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Pern #16
Dragon's Kin
Beginning with the classic Dragonriders of Pern , Anne McCaffrey has created a complex, endlessly fascinating world uniting humans and great telepathic dragons. Millions of devoted readers have soared on the glittering wings of Anne’s imagination, following book by book the evolution of one of science fiction’s most beloved and honored series. Now, for the first time, Anne has invited another writer to join her in the skies of Pern, a writer with an intimate knowledge of Pern and its her son, Todd.
DRAGON’S KIN
Young Kindan has no expectations other than joining his father in the mines of Camp Natalon, a coal mining settlement struggling to turn a profit far from the great Holds where the presence of dragons and their riders means safety and civilization. Mining is fraught with danger. Fortunately, the camp has a watch-wher, a creature distantly related to dragons and uniquely suited to specialized work in the dark, cold mineshafts. Kindan’s father is the watch-wher’s handler, and his son sometimes helps him out. But even that important job promises no opportunity outside the mine.
Then disaster strikes. In one terrible instant, Kindan loses his family and the camp loses its watch-wher. Fathers are replaced by sons in the mine–except for Kindan, who is taken in by the camp’s new Harper. Grieving, Kindan finds a measure of solace in a burgeoning musical talent . . . and in a new friendship with Nuella, a mysterious girl no one seems to know exists. It is Nuella who assists Kindan when he is selected to hatch and train a new watch-wher, a job that forces him to give up his dream of becoming a Harper; and it is Nuella who helps him give new meaning to his life.
Meanwhile, sparked by the tragedy, long-simmering tensions are dividing the camp. Far below the surface, a group of resentful miners hides a deadly secret. As warring factions threaten to explode, Nuella and Kindan begin to discover unknown talents in the misunderstood watch-wher–talents that could very well save an entire Hold. During their time teaching the watch-wher, the two learn some things that even a seemingly impossible dream is never completely out of reach . . . and that light can be found even in darkness.
DRAGON’S KIN
Young Kindan has no expectations other than joining his father in the mines of Camp Natalon, a coal mining settlement struggling to turn a profit far from the great Holds where the presence of dragons and their riders means safety and civilization. Mining is fraught with danger. Fortunately, the camp has a watch-wher, a creature distantly related to dragons and uniquely suited to specialized work in the dark, cold mineshafts. Kindan’s father is the watch-wher’s handler, and his son sometimes helps him out. But even that important job promises no opportunity outside the mine.
Then disaster strikes. In one terrible instant, Kindan loses his family and the camp loses its watch-wher. Fathers are replaced by sons in the mine–except for Kindan, who is taken in by the camp’s new Harper. Grieving, Kindan finds a measure of solace in a burgeoning musical talent . . . and in a new friendship with Nuella, a mysterious girl no one seems to know exists. It is Nuella who assists Kindan when he is selected to hatch and train a new watch-wher, a job that forces him to give up his dream of becoming a Harper; and it is Nuella who helps him give new meaning to his life.
Meanwhile, sparked by the tragedy, long-simmering tensions are dividing the camp. Far below the surface, a group of resentful miners hides a deadly secret. As warring factions threaten to explode, Nuella and Kindan begin to discover unknown talents in the misunderstood watch-wher–talents that could very well save an entire Hold. During their time teaching the watch-wher, the two learn some things that even a seemingly impossible dream is never completely out of reach . . . and that light can be found even in darkness.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
338 people are currently reading
5141 people want to read
About the author
Anne McCaffrey
478 books7,753 followersAnne Inez McCaffrey was an American writer known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction (Best Novella, Weyr Search, 1968) and the first to win a Nebula Award (Best Novella, Dragonrider, 1969). Her 1978 novel The White Dragon became one of the first science-fiction books to appear on the New York Times Best Seller list.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 321 reviews
November 8, 2018
Going into this book, which I had not read before, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. It wasn't about Dragons, instead it was about the watch-whers. I had always found them interesting, but wasn't sure that a book that was all about them would be enticing. Boy was I wrong.
Kindan and Nuella were the main characters in this story. Kindan lost his father and brothers in a disaster at the mine early on. Later, he was chosen to hatch a new watch-wher. This book focuses on him wanting to become a harper and then hatching the watch-wher. It also follows his friendship with Nuella, who is the blind daughter of the miner that is trying to get this mine to be successful so they can become a hold. He keeps Nuella hidden because he feels that others will look down on her and him because of her disability. He feels that it will also hamper her siblings ability to find spouses.
She is an amazing girl and her bond with the watch-wher and her ability to befriend other watch-whers is amazing. I fell in love with her character and that of Kindan. They are both strong and stubborn and talented in their own ways.
It was also interesting to learn more about the watch-whers and the different talents that they had. It was a fantastic read that had me crying in the end.
Kindan and Nuella were the main characters in this story. Kindan lost his father and brothers in a disaster at the mine early on. Later, he was chosen to hatch a new watch-wher. This book focuses on him wanting to become a harper and then hatching the watch-wher. It also follows his friendship with Nuella, who is the blind daughter of the miner that is trying to get this mine to be successful so they can become a hold. He keeps Nuella hidden because he feels that others will look down on her and him because of her disability. He feels that it will also hamper her siblings ability to find spouses.
She is an amazing girl and her bond with the watch-wher and her ability to befriend other watch-whers is amazing. I fell in love with her character and that of Kindan. They are both strong and stubborn and talented in their own ways.
It was also interesting to learn more about the watch-whers and the different talents that they had. It was a fantastic read that had me crying in the end.
March 7, 2022
Very nice book in the Pern series. The mother/son collaboration on these newer books has a nice easy reading feel to them. The filling in of so much of the backstory of Pern's history is a great read. Very Recommended
April 15, 2017
I've read many books by Anne McCaffrey over the years, including several in her Dragonrider series, but since reading Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern, a collection of tributes to McCaffrey, I've been reading more of that series. This book is one of the better ones. Like many of the others (e.g. The Dolphins of Pern, and the story "Runner of Pern" in A Gift of Dragons: Illustrated Stories), it provides a wealth of new detail about some previously mentioned aspect of Pernese society: in this case, watch-whers, the smaller nocturnal relatives of dragons. I've been intrigued by watch-whers since the very beginning of the Pern series (the novella "Weyr Search," published in Analog magazine and later incorporated in Dragonflight) -- so it was a real treat to learn more about them.
Like Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern, Dragon's Kin has an extensive infodump of a prologue, but neither as extensive nor as annoying as the prologue in that novel. The protagonists, as in so many of McCaffrey's books, are sympathetic and engaging, with some properly infuriating antagonists to keep things lively.
Like Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern, Dragon's Kin has an extensive infodump of a prologue, but neither as extensive nor as annoying as the prologue in that novel. The protagonists, as in so many of McCaffrey's books, are sympathetic and engaging, with some properly infuriating antagonists to keep things lively.
May 9, 2015
I read the Pern books long ago. Decided to re-read in "chronological order". Then I got to the ones Todd McCaffrey wrote, both in conjunction with his mother and on his own. I made it through the first, Dragon's Kin, which wasn't TOO bad, and the second, Dragon Harper, which was okay, then got through about half of Dragon's Fire, and now a quarter of the way into Dragon Heart, I just can't go on. When I look at the ratings, I'm astonished to see his books rated as high as hers...is it just loyalty? Why can't people see the vast, gigantic difference between her most excellent writing and his pathetic attempts?
His books are pedantic, fluff-filled, stilted and downright boring. There is no life to them, the ones I've read are all about plagues, there's no humor, there are so many characters thrown in, I can't keep track of who's who, or even who's a dragon and who's a human. The dialog is terrible, the "plots" ramble around in circles...I am totally mystified as to why they get such high ratings. I hope that people READ the 1 and 2 star reviews and don't just assume from the star count that they're as good as the REAL Pern books. I wasted some money, won't read the rest of what he's written.
His books are pedantic, fluff-filled, stilted and downright boring. There is no life to them, the ones I've read are all about plagues, there's no humor, there are so many characters thrown in, I can't keep track of who's who, or even who's a dragon and who's a human. The dialog is terrible, the "plots" ramble around in circles...I am totally mystified as to why they get such high ratings. I hope that people READ the 1 and 2 star reviews and don't just assume from the star count that they're as good as the REAL Pern books. I wasted some money, won't read the rest of what he's written.
December 19, 2025
Quite obvious that Anne McCaffery let her son take the lead on this one. I am assuming that Anne edited it.
The story takes place at an isolated mine, where wher-watchers, a distant relative of the dragon, occupy the camp. The protagonist is a young boy whose father bonded with a Wher, and then both were killed in a tragic accident.
Todd McCaffery cannot, in my opinion, compete with his mother. I never felt connected to the characters, and I never felt the need to pick up the book and continue it. I am hoping this opinion will change, as there are more to come....
The story takes place at an isolated mine, where wher-watchers, a distant relative of the dragon, occupy the camp. The protagonist is a young boy whose father bonded with a Wher, and then both were killed in a tragic accident.
Todd McCaffery cannot, in my opinion, compete with his mother. I never felt connected to the characters, and I never felt the need to pick up the book and continue it. I am hoping this opinion will change, as there are more to come....
June 5, 2013
I have always adored Anne McCaffrey's writing, so I was more than willing to give Todd a break and check out his style. I was curious to see how he'd continue his mother's legacy.
He got off to a rough start with some dense descriptions and nearly undecipherable family-trees. I slogged on. His skill warmed up a bit as the book went on but there were still quite a few places were fewer words would have sufficed.
I met a few characters who were okay. The best wasn't even a main character (though I think that oversight is corrected in a later book where this character earned a much more prominent role).
Dragon's Kin illuminates the role and personalities of the watch-whers, distant cousins to the mighty dragons and flighty fire-lizards. Focusing on a mining community and the hazards that come with it, this book is primarily about friendships and the harm an ill-kept secret can do to a person and a community.
I can't think of anything to really hate or love. It wasn't bad, it wasn't stellar. I love the world of Pern too much to leave it just because Todd got off to a bumpy start. I look forward to seeing how his skills grow with his next addition to the dragonlore of Pern.
He got off to a rough start with some dense descriptions and nearly undecipherable family-trees. I slogged on. His skill warmed up a bit as the book went on but there were still quite a few places were fewer words would have sufficed.
I met a few characters who were okay. The best wasn't even a main character (though I think that oversight is corrected in a later book where this character earned a much more prominent role).
Dragon's Kin illuminates the role and personalities of the watch-whers, distant cousins to the mighty dragons and flighty fire-lizards. Focusing on a mining community and the hazards that come with it, this book is primarily about friendships and the harm an ill-kept secret can do to a person and a community.
I can't think of anything to really hate or love. It wasn't bad, it wasn't stellar. I love the world of Pern too much to leave it just because Todd got off to a bumpy start. I look forward to seeing how his skills grow with his next addition to the dragonlore of Pern.
September 15, 2008
Unlike many other creators of alternate worlds, Anne McCaffery continues to mine fresh ore from the soil of her imagined reality. Her storytelling is good, too.
May 21, 2015
Sometimes a person has to do with what they can afford and/or find at the time. Found, at the library the hardback and the audio CDs of this book available at the same time! Score! And I own the next four hardbacks waiting for me on my own bookshelves. Problem with those is I don't have the audio/Audible versions to help me out. So it may take a while until I can read them.
Meanwhile, I had a lot of fun reading/listening to this. Dick Hill did the narration. And I think he did a better job acting out this one than others in the Pern series before. Maybe it was the writing combo of Anne and Todd McCaffrey. Maybe I was just more receptive of the story. At any rate, I just found this more fun. And I am glad that those left-over beasts of the original research that resulted in dragons, the watch-whers, can have their day in the Pernese sun. And I loved the kids that were the main characters.
I can never get enough of Anne McCaffrey's work. Glad her son joined in the fun. I look forward to reading more by both. R.I.P. Anne.
Meanwhile, I had a lot of fun reading/listening to this. Dick Hill did the narration. And I think he did a better job acting out this one than others in the Pern series before. Maybe it was the writing combo of Anne and Todd McCaffrey. Maybe I was just more receptive of the story. At any rate, I just found this more fun. And I am glad that those left-over beasts of the original research that resulted in dragons, the watch-whers, can have their day in the Pernese sun. And I loved the kids that were the main characters.
I can never get enough of Anne McCaffrey's work. Glad her son joined in the fun. I look forward to reading more by both. R.I.P. Anne.
August 16, 2012
Wondered if son would wreck the series by changing the format but was totally delighted to find I was every bit as engrossed as before with Anne's works.
On the strength of this went out and purchased the next 3 books of the Pern collection.
On the strength of this went out and purchased the next 3 books of the Pern collection.
September 9, 2012
It was good, I'm liking the highlights of other species on PERN. Though this is typical of the McCaffery formula, right down to the snarky, just for the sake of snark character that highlights the need of the author's to vent personal frustrations.
September 4, 2008
I expected not to like this because of the collaboration, but it was alright. I did enjoy learning something about Pern outside the Dragonriders.
June 19, 2022
I did indeed hate to see this book end. I loved the characters and got to know them quite well by the end of the book. There was always some suspense as to what would happen next, and whether the bad would overcome the good--not just in one instance but in many.
This time the focus is not on dragons but on watch-whers, similar to dragons and fire lizards but somewhere in between. Their value to the mines (the mines valuable for firestone to fight Thread, and for the making of implements to sustain Pern) was nearly established, but had doubters, as usual. Their ability to fly and their intelligence had yet to be explored.
So another piece of the Pern puzzle is filled in.
Six stars if I could.
This time the focus is not on dragons but on watch-whers, similar to dragons and fire lizards but somewhere in between. Their value to the mines (the mines valuable for firestone to fight Thread, and for the making of implements to sustain Pern) was nearly established, but had doubters, as usual. Their ability to fly and their intelligence had yet to be explored.
So another piece of the Pern puzzle is filled in.
Six stars if I could.
February 11, 2022
Not bad, kept my interest, just not up to Anne McCaffrey's height. Still a good read!
August 27, 2012
I loved reading this book! Having read (and loved) everything Anne McCaffrey has written in the Pern world, I was anxious about reading the books her son Todd had written for Pern. I needn't have worried, he seems to have the same feel for Pern. These are character-driven books. Most of the characters, except for a few cliche baddies, have a lot of depth to them, and as the reader you develop a lot of empathy for the characters. So as another immersion into the world of Pern, this book was comfort food. If I had to complain, I'd say that, one, there was little plot to this book. It could have been subtitled "A couple years in the life of Kinden and Nuella at Camp Natalon". And even when you knew how the book would end and what the final conflict was going to be, I was disappointed in how quickly the ending came and the book was over with. It was as if Mr. McCaffrey had written 295 pages and the publisher told him, "Todd, great work so far. Let's wrap it up in the next 3 pages, ok?" And while this is true, I must add that I've always been a fan of books with a long denouement, especially in character-driven stories. You live with these characters during the hours and days it took you to read the story, you hate to see them go so quickly. I always appreciate an epilogue!
December 26, 2013
I was kind of concerned when I started this book and realized that it wasn't going to be about the usual Pernese dragons. Instead, it was about mining and werewatchers, which everyone knows are just badly created dragons. A mistake.
Or...maybe not? :D I was pretty taken aback by the new story emerging from what I assumed was a dank and dull mine shaft. This book is actually an awesome addition to Pern, and I have to say, that's what I love about this series, long and varied as it is. It's actually about the entire world of Pern, the many generations, and the many people that have made Pern their home to love (like me!). And this is a fresh twist on that world that I thought I already knew so well. I love how Todd McCaffrey's additions are going to ensure the continuation of stories with a new perspective while still staying true to the Pern we love. Very creative.
But this story itself was great, and my favorite of the three series. Well, actually, I loved the next one too. Even if it didn't deal that much with dragons, it's a sweet story about youngsters growing up in the world.
Or...maybe not? :D I was pretty taken aback by the new story emerging from what I assumed was a dank and dull mine shaft. This book is actually an awesome addition to Pern, and I have to say, that's what I love about this series, long and varied as it is. It's actually about the entire world of Pern, the many generations, and the many people that have made Pern their home to love (like me!). And this is a fresh twist on that world that I thought I already knew so well. I love how Todd McCaffrey's additions are going to ensure the continuation of stories with a new perspective while still staying true to the Pern we love. Very creative.
But this story itself was great, and my favorite of the three series. Well, actually, I loved the next one too. Even if it didn't deal that much with dragons, it's a sweet story about youngsters growing up in the world.
July 10, 2012
The writing in this book was TERRIBLE. It was like a middle school kid wrote it. The writing was a little jumpy and not very descriptive. The writing was just.... gosh, it was bad. However, the storyline itself wasn't too shabby. It's the only thing that kept me reading this book.
This was my first Pern novel and I've learned not to read anything written by Anne McCaffrey's son. I've yet to read anything by Anne, but I'm not going to let her son's terrible writing sway me from her. If she really is a good writer, then clearly her son is riding on her coat tails.
If you really love Pern, then I would suggest this novel to you but if you're not a die hard fan, the writing will probably turn you off pretty quick. It's not unreadable and it's a quick read if you want something simple for a trip or time off. I don't think I'll be reading the next book in this series...
This was my first Pern novel and I've learned not to read anything written by Anne McCaffrey's son. I've yet to read anything by Anne, but I'm not going to let her son's terrible writing sway me from her. If she really is a good writer, then clearly her son is riding on her coat tails.
If you really love Pern, then I would suggest this novel to you but if you're not a die hard fan, the writing will probably turn you off pretty quick. It's not unreadable and it's a quick read if you want something simple for a trip or time off. I don't think I'll be reading the next book in this series...
August 21, 2016
Whilst the basic story-line is one worth telling, as it does build upon the lore of Pern by dedicating a story to the often-neglected watch-whers, it is rather poorly written.
The difference in writing style between Todd and Anne is very much chalk and cheese; it is evident that Todd lacks Anne's attention to detail, descriptive prowess, and ability to pace a story appropriately. This is a shame, since the story in itself has the potential to be a charming one. The characters are flat and lifeless, seldom encouraging the reader to feel any real empathy for them.
A tolerable read, but those who are expecting the magic of Pern to be perpetuated by Todd McCaffrey will find it much less magical than Anne's previous efforts.
The difference in writing style between Todd and Anne is very much chalk and cheese; it is evident that Todd lacks Anne's attention to detail, descriptive prowess, and ability to pace a story appropriately. This is a shame, since the story in itself has the potential to be a charming one. The characters are flat and lifeless, seldom encouraging the reader to feel any real empathy for them.
A tolerable read, but those who are expecting the magic of Pern to be perpetuated by Todd McCaffrey will find it much less magical than Anne's previous efforts.
February 25, 2021
Another re-read. I like the story line, dealing as it does with an animal on Pern that is only briefly mentioned in a few of the other books and then as an adjunct to some other element of the plot or character development.
However, the fact that the information given here doesn't even come up in the other books is a little bothersome; watch whers have some really cool abilities and it's hard to believe that two teenagers figure them out and then they're lost, seemingly permanently. The character development is at a level appropriate for a children's book, as is the dialog. So much more could have been done here, but instead we get a short story that leaves a lot unsaid and undone.
However, the fact that the information given here doesn't even come up in the other books is a little bothersome; watch whers have some really cool abilities and it's hard to believe that two teenagers figure them out and then they're lost, seemingly permanently. The character development is at a level appropriate for a children's book, as is the dialog. So much more could have been done here, but instead we get a short story that leaves a lot unsaid and undone.
November 18, 2021
Todd Johnson McCaffrey, son of Anne McCaffrey, is the author of this book. He’s done a marvelous job of carrying the torch of Pern! Kindan wants to be a Harper but as the son of a watch-wher handler he is expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. And doing so is the only hope for his coal mining camp. Thank goodness for friends!
September 30, 2023
While maybe not quite as good as either the original Dragonriders of Pern books or the first book in chronological order in the history of Pern, Dragon’s Kin is still a good story. It tells us a little bit more about the neglected and somewhat underrated species the watch-whers. Watch-whers were initially thought to be failures in the effort to breed thread-fighting dragons in Pern’s early days. But it has been discovered that the watch-whers have their own specialized and useful abilities. One of these is that they can see in the dark, making them useful for finding dangerous creatures like tunnel snakes in the mines. They can also sense imminent cave-ins, and will work tirelessly to free trapped miners in the case of a cave-in.
In this story, we meet Kindan, whose father Daneel is in charge of the one remaining watchwher in Camp Natalon, a new mining operation hoping to be approved as a proper mining hold soon. Sadly, a cave-in kills Daneel and most of Kindan’s remaining family. The watch-wher, Dask, is injured and, despite Kindan’s urgings to take it easier, works himself to death trying to save as many of the trapped miners as possible.
Kindan, the youngest member of his family, is sent to live with the camp’s new Harper, Master Zist. Here he is introduced to the disciplines of the Harpers and meets a girl he had not known was living at the camp, although she is Miner Natalon’s daughter and is Kindan’s best friend’s girlfriend.
There is a conflict with Miner Natalon’s uncle, who doesn’t think much of watch-whers and doesn’t see why they are needed, although Dask once saved his life. At first, this conflict seems to be confined to mostly nasty comments from the uncle and his friends, but later it develops into something much more dangerous.
Miner Natalon, however, believes strongly in watch-whers and goes to great lengths to secure one for his camp. Kindan becomes the one responsible for securing the watchwher egg and for raising and training the baby watchwher. His friend, Zinor, and Natalon’s daughter, Nuella, help him greatly in this endeavor, as does Master Zist.
Much too soon Kisk, the baby watchwher has to demonstrate her usefulness to the camp. Kindan must resolve his conflicting desires to become a Harper or to be loyal to the camp by continuing to take care of Kisk.
In this story, we meet Kindan, whose father Daneel is in charge of the one remaining watchwher in Camp Natalon, a new mining operation hoping to be approved as a proper mining hold soon. Sadly, a cave-in kills Daneel and most of Kindan’s remaining family. The watch-wher, Dask, is injured and, despite Kindan’s urgings to take it easier, works himself to death trying to save as many of the trapped miners as possible.
Kindan, the youngest member of his family, is sent to live with the camp’s new Harper, Master Zist. Here he is introduced to the disciplines of the Harpers and meets a girl he had not known was living at the camp, although she is Miner Natalon’s daughter and is Kindan’s best friend’s girlfriend.
There is a conflict with Miner Natalon’s uncle, who doesn’t think much of watch-whers and doesn’t see why they are needed, although Dask once saved his life. At first, this conflict seems to be confined to mostly nasty comments from the uncle and his friends, but later it develops into something much more dangerous.
Miner Natalon, however, believes strongly in watch-whers and goes to great lengths to secure one for his camp. Kindan becomes the one responsible for securing the watchwher egg and for raising and training the baby watchwher. His friend, Zinor, and Natalon’s daughter, Nuella, help him greatly in this endeavor, as does Master Zist.
Much too soon Kisk, the baby watchwher has to demonstrate her usefulness to the camp. Kindan must resolve his conflicting desires to become a Harper or to be loyal to the camp by continuing to take care of Kisk.
April 6, 2022
This book takes place before the Third Pass and is about a boy, his watch wher and his friends living in a mining hold on Pern. While not having dragons as most of the earlier books, watch whers are genetically related to the dragons of Pern. Anne McCaffrey wrote this one with her son Todd and I really enjoyed the storytelling. The characters were great and I’m kinda sad that there will not be more books featuring Kinden and Nuella.
August 9, 2023
Classic “dragons of Pern”, with the Harper a major player. A quick read as this isn’t a long book.
December 18, 2023
Todd McCaffrrey moving into his mother's legacy & doing it well.
July 24, 2023
Note: My partner and I are reading the Pern series in chronological order using this list: https://www.howtoread.me/dragonriders...
Previously:
Dragonseye - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"Ever the Twain" - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And Todd McCaffrey enters the fray. I do notice a decrease in the high science technical speak in this one, but I actually don't hate it. As much as I appreciate all the effort Anne McCaffrey went through to research and include all that stuff, it was easier to read this. That coupled with the younger age of the characters made it feel more like a YA book, which I also don't mean to be a bad thing. It's just a thing that is.
The characters were mostly pretty good. We've got another flat super asshole, Tarik, but Nuella really becomes that girl-power character that I have been desperately wishing for all this time. And the baby watchwher is just the cutest and most special creature ever!
But doesn't it seem really abusive to the watchwhers the way everyone is so secretive about what they do and don't know about their care? This is especially true for the Whermaster who would statistically know the most about them. If you're cagey with information about gaining the trust and caring for a watchwher, people are bound to make mistakes and unintentionally harm them. I don't think she actually cares about watchwhers at all! There's a big to-do made about how the kids have now been able to know anything at all about whatchwhers, and that's cute and exciting for them, but it makes absolutely no sense considering it's been hundreds of years and there exists a master who breeds and raises them for a living. I'm also still kinda mad about all that excitement to get the to the egg on a specific got-dang day, only to be told we had to wait a week for it to hatch! Then why did they-? Wha? Hmmm, moving on.
Dragonsdawn is really causing me a lot of confusion going forward as well. I wouldn't have liked this whole backwards society, but I would have accepted it as it was. However, since I know the beginnings of the colony: how diverse the group was, the professionals, men and women, and, yes, there was one group of Irish Nomads, and some folks immigrating without sci-fi doctorates, but mostly everyone worked together with no one group being below another. It's got it's problems, of course, and I said as much in my review, but I cannot accept that society became this one.
Did the earliest settlers not know how abysmal the history of coal on earth was that they didn't have some sort of alternative put in place. Y'all know coal isn't infinite, right? And that a lot of people are going to be working and dying in unsafe environments? They now live in a world that doesn't care for widows and forces children to work in the mines to provide for their family.
The gender roles also bother me. Cooks -> women, Nurses -> women, Miners -> men/boys, the only outlier is the teacher, or Harper, of the little town who is a man, but the harper is actually a very highly respected position so read into that what you will.
When we find out why the mystery child is hidden, it's every bit as backwards as you might expect considering it's been well established in Dragonseye that ugliness and deformities are looked down upon in this society.
But unlike Dragonseye this does have some semblance of a story-line. It was really interesting going along with the kids as they come into their own and show the adults what they can do, and I appreciated learning more about the whatchwhers.
Next:
Dragon's Fire - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Previously:
Dragonseye - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"Ever the Twain" - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And Todd McCaffrey enters the fray. I do notice a decrease in the high science technical speak in this one, but I actually don't hate it. As much as I appreciate all the effort Anne McCaffrey went through to research and include all that stuff, it was easier to read this. That coupled with the younger age of the characters made it feel more like a YA book, which I also don't mean to be a bad thing. It's just a thing that is.
The characters were mostly pretty good. We've got another flat super asshole, Tarik, but Nuella really becomes that girl-power character that I have been desperately wishing for all this time. And the baby watchwher is just the cutest and most special creature ever!
But doesn't it seem really abusive to the watchwhers the way everyone is so secretive about what they do and don't know about their care? This is especially true for the Whermaster who would statistically know the most about them. If you're cagey with information about gaining the trust and caring for a watchwher, people are bound to make mistakes and unintentionally harm them. I don't think she actually cares about watchwhers at all! There's a big to-do made about how the kids have now been able to know anything at all about whatchwhers, and that's cute and exciting for them, but it makes absolutely no sense considering it's been hundreds of years and there exists a master who breeds and raises them for a living. I'm also still kinda mad about all that excitement to get the to the egg on a specific got-dang day, only to be told we had to wait a week for it to hatch! Then why did they-? Wha? Hmmm, moving on.
Dragonsdawn is really causing me a lot of confusion going forward as well. I wouldn't have liked this whole backwards society, but I would have accepted it as it was. However, since I know the beginnings of the colony: how diverse the group was, the professionals, men and women, and, yes, there was one group of Irish Nomads, and some folks immigrating without sci-fi doctorates, but mostly everyone worked together with no one group being below another. It's got it's problems, of course, and I said as much in my review, but I cannot accept that society became this one.
Did the earliest settlers not know how abysmal the history of coal on earth was that they didn't have some sort of alternative put in place. Y'all know coal isn't infinite, right? And that a lot of people are going to be working and dying in unsafe environments? They now live in a world that doesn't care for widows and forces children to work in the mines to provide for their family.
The gender roles also bother me. Cooks -> women, Nurses -> women, Miners -> men/boys, the only outlier is the teacher, or Harper, of the little town who is a man, but the harper is actually a very highly respected position so read into that what you will.
When we find out why the mystery child is hidden, it's every bit as backwards as you might expect considering it's been well established in Dragonseye that ugliness and deformities are looked down upon in this society.
But unlike Dragonseye this does have some semblance of a story-line. It was really interesting going along with the kids as they come into their own and show the adults what they can do, and I appreciated learning more about the whatchwhers.
Next:
Dragon's Fire - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 2, 2023
It's 491 AL, 491 years after landing, and sixteen years before Thread is scheduled to return to Pern with the primary action taking place at Natalon's mine. It parallels Dragonsblood and Dragon's Fire.
Sorry . . . I just have no enthusiasm about this book and it shows in the review . . . The only reason I'm giving it a 2 is . . . it's Pern.
My Take
I am so disappointed with the writing in this story. There is no subtlety, no buildup. It's more like he's leaping from one point in the outline to the next. Sometimes McCaffrey fills in a bit of the points . . . sometimes, not often. There's no passion.
On page 33, Master Zist has just arrived, no introduction, and just like that Kindan knows this is the same boogeyman that Harper Jofri has told them of???
It's also the day of Silstra's wedding, and Zist has decided that Kaylek's voice isn't up to singing for the wedding and dragoons Kindan into it instead. Then wonder of wonders, Zist is angry because Kindan isn't going to be perfect. I guess this might be a reasonable annoyance if Kindan had ever been trained in singing . . .
Nuella is central to changing perceptions of the watch-whers.
The Story
The focus in this story is on the watch-whers. Most people despise them and feel they're useless. Silstra marries Terregar. Kindan rescues Natalon's family when something blocks the chimney in his hold. In Dragon's Kin, the people who have the authority to change this attitude learn of their true value when Kisk rescues miners.
The Characters
Kindan is the youngest in his family and after the tragedy, Master Zist takes him in and starts his training to become a harper.
Danil is Kindan's father and the WherHandler for Dask. Silstra is Kindan's sister and she marries Terregar. It's for their wedding that Dask performs his light show.
No one knows of Nuella's existence. She's blind and Master Natalon is terrified that she will impact badly on her siblings' chances of marriage let alone his subordinates wondering if he's capable of leading.
Master Zist and Kindan get a lift from Weyrleader M'tal and his dragon, Gaminth, when they go to fetch an egg from the watch-wher's clutch.
Zenor is a contemporary of Kindan and Nuella's. And secretly in love with Nuella. Tarik is Natalon's uncle and appears to be extremely disgruntled. Aleesa is a WherMaster and bonded with the last surviving queen watch-wher in Pern. Trader Tarri leads trading caravans to Natalon's Camp. Weyrleader D'gan of Telgar Weyr is another of the villains in this story.
The Cover and Title
It looks like Chinese mountains made of clouds with a central vertical panel of a watch-wher's egg opening in a nest of straw.
The title, Dragon's Kin is certainly appropriate.
Sorry . . . I just have no enthusiasm about this book and it shows in the review . . . The only reason I'm giving it a 2 is . . . it's Pern.
My Take
I am so disappointed with the writing in this story. There is no subtlety, no buildup. It's more like he's leaping from one point in the outline to the next. Sometimes McCaffrey fills in a bit of the points . . . sometimes, not often. There's no passion.
On page 33, Master Zist has just arrived, no introduction, and just like that Kindan knows this is the same boogeyman that Harper Jofri has told them of???
It's also the day of Silstra's wedding, and Zist has decided that Kaylek's voice isn't up to singing for the wedding and dragoons Kindan into it instead. Then wonder of wonders, Zist is angry because Kindan isn't going to be perfect. I guess this might be a reasonable annoyance if Kindan had ever been trained in singing . . .
Nuella is central to changing perceptions of the watch-whers.
The Story
The focus in this story is on the watch-whers. Most people despise them and feel they're useless. Silstra marries Terregar. Kindan rescues Natalon's family when something blocks the chimney in his hold. In Dragon's Kin, the people who have the authority to change this attitude learn of their true value when Kisk rescues miners.
The Characters
Kindan is the youngest in his family and after the tragedy, Master Zist takes him in and starts his training to become a harper.
Danil is Kindan's father and the WherHandler for Dask. Silstra is Kindan's sister and she marries Terregar. It's for their wedding that Dask performs his light show.
No one knows of Nuella's existence. She's blind and Master Natalon is terrified that she will impact badly on her siblings' chances of marriage let alone his subordinates wondering if he's capable of leading.
Master Zist and Kindan get a lift from Weyrleader M'tal and his dragon, Gaminth, when they go to fetch an egg from the watch-wher's clutch.
Zenor is a contemporary of Kindan and Nuella's. And secretly in love with Nuella. Tarik is Natalon's uncle and appears to be extremely disgruntled. Aleesa is a WherMaster and bonded with the last surviving queen watch-wher in Pern. Trader Tarri leads trading caravans to Natalon's Camp. Weyrleader D'gan of Telgar Weyr is another of the villains in this story.
The Cover and Title
It looks like Chinese mountains made of clouds with a central vertical panel of a watch-wher's egg opening in a nest of straw.
The title, Dragon's Kin is certainly appropriate.
May 7, 2012
BOOK REVIEW By Jill Smith © April 2008
Do you have a favorite author? I do. Anne McCaffrey has been a staple reading diet of mine since my teens. My all time read and re-read titles being ‘The Ship Who Sang’, ‘Decision at Doona’ and ‘Restoree’. As Science Fiction/Fantasy authors go she is a classic, and now her son is following in her footsteps. I thought this was a recent release but find on my search of ‘The Worlds of Anne McCaffrey’ website that it was released in 2003.
Returning to the world Anne McCaffrey created in ‘PERN’ is like returning home to a comfortable pair of slippers. The fledgling colony of Earth explorers soon looses touch with their home world and origins are wiped away. They have to develop methods to fight ‘Thread fall’, an organism that falls across the void from the red sister planet to Pern that eats anything it touches, soil, crops, animals or people. In this volume Anne’s son Todd is co-author and the tale spun equally as delightful as any of her previous sixteen dragon series of adventures, with Todd continuing the saga with his own episode in ‘Dragons blood.’
This book flows through the eyes of Kindan a young boy with few expectations within a burgeoning mining community. The mine is new and the work is dangerous but the rewards essential to the continuing growth of the Pernese. The Dragons adapted from miniature creatures called fire lizards also have a spin off cousin called the watch-whers. Both species form symbiotic relationships with their handlers who impress at hatching. The watch-whers did not seem to have a great deal of use, unless you work in the dark, such as underground in mines, and could sense danger.
Kindan tends his father’s watch-wher and witnesses the fierce loyalty of the creature, digging till he dies trying to save his handler after a mine accident that leaves Kindan an orphan. As his sister, recently married and moved away from the small mining settlement, Kindan is left to live with an authoritarian Harper Master Zist (trained musician). Life gets complicated and frightening when a watch-wher egg is obtained for the mining hold and Kindan is expected to impress and take on the responsibility of being the mines watch-wher handler, forgetting forever his hopes to become a trained Harper. Naturally, Kindan’s workload and adventure, mixed with imminent danger, is skillfully delivered to the reader at a heart racing pace, as Kindan, blind Nuella and master harper Zist puzzle out the lore, habits and abilities of these nocturnal creatures, they find out more about the watch-whers (and themselves) than they thought possible.
For anyone who loves a mixture of fantasy and good heartwarming and heart touching tale of growing up and evolving into maturity, this title would be one worth investing in. Naturally, I will gladly add it to my bookshelf along with a long line of her previous works, many of which I’ve borrowed as library books that now I wish to purchase to re read at my leisure. Certainly any one of our membership would be delighted to be able to emulate such an accomplished author with so many volumes listed as published both individually and in co-authorship.
Do you have a favorite author? I do. Anne McCaffrey has been a staple reading diet of mine since my teens. My all time read and re-read titles being ‘The Ship Who Sang’, ‘Decision at Doona’ and ‘Restoree’. As Science Fiction/Fantasy authors go she is a classic, and now her son is following in her footsteps. I thought this was a recent release but find on my search of ‘The Worlds of Anne McCaffrey’ website that it was released in 2003.
Returning to the world Anne McCaffrey created in ‘PERN’ is like returning home to a comfortable pair of slippers. The fledgling colony of Earth explorers soon looses touch with their home world and origins are wiped away. They have to develop methods to fight ‘Thread fall’, an organism that falls across the void from the red sister planet to Pern that eats anything it touches, soil, crops, animals or people. In this volume Anne’s son Todd is co-author and the tale spun equally as delightful as any of her previous sixteen dragon series of adventures, with Todd continuing the saga with his own episode in ‘Dragons blood.’
This book flows through the eyes of Kindan a young boy with few expectations within a burgeoning mining community. The mine is new and the work is dangerous but the rewards essential to the continuing growth of the Pernese. The Dragons adapted from miniature creatures called fire lizards also have a spin off cousin called the watch-whers. Both species form symbiotic relationships with their handlers who impress at hatching. The watch-whers did not seem to have a great deal of use, unless you work in the dark, such as underground in mines, and could sense danger.
Kindan tends his father’s watch-wher and witnesses the fierce loyalty of the creature, digging till he dies trying to save his handler after a mine accident that leaves Kindan an orphan. As his sister, recently married and moved away from the small mining settlement, Kindan is left to live with an authoritarian Harper Master Zist (trained musician). Life gets complicated and frightening when a watch-wher egg is obtained for the mining hold and Kindan is expected to impress and take on the responsibility of being the mines watch-wher handler, forgetting forever his hopes to become a trained Harper. Naturally, Kindan’s workload and adventure, mixed with imminent danger, is skillfully delivered to the reader at a heart racing pace, as Kindan, blind Nuella and master harper Zist puzzle out the lore, habits and abilities of these nocturnal creatures, they find out more about the watch-whers (and themselves) than they thought possible.
For anyone who loves a mixture of fantasy and good heartwarming and heart touching tale of growing up and evolving into maturity, this title would be one worth investing in. Naturally, I will gladly add it to my bookshelf along with a long line of her previous works, many of which I’ve borrowed as library books that now I wish to purchase to re read at my leisure. Certainly any one of our membership would be delighted to be able to emulate such an accomplished author with so many volumes listed as published both individually and in co-authorship.
April 29, 2022
This book starts about 16 years before the second pass of the red star. It takes place in Natilon mine camp, up in the Crom Hold mountains.
Natilon and the people who went with him are trying to prove that the mine they are starting with produce plenty of Crom coal, the hottest burning coal found so far on the northern continent.
Danil, the man who is bonded to Dask, the camps Watch-weyr and his family are also living in the camp. Dask's job in the mine is to notify Danil if the air in the mine is bad or if coal gas is leaking into the mine. There was 2 other Watch-weyrs at the camp, but one was killed in a mine collapse and the other bonded pair left, deciding that this mine was too dangerous.
Kindan, 10 years old, the youngest son of Danil occasionally helps his dad with Dask. He's partly bonded, like his older brothers are, to make it easier for him to help with care for Dask.
The book opens up with Kindan being told to clean out Dasks cave that he sleeps in during the day as he's nocturnal, and give him a bath so everything is good for Kindans sisters wedding.
I'll stop here before I give you the entire story line, but hopefully I've given you enough so you are going to be interested in reading it for yourself. Just one more thing, there's Dragonriders and their dragons in the book, but it's mainly about watch-weyrs and it differently has lots of info that hasn't been mentioned in any other book in the Pern series so far.
Natilon and the people who went with him are trying to prove that the mine they are starting with produce plenty of Crom coal, the hottest burning coal found so far on the northern continent.
Danil, the man who is bonded to Dask, the camps Watch-weyr and his family are also living in the camp. Dask's job in the mine is to notify Danil if the air in the mine is bad or if coal gas is leaking into the mine. There was 2 other Watch-weyrs at the camp, but one was killed in a mine collapse and the other bonded pair left, deciding that this mine was too dangerous.
Kindan, 10 years old, the youngest son of Danil occasionally helps his dad with Dask. He's partly bonded, like his older brothers are, to make it easier for him to help with care for Dask.
The book opens up with Kindan being told to clean out Dasks cave that he sleeps in during the day as he's nocturnal, and give him a bath so everything is good for Kindans sisters wedding.
I'll stop here before I give you the entire story line, but hopefully I've given you enough so you are going to be interested in reading it for yourself. Just one more thing, there's Dragonriders and their dragons in the book, but it's mainly about watch-weyrs and it differently has lots of info that hasn't been mentioned in any other book in the Pern series so far.
July 21, 2015
This is a story that takes place in the early years on Pern. The next threadfall is sixteen years away and a miner named Natalan is beginning a mine and hoping to make it a hold. Kindan is the youngest son of the the man who is bonded to the watchwher. Watchwhers are useful in mining because they can sense bad air and gases. But one of the men who came with Natalan, his uncle Tarik, is working against Natalan and subtly sabotaging his efforts to have a successful mine.
When a cave in kills Kindan's father and brothers and the watchwher, Kindan is taken in by the harper who begins to teach him to be a harper himself. However, Natalan wants Kindan to train a new watchwher. Natalan has a blind daughter named Nuella. He has kept her a secret from the rest of the people in the camp. Kindan learns about her and together they begin to raise the new watchwher Kisk. Not much is remembered about the watchwhers and so the two kids are on their own to raise and train her.
They are aided by the harper and some dragonriders he knows who are also interested in what watchwhers can do. As they begin to explore Kisk's talents Kindan and Nuella are also learning more about their own talents and strengths.
This was an interesting story about the early years on Pern and tells of a part of the world we don't get to see in the books that are dealing with dragons, dragonriders and threadfall.
When a cave in kills Kindan's father and brothers and the watchwher, Kindan is taken in by the harper who begins to teach him to be a harper himself. However, Natalan wants Kindan to train a new watchwher. Natalan has a blind daughter named Nuella. He has kept her a secret from the rest of the people in the camp. Kindan learns about her and together they begin to raise the new watchwher Kisk. Not much is remembered about the watchwhers and so the two kids are on their own to raise and train her.
They are aided by the harper and some dragonriders he knows who are also interested in what watchwhers can do. As they begin to explore Kisk's talents Kindan and Nuella are also learning more about their own talents and strengths.
This was an interesting story about the early years on Pern and tells of a part of the world we don't get to see in the books that are dealing with dragons, dragonriders and threadfall.
May 8, 2020
I've not read any Pern books, although their existence has flittered on the edge of my awareness for a long time. So with this book purchased a long time ago in a bundle, I thought it was worth dropping in the Pern to see what it was all about... and it was great fun.
Starting at book 17 isn't something I normally do, but it does normally mean the author knows the settings, and the planet well, and is used to writing an easy-to-read style and this was certainly the case with Dragon's Kin. Set in the land of Pern, where technology has been forgotten but where the terrible Thread threatens life periodically, the settlers have developed bonds between dragons and watch-whers (kin to Dragons whose eyes are uniquely placed to see in the dark).
Kinden and Nuella are given a Watch-Wher egg to raise to ensure the safety of the miners of their village, after a cave-in causes the death of Kinden's father and brothers. They raise the Watch-Wher but much about them is not known and they embark on an adventure of discovery where Kisk (their Watch-Wher) isn't the only one who learns new things.
Great fun, easy to read and follow, and a self-contained story; there is an introduction for those who don't know Pern - and this is all you need to get you into the world.
Starting at book 17 isn't something I normally do, but it does normally mean the author knows the settings, and the planet well, and is used to writing an easy-to-read style and this was certainly the case with Dragon's Kin. Set in the land of Pern, where technology has been forgotten but where the terrible Thread threatens life periodically, the settlers have developed bonds between dragons and watch-whers (kin to Dragons whose eyes are uniquely placed to see in the dark).
Kinden and Nuella are given a Watch-Wher egg to raise to ensure the safety of the miners of their village, after a cave-in causes the death of Kinden's father and brothers. They raise the Watch-Wher but much about them is not known and they embark on an adventure of discovery where Kisk (their Watch-Wher) isn't the only one who learns new things.
Great fun, easy to read and follow, and a self-contained story; there is an introduction for those who don't know Pern - and this is all you need to get you into the world.
October 17, 2018
Dragon's Kin (2003) by Anne and Tod McCaffrey is really pretty much by Tod. Set at the beginning of the 3rd pass on Pern, the novel revolves about the underexplored watch-whers.
It's an easy read. If you need something to skim on a rainy Sunday or you need to take a break from some heavy series, it's a perfectly fine book.
Breaking from McCaffrey tradition, the villain has graduated from ambitious jerk to a complete idiot with no plan. Oh, well.
I think that the book misses myriads of opportunities in its setup. The Pern of 3rd pass feels like the Pern of every other pass. I think that some trends and fashions unique to 3rd Pass Pern would have been quite fun and perked up an aging series nicely.
As for the characters, they never popped off the page for me. They were just there. They went through the story. Not egregious, mostly, but not engaging, mostly.
All in all, it was an okay book. It avoids being among the worst Pern novels, but fails to recapture the magic of the early series.
It's an easy read. If you need something to skim on a rainy Sunday or you need to take a break from some heavy series, it's a perfectly fine book.
Breaking from McCaffrey tradition, the villain has graduated from ambitious jerk to a complete idiot with no plan. Oh, well.
I think that the book misses myriads of opportunities in its setup. The Pern of 3rd pass feels like the Pern of every other pass. I think that some trends and fashions unique to 3rd Pass Pern would have been quite fun and perked up an aging series nicely.
As for the characters, they never popped off the page for me. They were just there. They went through the story. Not egregious, mostly, but not engaging, mostly.
All in all, it was an okay book. It avoids being among the worst Pern novels, but fails to recapture the magic of the early series.
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