Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern, #1)

by Anne McCaffrey

WHEN is a legend legend? Why is a myth a myth? How old and disused must a fact be for it to be relegated to the category “Fairy-tale”? And why do certain facts remain incontrovertible while others lose their validity to assume a shabby, unstable character?

Drummer, beat, and piper, blow, Harper, strike, and soldier, go. Free the flame and sear the grasses Till the dawning Red Star passes.

Honor those the dragons heed, In thought and favor, word and deed. Worlds are lost or worlds are saved From those dangers dragon-braved. Dragonman, avoid excess; Greed will bring the Weyr distress; To the ancient Laws adhere, Prospers thus the Dragonweyr.

Dragonriders were men apart. Anger did not cloud their intelligence. Greed did not sully their judgment. Fear did not dull their reactions.

A feeling of joy suffused Lessa; a feeling of warmth, tenderness, unalloyed affection, and instant respect and admiration flooded mind and heart and soul. Never again would Lessa lack an advocate, a defender, an intimate, aware instantly of the temper of her mind and heart, of her desires. How wonderful was Lessa, the thought intruded into Lessa’s reflections, how pretty, how kind, how thoughtful, how brave and clever!

Seas boil and mountains move, Sands heat, dragons prove Red Star passes. Stones pile and fires burn, Green withers, arm Pern. Guard all passes. Star Stone watch, scan sky. Ready the Weyrs, all riders fly; Red Star passes.

Honor those the dragons heed In thought and favor, word and deed. Worlds are lost or worlds are saved From the dangers dragon-braved.

Who wills, Can. Who tries, Does. Who loves, Lives.