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235th out of 2,946 books
—
12,388 voters
The Harper Hall of Pern (Pern: Harper Hall #1-3 omnibus)
Omnibus of DragonSong, DragonSinger, and DragonDrums
Hardcover, 500 pages
Published
(first published 1976)
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This is my all time favorite fantasy book! I read it as a youth and I've probably read it 100 times...my book has fallen apart. It's got 3 books in one and many other books related to these but out of the ones I've read its my fav. The others get a little too much for me.
It's about a young girl who has a musical talent although she is told she is not allowed to use it. From that time on she decides to live alone and from there her true adventure begins...Dragons and a world that seems so primit...more
It's about a young girl who has a musical talent although she is told she is not allowed to use it. From that time on she decides to live alone and from there her true adventure begins...Dragons and a world that seems so primit...more
In Dragonsong, we find Menolly, youngest daughter of Half Circle Sea Hold is a talented musican and songwriter much to the dismay of her parents. Who don't want her to be twiddling with music. Menolly is encouraged by Harper Petiron and understands her better than her family does. Petiron sends two of Menolly's songs to Masterharper Robinton because he believes in her that much. When Petiron dies Menolly feels strangely alone with him gone. Menolly's family expects her to mind her manners now th...more
DRAGONSONG
Okay, Menolly's family sucks... HARD. That message rings true in practically every word. Menolly's heart and soul belong to music and that is the one thing that everyone is constantly trying to deny her. This book is about her struggle with that and the rather unexpected solution that presents itself.
DRAGONSINGER
The Harper Hall should be Menolly's saving grace, right? Well, not quite. There are still jealousy issues and pettiness to be found in abundance. This book is about Menolly's p...more
Okay, Menolly's family sucks... HARD. That message rings true in practically every word. Menolly's heart and soul belong to music and that is the one thing that everyone is constantly trying to deny her. This book is about her struggle with that and the rather unexpected solution that presents itself.
DRAGONSINGER
The Harper Hall should be Menolly's saving grace, right? Well, not quite. There are still jealousy issues and pettiness to be found in abundance. This book is about Menolly's p...more
I have a weakness for stories about female bards/musicians, and this is one of my favorites; it was my introduction to McCaffrey, and I actually like it much better than the "adult" Pern books involving Lessa, F'lar, etc. My only substantial disappointment is that we see very few dragons in these stories, and instead we have to settle for fire lizards. But the fire-lizards are charming.
A youngster undervalued by nearly everyone in her orbit is rescued and transplanted into a new environment in w...more
A youngster undervalued by nearly everyone in her orbit is rescued and transplanted into a new environment in w...more
I absolutely loved these books at 16, and I still have a lot of affection for them today. I can't ignore that the writing is sometimes clumsy, some of the characters are not only wooden but hollow, and McCaffrey's knowledge of sailing, music, and her characters' other interests is often shallow; still, Pern is a vibrant and convincing world, the dragons are deftly deployed and satisfyingly explained, and the best of the characters are rich and engaging.
These three books display McCaffrey at her...more
These three books display McCaffrey at her...more
Apr 01, 2010
Mollie *scoutrmom*
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Mollie *scoutrmom* by:
Mom
Shelves:
fantasy,
read-in-2010
Anne McCaffrey's work continues to impress me. I am always amazed by the way the Pern series takes a new tack with each tale.
This collection of three stories seems less like stereotypical fantasy than the others in the series I've read. Other than the fact that it's set on another planet with different conditions, one could see this as contemporary fiction. Many of the plot twists are based on human prejudices and politics, and ring true.
Excellent work, I can barely wait until my public librar...more
This collection of three stories seems less like stereotypical fantasy than the others in the series I've read. Other than the fact that it's set on another planet with different conditions, one could see this as contemporary fiction. Many of the plot twists are based on human prejudices and politics, and ring true.
Excellent work, I can barely wait until my public librar...more
dragon song:
is the thrilling and sad adventure of a young teenage Melony who find her only friend gone and her world rejecting her, she saves the mythical fire lizards, and finds new friendship in them, while the rest of Pern is looking for this new song writer...
Dragonsinger:
is melony's adventuer in harper hall, and how she finds new friends and a place for herself.
dragon drums :
peimers adventure on his own on the southern continate, how he investigates the problems and difficulties on the...more
is the thrilling and sad adventure of a young teenage Melony who find her only friend gone and her world rejecting her, she saves the mythical fire lizards, and finds new friendship in them, while the rest of Pern is looking for this new song writer...
Dragonsinger:
is melony's adventuer in harper hall, and how she finds new friends and a place for herself.
dragon drums :
peimers adventure on his own on the southern continate, how he investigates the problems and difficulties on the...more
I love Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern books. Come on - riding dragons! What’s not to love? But my favorite McCaffrey books are actually the “Harper Hall Trilogy” books, “DragonSong,” “DragonSinger,” and “DragonDrums.” In this trilogy we meet Menolly, a musically gifted 15-year old girl growing up in an isolated community with rigid rules. She’s put in charge of teaching children the traditional songs, but forbidden from making her own music. Over the course of the trilogy, we follow Menol...more
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Mar 07, 2008
craige
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
pre-teen girls
Recommended to craige by:
Tracy
Shelves:
recentlyread,
bookmooched
So, I finished this in a few commutes plus one night in bed. I admit that that night I read it in bed, I stayed up later than I had intended because I was curious to see what would happen. But, overall, I was not drawn in to the book or by the characters. The main character is a 15-year-old girl who is misunderstood by her parents. But at age 32, I am over feeling like that, so I do not relate at all. Maybe if I had read this when I was a pre-teen I would have gotten into it more. Also, although...more
"a compliation of
dragon song: is the thrilling and sad adventure of a young teenage Melony who find her only friend gone and her world rejecting her, she saves the mythical fire lizards, and finds new friendship in them, while the rest of Pern is looking for this new song writer...
dragon drums : peimers adventure on his own on the southern continate, how he investigates the problems and difficulties on the the southern continate by accident, and finds a place for himself and his stolen fire liza...more
dragon song: is the thrilling and sad adventure of a young teenage Melony who find her only friend gone and her world rejecting her, she saves the mythical fire lizards, and finds new friendship in them, while the rest of Pern is looking for this new song writer...
dragon drums : peimers adventure on his own on the southern continate, how he investigates the problems and difficulties on the the southern continate by accident, and finds a place for himself and his stolen fire liza...more
These 3 Pern books, other than the trilogy of Dragonquest, Dragonflight, and The White Dragon, plus The MasterHarper of Pern are my favorite Pern books. I wish there were more Pern books about the regular people and the Harper Hall itself. I absolutely love the dragons and dragonriders, but I also love the Harpers and the Craftspeople.
If you're looking for Pern books to get a teenager, or anyone, and are confused; I recommend the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy(Dragonquest, Dragonflight, and The Wh...more
If you're looking for Pern books to get a teenager, or anyone, and are confused; I recommend the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy(Dragonquest, Dragonflight, and The Wh...more
First two books were amazing by far. Even though this was an extremely easy read ( i would say more early teenagers), I found the plot unique and interesting. But What really brought it down was the third book. I don't like how the author switched the main character, as I couldn't get connected to him as I had the other main character. I would recommend reading the first two and stopping there. You gain nothing from the third book
Menolly kind of loses her edge in this book. Her character, warmly ensconced in Harper Hall, is just nowhere near as interesting as when in Dragonsong she tames those fire lizards having run away to the cave by the shore while escaping threadfall on her swift, strong legs (swoon). The romance "thread" which I believe starts in this book just kills the (readerly) love, too.
A girl who is a musician when girls aren't allowed. She "impresses" many tiny dragons, which are smaller versions of the large dragons that protect the planet Pern from the deadly thread falling from the sky and charring everything. Dragons, music, tomboys, science fiction... Definitely favorite childhood books of mine, I've read them all about 5 times.
Read in Memory of Anne McCaffrey - it must have been about 20 years back I last read those 3 books included in this omnibus version (Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragondrums) and this re-read felt like coming home. The books haven't lost any of their magic. To me these 3 and "The White Dragon" are Anne MaCaffreys best books in the Pern-Series. I cannot highly recommend the books - also for reading them again after some time.
I'm currently reading this series out loud to my husband. These were the books that hooked me on Pern specifically and Anne McCaffrey in general. It's been nearly a decade since I've re-read them, and I'm just as hooked now as ever. I can't wait to get through this trilogy and into the Dragonriders (again) next.
I like all of the Dragonriders of Pern series, but the Harper Hall "spinoff" series is the one I reread the most. Of course the main character is a young girl, so maybe it helps to have read these books as a teen in order for them to fit so neatly into your heart, but I still like them as an adult.
A good and engaging read, but I was confused with the transition of Menolly from "Dragonsinger" to "Dragondrums"--throughout "Dragonsong" and "Dragonsinger" she was this silly, insecure girl who was fun, and then in "Dragondrums" she's all serious and grown up. Is that because she goes from being an apprentice to a journeywoman, or because of the fact that the point of view moves from hers to Piemur's? Or something else? Hmm...
Written when McCaffrey's ideas were fresh and new...before she started rehashing the same story lines over and over again. When it was still good writing, good plotting and great story.
I enjoy reading this series over and over again and recommend it to others who want to start their own 'dragon' reading.
I enjoy reading this series over and over again and recommend it to others who want to start their own 'dragon' reading.
A lot of 'coming of age' type stories here. it is odd that all these teenagers do not get into sexual mischief in these stories, but than that would make them Harlequin romances, not fantasy.
Menolly was a wonderful, wonderful character -- this first YA female I really connected with as an artist who often felt out of place among her friends and family.
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I loved these books. Quick and easy reads with a fun sci-fi/fantasy story. The last book, DragonDrums I would only rate a 3 1/2 but it was still great!
Love it! Just read to my daughters. I read the first one (Dragonsong) when I was in 6th grade. Good clean fun. But then I'm partial to a strong heroine.
What is it with romance? I like the adventure and stuff, but this is about a girl who has issues with her parents and stuff. I am fifteen and I really could not relate to this. I have a good relationship with my parents, so yeah.
This trilogy is absolutely my favourite of pern books. Menolly is so strong, to keep going despite everything that's happened to her.
it was a really cool book with good characters i really liked the main character Menolly i really liked how it had lots of music in it
Fresh, funny with just the right amount of adventure and adversity to keep you interested without getting you depressed or sad.
I hadn't re-read these three in ages. I found myself sucked back in to the world of Pern so fast, my head spun.
Read this book first time as a teenager. 20 years later it can still give me great joy to re-read it.
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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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