Books › The Dolphins of Pern
The Dolphins of Pern
384 pages
A hopeful, sun-drenched journey of rediscovery where the bonds between humans and intelligent animals reshape the future.
What it feels like
A warm, expansive addition to a classic sci-fi universe, this novel feels like a sun-drenched coastal breeze. It trades the fiery skies of dragonriders for the deep, mysterious blue of the ocean, wrapping the reader in an atmosphere of wonder and rediscovery. The pace is steady and deliberate, focusing less on high-stakes battles and more on the intricate, rewarding work of interspecies communication and rebuilding lost connections. The prose is earnest and accessible, grounding the fantastical elements in deeply felt emotional bonds between humans and intelligent animals. It is a deeply optimistic read, perfect for those who crave stories about cooperation, environmental harmony, and the joyful bridging of ancient divides. Fans of classic, character-driven fantasy with beloved animal companions will find themselves completely at home in these waters.
- Mood
- wonder-filled
- aquatic
- optimistic
- sun-drenched
- Tone
- earnest
- hopeful
- nostalgic
- adventurous
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- interspecies communication · rediscovering lost history · environmental harmony · coming of age · bridging divides
- The writing
- Accessible, descriptive, and warmly straightforward, focusing on the sensory details of the natural world and deep emotional bonds.
- The arc
- Moves from the thrilling spark of discovery through the frustrations of societal resistance to a triumphant, harmonious reunion.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love classic, world-building sci-fi and fantasy centered around deep, empathetic bonds between humans and intelligent animals.
Content notes
- animal peril
- mild fantasy violence
About the book
When the first humans came to settle the planet Pern, they did not comealone: intelligence-enhanced dolphins also crossed the stars to colonizethe oceans of the new planet while their human partners settled the vastcontinents. But then disaster struck. The deadly silver spores calledThread fell like rain from the sky, and as the human colonists' dreamsof a new, idyllic life shattered into a desperate struggle for survival,the dolphins were forgotten.
Now, centuries later, as the dragonriders of Pern were preparing tocomplete the momentous task of ridding their world of Thread forever,T'lion, a young bronze rider, and his friend Readis, son of the LordHolder of Paradise River Hold, made contact with the legendary"shipfish." And as the dragonriders grappled with the ending of an era,T'lion, Readis, and the dolphins faced the start of a new one: revivingthe bond between land and ocean dwellers -- and resurrecting the dreamsof the first colonists of Pern!
"McCaffrey here adds yet another dimension to her colorful and vividsaga by focusing on the attractive dolphins and their highly believablesociety." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Description from Open Library.
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