Questions About Dragonsong (Harper Hall, #1)

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Answered Questions (6)

does anyone have any book recommendations for books like this (about music in a fantasy setting)?

Rodzilla Light Sci Fi not Fantasy, but this same author, Anne McCaffrey, has a series called "Crystal Singer." So obviously she is an enthusiast of music in he…moreLight Sci Fi not Fantasy, but this same author, Anne McCaffrey, has a series called "Crystal Singer." So obviously she is an enthusiast of music in her writing.

Worth noting: I think a lot of so-called SciFi is actually Fantasy. In fact, McCaffrey's Pern series is only in the most tangential way Sci Fi. It's really fantasy, isn't it? And her non-Pern series are all only lightly SF, even if there are some space ships around.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4391...(less)

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Can this be read as a standalone?

Cassandra Yep! But you'll be left wanting its sequel. However, you don't need to read any of the other Pern books to understand this one.…moreYep! But you'll be left wanting its sequel. However, you don't need to read any of the other Pern books to understand this one.(less)

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What is threadfall?

Faerie Dragonsong takes place on a made up planet. For anyone new to the series, I would describe it as fantasy, but in the later books it is more sci-fi ori…moreDragonsong takes place on a made up planet. For anyone new to the series, I would describe it as fantasy, but in the later books it is more sci-fi oriented.

Essentially, thread is something which falls from space for fifty years which is referred to as a pass, periodically separated by a two-hundred year interval.

It is an organism which eats anything organic and can only be nullified by fire, intense cold or full submersion in water. Extremely deadly. It is the reason dragons exist, and for context, this book is set during a pass.

A pass is named such, because thread is commonly associated by something known as, "the red star." Later on, you find out that it is in actual fact, a planet, and has a bizarre orbit around the sun which will bring it further and closer from Pern in a cycle.

ect, I could go on, but I don't want to confuse you with knowledge I haven't read up on for four years. The best way to find out more would be to dive into the series - it's pretty self explanatory and easy to pick up.(less)

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Can anyone tell me what role music played in the daily life of pern? And why It's so important?

Faerie Aside from thread, Pernese society and culture is very much based around music. They use songs to teach their children, ballads to record monumental, …moreAside from thread, Pernese society and culture is very much based around music. They use songs to teach their children, ballads to record monumental, historical events, music to liven up the dullness of ordinary life. They even use huge drums for long distance communication.

The author spent nine years studying music, so it also happens to be a huge area of her interest and expertise - and anyone who's read a handful of her works will be able to tell that this also reflects in her writing.

Dragonsong is the book which introduces Menolly, one of the characters at the forefront of the Harperhall and its chronicles. For a practical example, you would be best off reading Masterharper of Pern, for it tells the life of Robinton and touches on just about everything music has influenced in Pernese society - which is nearly everything in itself.(less)

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Read this read all the Dragonriders books by Anne McCaffrey. You will never be disappointed. would there ever be a book of loading the ships on the home planet before they ever are launched toward Pern?

Cathryn Well, and Dragonsdawn is a novel by Anne McCaffrey talking about the colonizing of Pern and the creation of the dragons and the watch-whers. I think t…moreWell, and Dragonsdawn is a novel by Anne McCaffrey talking about the colonizing of Pern and the creation of the dragons and the watch-whers. I think there might be some stuff from before the actual landing of the ships.(less)

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is this series clean? thanks!

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