCaffrey, BA, MA PhD (Harvard), Colonel USA Army (retired), and Anne Dorothy McElroy McCaffrey, estate agent. She had two...more
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