Overall, I have really enjoyed reading the Dragonriders of Pern series. I must say though that this particular tale didn't do a whole lot for me at first.

The story builds on the events related in an earlier work, Dragonsdawn, a book I found rather dull and slow going.

In the first hundred pages of All the Weyrs of Pern s made mention of so many characters that I seriously considered making a flowchart to help me keep them all straight.

I felt the Artificial Intelligence Voice-Address System did far too much talking, and I wasn't keen to see the AIVAS implement the industrialization of Pern.

But about half way through the book, the dragons take flight and the story really kicks into high gear. You'll need to tighten your riding straps as AIVAS sets in motion a chain of events that literally changes the future of Pern. I stayed up way too late just to see how the story ended.

This is definitely a must read book in the series. It is also a satisfying read with a bittersweet resolution that leaves a lump in your throat.