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Pern #7
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
The future of the planet rests in the hands of Moreta.
286 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 1984
About the author
Anne McCaffrey
482 books7,483 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 570 reviews
April 15, 2012
I've read a few of the other reviews, and I think many of the readers have missed the whole point of this book. One reader discusses in his review beginning writing skills taught in school - but completely missed the boat when it came to beginning comprehension skills.
This story is not centered around a supposedly incurable virus. That virus is merely part of the setting. The climax of the story did not happen when the cure for the virus was discovered (as the above mentioned reviewer surmised). The climax happened when Moreta and her borrowed dragon did not return from "between." And that *did* happen closer to the end of the book. Perhaps some reviewers missed the title of the book itself - "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern"?
I will agree that perhaps there is an over aggressive use of names - it does get difficult to keep up with who is who and doing what at times, but the beauty of reading a book is that one can go back and reread if something gets confusing.
The overarching theme of this book is one of completing a necessary mission no matter what the cost. Subthemes and lessons abound - such as be aware of one's surroundings, be sure one has what is needed to finish a task, putting one's people and their needs above one's own desires, etc. There is so much more to the story than what is in the words themselves. Go beyond - read between the lines. You'll get much more out of it.
This story is not centered around a supposedly incurable virus. That virus is merely part of the setting. The climax of the story did not happen when the cure for the virus was discovered (as the above mentioned reviewer surmised). The climax happened when Moreta and her borrowed dragon did not return from "between." And that *did* happen closer to the end of the book. Perhaps some reviewers missed the title of the book itself - "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern"?
I will agree that perhaps there is an over aggressive use of names - it does get difficult to keep up with who is who and doing what at times, but the beauty of reading a book is that one can go back and reread if something gets confusing.
The overarching theme of this book is one of completing a necessary mission no matter what the cost. Subthemes and lessons abound - such as be aware of one's surroundings, be sure one has what is needed to finish a task, putting one's people and their needs above one's own desires, etc. There is so much more to the story than what is in the words themselves. Go beyond - read between the lines. You'll get much more out of it.
April 10, 2024
This one had its moments, but is not the best Pern has to offer, especially with the ending.
August 5, 2007
When I was a kid, I remember learning in English class about the parts of a narrative: Rising Action, Climax, and Denouement. The teacher illustrated this by drawing an equilateral triangle on the board, with the rising action on the left side and the falling action on the right, and the climax as the peak of the triangle.
Did we all get taught this concept the same way?
It didn't take me long to learn that this was absurdly wrong. The climax occurs very close to the end of the narrative, not in the middle.
Well, apparently McCaffrey was taught the same way as I was, and apparently she took it to heart when it came to Moreta. The climax--such as it is--occurs midway through the book. The entire second half is a mopping up action, with little bogus crises thrown in to keep the plot lurching along. Once the plague is pretty much under control, the story is over, and the rest is just so much anticlimax. (And I'm sorry, but a novel centered around a disease, where the climactic moment is someone finding a cure in a book, is not much of a story under the best of circumstances.)
(The following paragraph contains tiny, deliberately obscure spoilers, and details that will seem nonsensical if you haven't read the book.) While the Aftermath is powerfully written, the Great Ride alluded to in other Pern novels hardly seems necessary--if they can Time things, why not wait until tomorrow or the day after to do things? Why not take her time? [*rimshot*] And, for that matter, why keep the plan secret from the Weyrleaders? Well, because it necessitates Heroic Action on the part of the Dragonladies, of course, but it doesn't really make sense within the framework of Pern. If this is what the Masterhealer demands, then this is simply what must be done. Secrecy and going around behind the backs of the Weyrleaders seems unnecessary and contrived.
Another aspect of MacCaffrey's writing that took me out of the plot was the incessant name-dropping in the first and final chapters. The first chapter names twenty-one different characters--oh yeah, I counted. In addition, eleven localities are mentioned by name, and four dragons. But this is nothing compared to the final chapter, in which SIXTY-TWO different characters are named, along with ten locales and TWENTY-FIVE different dragons. Most of these names, by the way, do not appear anywhere in the novel besides these two chapters.
Here is an example from the last chapter, from page 302 of my edition:
"'It's not something anyone admits to but T'grel must have to use it to cope with M'tani. Don't bother with L'bol at Igen. He's useless. Go directly to Dalova, Allaneth's rider. She lost a lot of bloodkin at Igen Sea Hold. She'd know who among her riders time it. And Igen has all those little cotholds stashed in the desert and on the riverbanks. Surely you've got a few good friends left at Ista. You were there ten Turns. Have you heard that F'gal's bad with kidney chill?'"
Now it could be argued that the point here is to emphasize the scope--all the different people that Moreta must work with, and so forth. But this comes back to another bit of bad teaching. Every beginning writer has heard "Show, don't tell." Well this is not always true. When showing involved levels of detail that will break the narrative for the reader, good authors simply summarize the action. They tell us what happened instead of showing it to us. Readers fill in the gaps of time, and assume that the details we are not given are all in their proper place. Don't believe me? When was the last time you read about a character using the toilet? Do no characters use the toilet because all literary characters are constipated and dehydrated? Or do we merely assume that goes on without needing to be shown all the gory details?
I'm sorry, but this is not merely bad writing, it's laughably bad writing.
Did we all get taught this concept the same way?
It didn't take me long to learn that this was absurdly wrong. The climax occurs very close to the end of the narrative, not in the middle.
Well, apparently McCaffrey was taught the same way as I was, and apparently she took it to heart when it came to Moreta. The climax--such as it is--occurs midway through the book. The entire second half is a mopping up action, with little bogus crises thrown in to keep the plot lurching along. Once the plague is pretty much under control, the story is over, and the rest is just so much anticlimax. (And I'm sorry, but a novel centered around a disease, where the climactic moment is someone finding a cure in a book, is not much of a story under the best of circumstances.)
(The following paragraph contains tiny, deliberately obscure spoilers, and details that will seem nonsensical if you haven't read the book.) While the Aftermath is powerfully written, the Great Ride alluded to in other Pern novels hardly seems necessary--if they can Time things, why not wait until tomorrow or the day after to do things? Why not take her time? [*rimshot*] And, for that matter, why keep the plan secret from the Weyrleaders? Well, because it necessitates Heroic Action on the part of the Dragonladies, of course, but it doesn't really make sense within the framework of Pern. If this is what the Masterhealer demands, then this is simply what must be done. Secrecy and going around behind the backs of the Weyrleaders seems unnecessary and contrived.
Another aspect of MacCaffrey's writing that took me out of the plot was the incessant name-dropping in the first and final chapters. The first chapter names twenty-one different characters--oh yeah, I counted. In addition, eleven localities are mentioned by name, and four dragons. But this is nothing compared to the final chapter, in which SIXTY-TWO different characters are named, along with ten locales and TWENTY-FIVE different dragons. Most of these names, by the way, do not appear anywhere in the novel besides these two chapters.
Here is an example from the last chapter, from page 302 of my edition:
"'It's not something anyone admits to but T'grel must have to use it to cope with M'tani. Don't bother with L'bol at Igen. He's useless. Go directly to Dalova, Allaneth's rider. She lost a lot of bloodkin at Igen Sea Hold. She'd know who among her riders time it. And Igen has all those little cotholds stashed in the desert and on the riverbanks. Surely you've got a few good friends left at Ista. You were there ten Turns. Have you heard that F'gal's bad with kidney chill?'"
Now it could be argued that the point here is to emphasize the scope--all the different people that Moreta must work with, and so forth. But this comes back to another bit of bad teaching. Every beginning writer has heard "Show, don't tell." Well this is not always true. When showing involved levels of detail that will break the narrative for the reader, good authors simply summarize the action. They tell us what happened instead of showing it to us. Readers fill in the gaps of time, and assume that the details we are not given are all in their proper place. Don't believe me? When was the last time you read about a character using the toilet? Do no characters use the toilet because all literary characters are constipated and dehydrated? Or do we merely assume that goes on without needing to be shown all the gory details?
I'm sorry, but this is not merely bad writing, it's laughably bad writing.
July 30, 2024
Of the boxed set of Dragonriders of Pern books that I got for Christmas when I was in high school, this one was solidly my favorite. So sad! So good! Also, the descriptions of her gowns, and everyone's clothes, were really rich in this one and to this day I can remember them all!
(The boxed set, which I still have, contained Moreta, Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and the White Dragon.)
(The boxed set, which I still have, contained Moreta, Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and the White Dragon.)
November 8, 2018
I remember this being one of my favorite Dragonriders of Pern books. I wasn't sure that would remain the same, but as I got further into the book I realized that it was still a great book.
In this story we find Pern almost to the end of a thread pass, but stricken with a terrible sickness that is killing so many. There is no cure for beast or human. They must treat the symptoms and get through the sickness. They need to vaccinate all the humans as well as the runners since this sickness is spread through animals.
Moreta is a fantastic character who goes above and beyond to save Pern. She is a very likable character. There was joy and there was a lot of sadness. I wept at the loss. It is a beautiful book with an amazingly strong and willful female protagonist.
In this story we find Pern almost to the end of a thread pass, but stricken with a terrible sickness that is killing so many. There is no cure for beast or human. They must treat the symptoms and get through the sickness. They need to vaccinate all the humans as well as the runners since this sickness is spread through animals.
Moreta is a fantastic character who goes above and beyond to save Pern. She is a very likable character. There was joy and there was a lot of sadness. I wept at the loss. It is a beautiful book with an amazingly strong and willful female protagonist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2017
It's been decades since I read this book. I don't know if it would hold up to adult Emily's standards, but what I do remember is that it's the first book that made me cry. I remember crying and hurling it across the room. Being able to elicit that memorable of a response earns it a 5-star rating, at least in my very subjective and forgiving rating system.
The Pern series overall swept me away. I remember reading the first trilogy and wishing with all my heart that it was real, that I could bond with a dragon of my own. Not all of the books were equally good, but I remember this one as a keeper.
The Pern series overall swept me away. I remember reading the first trilogy and wishing with all my heart that it was real, that I could bond with a dragon of my own. Not all of the books were equally good, but I remember this one as a keeper.
March 16, 2022
When I began this book, I didn't realize how much it would echo our present time; for there is a pandemic spreading throughout Pern. The reactions and actions of our present time are here echoed as well. Those who sacrifice health, personal comfort and gain for the good of all, and those who only blame others, take political stances, and seek to capitalize on the misfortune of others. Boundaries and political lines get in the way of healing and conquest of the disease.
Isn't it odd how often fantasy and science fiction look forward to our future? And lets us take a good look at ourselves as well.
Dragons are everywhere in this book, and dragonriders, harpers, healers, and mastercraftsmen. It is a book about early Pern, so it wouldn't hurt to read this before the Dragonriders series, but Anne has said to read them in the order published. It is all one story, and you won't get lost by going back and forth.
Highly recommended.
Isn't it odd how often fantasy and science fiction look forward to our future? And lets us take a good look at ourselves as well.
Dragons are everywhere in this book, and dragonriders, harpers, healers, and mastercraftsmen. It is a book about early Pern, so it wouldn't hurt to read this before the Dragonriders series, but Anne has said to read them in the order published. It is all one story, and you won't get lost by going back and forth.
Highly recommended.
October 3, 2023
One of the first books that takes me back to an older time in Pern, and I enjoyed visiting a different time period.
There is a Pandemic enveloping Pern and the Dragonriders and Weyr leaders are overwhelmed with not only a Fall, but trying to save Pern from total devastation from disease. Moreta is also dealing with a Queen who carry's a clutch.
The books in the series always have a large cast of character, but this one has had an extraordinary number of them. It had me looking up names every chapter, trying to recall them all and fitting them in. A bit of work, but it did not take away from the story for me. My heart was ripped from me at the ending, but that only proves McCaffery's talent is above and beyond the norm.
The story continues, and I am a willing passenger on the ride.
There is a Pandemic enveloping Pern and the Dragonriders and Weyr leaders are overwhelmed with not only a Fall, but trying to save Pern from total devastation from disease. Moreta is also dealing with a Queen who carry's a clutch.
The books in the series always have a large cast of character, but this one has had an extraordinary number of them. It had me looking up names every chapter, trying to recall them all and fitting them in. A bit of work, but it did not take away from the story for me. My heart was ripped from me at the ending, but that only proves McCaffery's talent is above and beyond the norm.
The story continues, and I am a willing passenger on the ride.
March 27, 2022
This is the origin story of the ballad of Moreta‘s Ride, known from the books of the main timeline. An epidemic has hit Pern, the death toll is high. The search for a cure if frantic.
I think I have read this book maybe once, back in the late 80s or 90s. Back then I definitely didn‘t pick up on all those gay dragonriders or the family dynamics in the Weyrs. This was first published in 1983 and you can tell that McCaffrey evolved somewhat since the publication of the first book of this series in 1968, Dragonflight.
I really enjoyed this. The story flowed nicely, the upbeat beginning at the Gather festival was a good contrast to the later devastation. I liked the relaxed and open attitude towards sex—I don‘t mean that there was a lo of it, but rather that it was portrayed in a very mature fashion, including the accompanying emotions. No eye-roll inducing soppyness and angst, as so often happens in specfic. There are some silly political shenanigans and some of the antagonists are a bit less well fleshed out than the main characters. The personal development of Moreta and Alessan throughout the epidemic was well done. Relationships between rider and dragon are maybe explored a bit more deeply.
And knowing what was coming at the end did not help one little bit. I was ugly crying.
+*+*+
Pern Re-read
I am deleting, as I progress through my re-reads. For now in publication order. However, as the books are still surprisingly pricey and I need to buy them all again, I went with a collection of three novels that follow chronologically (On Dragonwings)… with the re-reads I am not too fussed about the order, so I will diverge where it seems practical…
Publication Order — main novels
* 1984 - Nerilka's Story
* 1989 - The Renegades of Pern
* 1991 - All The Weyrs of Pern
* 1994 - The Dolphins of Pern
* 1998 - The Masterharper of Pern
* 2001 - The Skies of Pern
* 2003 - Dragon’s Kin
* 2005 - Dragonsblood
* 2006 - Dragon’s Fire
* 2007 - Dragon Harper
* 2008 - Dragonheart
* 2010 - Dragongirl
* 2011 - Dragon’s Time
* 2012 - Sky Dragons
I think I have read this book maybe once, back in the late 80s or 90s. Back then I definitely didn‘t pick up on all those gay dragonriders or the family dynamics in the Weyrs. This was first published in 1983 and you can tell that McCaffrey evolved somewhat since the publication of the first book of this series in 1968, Dragonflight.
I really enjoyed this. The story flowed nicely, the upbeat beginning at the Gather festival was a good contrast to the later devastation. I liked the relaxed and open attitude towards sex—I don‘t mean that there was a lo of it, but rather that it was portrayed in a very mature fashion, including the accompanying emotions. No eye-roll inducing soppyness and angst, as so often happens in specfic. There are some silly political shenanigans and some of the antagonists are a bit less well fleshed out than the main characters. The personal development of Moreta and Alessan throughout the epidemic was well done. Relationships between rider and dragon are maybe explored a bit more deeply.
And knowing what was coming at the end did not help one little bit. I was ugly crying.
+*+*+
Pern Re-read
I am deleting, as I progress through my re-reads. For now in publication order. However, as the books are still surprisingly pricey and I need to buy them all again, I went with a collection of three novels that follow chronologically (On Dragonwings)… with the re-reads I am not too fussed about the order, so I will diverge where it seems practical…
Publication Order — main novels
* 1984 - Nerilka's Story
* 1989 - The Renegades of Pern
* 1991 - All The Weyrs of Pern
* 1994 - The Dolphins of Pern
* 1998 - The Masterharper of Pern
* 2001 - The Skies of Pern
* 2003 - Dragon’s Kin
* 2005 - Dragonsblood
* 2006 - Dragon’s Fire
* 2007 - Dragon Harper
* 2008 - Dragonheart
* 2010 - Dragongirl
* 2011 - Dragon’s Time
* 2012 - Sky Dragons
October 17, 2007
This is the story of Moreta, a Dragon Healer and Weyrwoman in the old time (way before the Current Pass with F'lar and Lessa as Weyrleaders of Benden).
A flu-like plague begins to spread across the land, and it's up to her and her dragon to help find a cure.
This book is one of my top 5 favorites from Anne McCaffrey... I won't give away the ending, but it makes me cry each and every time, I'm not going to lie about it. I'm a wimp, what can I say :)
A flu-like plague begins to spread across the land, and it's up to her and her dragon to help find a cure.
This book is one of my top 5 favorites from Anne McCaffrey... I won't give away the ending, but it makes me cry each and every time, I'm not going to lie about it. I'm a wimp, what can I say :)
December 27, 2020
This hits so differently considering COVID19. A plague hits Pern toward the end of a Pass so not only do they have to deal with Threadfall, now they have a pandemic! It's crazy how much has become relatable in this book. Now the idea of a plague, the importance of quarantine and isolation, the hurried rush to create and disperse a vaccine to the population - it's all so much different to me now.
On top of that, I forgot how it ended and oh. /Oh/
On top of that, I forgot how it ended and oh. /Oh/
September 3, 2009
#7 overall publication order of the "Pern" fantasy series, this seems to be a stand-alone story of the weyr-woman Moreta, whose dragon Orlith is the queen of Fort Weyr. The events in this book happen about 900 years before the earlier books in the series, and take place when they are just discovering that dragons cannot only go "between" and thus traverse hundreds of miles in the blink of an eye, but that they can also go other places in TIME. A plague is upon the land, started by a strange cat-like creature and spread to horses and other four-legged beasts. Many all across Pern have died, but some have recovered, and the principle of vaccination is put to good use to keep many people (and animals!) alive. Moreta works together with Alessan, new leader of Ruatha Hold--they meet at a Gather there, and shortly after when the sickness starts, they work together to secure ingredients needed to treat the illness by using dragon riders to travel other places and times. A romance develops between them, but the story has a rather sad and bittersweet ending, but this is something you sort of knew was coming if you're familiar with the series, as there is a ballad in some of the other earlier books (that Menolly sings if I remember right) about Moreta's Ride--and now it all makes sense. Very well done, enjoyable to listen to--another different reader than previous books, but very well-suited to the prose and the tone of the book.
August 14, 2013
I was really delighted to be starting in on another Anne McCaffery book after too long away. As a child, I sort of looked down my nose at McCaffery's escapist simplicity, but as an adult, I find I love it (at least, as a change of pace), and I no longer believe that grittiness necessarily equates to realism. I also no longer believe that I could write such a happy world if I tried.
Because Pern is a happy world. A kind of STAR TREK:TOS with dragons. The good people are noble and true and hardworking. The bad are few and far between and immediately recognizable by their shittiness and all-around douchebaggery.
So I didn't mind that we spent three solid chapters at the beginning doing nothing more than dressing for a party, going to a party, and dancing the night away (also drinking and flirting.) But my interest flagged when-- the book stopped being about Moreta.
I should note here that the "Moreta" character is heavily referenced in other works as there heroiest heroine in the history of ever. And her book-- really isn't about her. It really ought to be entitled MASTER HEALER WHOEVER and the CURE FOR THE NOT-AIDS. Which he found by re-reading his exam notes from Pern-college. So, yeah.
We spend A LOT of time nursing Master Healer Whoever. And when Moreta gets sick... we find out about it after the fact, as she's recovering. Ditto with Alessan, our love interest.
And there's another problem with this book.
What I was expecting (based on references in other works, mainly "Nerilka's Story"):
A story of a forbidden affair. Moreta, Mary Sue dragonlady/hero/time traveler/healer/noble and pure soul is trapped in an abusive relationship with her domineering Weyerpartner.
(RE-EALLY Not sure how that would work out within the mythos of Pern, since it seems that the Weyer community at large would never stand for anything bad to happen to a precious dragon-queen rider. And also, dragons love their riders and can eat offensive people. But that's what seemed to be implied in other stories.)
Anyway, abusive relationship-- circumvented by the magical healing power of a clandestine tryst with the much-sought-after Lord Alessan. Who is a no-no because, I guess, he's not a dragonrider himself. They sneak moments together even as a terrible plague sweeps Pern. She nurses him. He nurses her. He confronts evil bad abusive Weyerleader! She will leave the Weyer and bring her ginormous gold dragon to live-- with him! Their bond is so strong that even his not-dragonridery self is able to hear the thoughts of her gold dragon! Together they save The WORLD!
What I got:
Probably, my hopes were just built up too much. SO many references to Moreta throughout the series made me think she must be like Aerin from "Hero and the Crown." Like, this was the book you were waiting for through all Pern. It's not.
Here, McCaffrey is more secure in her audience and uses Pern to drop in a little of her personal worldview. A failing that gets the best of writers.
You know what Pern REALLY needs?
Zombies.
Because Pern is a happy world. A kind of STAR TREK:TOS with dragons. The good people are noble and true and hardworking. The bad are few and far between and immediately recognizable by their shittiness and all-around douchebaggery.
So I didn't mind that we spent three solid chapters at the beginning doing nothing more than dressing for a party, going to a party, and dancing the night away (also drinking and flirting.) But my interest flagged when-- the book stopped being about Moreta.
I should note here that the "Moreta" character is heavily referenced in other works as there heroiest heroine in the history of ever. And her book-- really isn't about her. It really ought to be entitled MASTER HEALER WHOEVER and the CURE FOR THE NOT-AIDS. Which he found by re-reading his exam notes from Pern-college. So, yeah.
We spend A LOT of time nursing Master Healer Whoever. And when Moreta gets sick... we find out about it after the fact, as she's recovering. Ditto with Alessan, our love interest.
And there's another problem with this book.
What I was expecting (based on references in other works, mainly "Nerilka's Story"):
A story of a forbidden affair. Moreta, Mary Sue dragonlady/hero/time traveler/healer/noble and pure soul is trapped in an abusive relationship with her domineering Weyerpartner.
(RE-EALLY Not sure how that would work out within the mythos of Pern, since it seems that the Weyer community at large would never stand for anything bad to happen to a precious dragon-queen rider. And also, dragons love their riders and can eat offensive people. But that's what seemed to be implied in other stories.)
Anyway, abusive relationship-- circumvented by the magical healing power of a clandestine tryst with the much-sought-after Lord Alessan. Who is a no-no because, I guess, he's not a dragonrider himself. They sneak moments together even as a terrible plague sweeps Pern. She nurses him. He nurses her. He confronts evil bad abusive Weyerleader! She will leave the Weyer and bring her ginormous gold dragon to live-- with him! Their bond is so strong that even his not-dragonridery self is able to hear the thoughts of her gold dragon! Together they save The WORLD!
What I got:
Probably, my hopes were just built up too much. SO many references to Moreta throughout the series made me think she must be like Aerin from "Hero and the Crown." Like, this was the book you were waiting for through all Pern. It's not.
Here, McCaffrey is more secure in her audience and uses Pern to drop in a little of her personal worldview. A failing that gets the best of writers.
You know what Pern REALLY needs?
Zombies.
February 1, 2022
I love the medical aspect, and the exploration of how different people respond to medical crisis. And Moreta is in many ways, the most adult of McCaffrey's characters since we only know her as an adult. Maybe for that reason, she seemed better rounded and capable than many of the other characters in the series.
Addendum 1/2020 Moreta is likely one of my favorite titles in the series after the first (in publication order): Dragonflight. We see mature people determined to carry out their responsibilities even if others interfere. But we also see kindness and love here. The chores never eclipse the joys of living. The ultimate responsibility occurs here, going on in and doing one’s responsibility even in the face of overwhelming sorrow, and doing an excellent job because that is the right thing to do. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right!
Addendum 2/2022: I am struck by the fact that not one Pernese refused the vaccine. They needed reassurance on how to apply it and its utility, but not one denied the science and refused the vaccine! And it was even stranger to the Pernese than to Americans since they apparently didn’t make use of vaccines at all! Perhaps there is something to be said for not having a Democratic form of government! It also says something about how our society has changed since McCaffrey wrote this book!
Addendum 1/2020 Moreta is likely one of my favorite titles in the series after the first (in publication order): Dragonflight. We see mature people determined to carry out their responsibilities even if others interfere. But we also see kindness and love here. The chores never eclipse the joys of living. The ultimate responsibility occurs here, going on in and doing one’s responsibility even in the face of overwhelming sorrow, and doing an excellent job because that is the right thing to do. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right!
Addendum 2/2022: I am struck by the fact that not one Pernese refused the vaccine. They needed reassurance on how to apply it and its utility, but not one denied the science and refused the vaccine! And it was even stranger to the Pernese than to Americans since they apparently didn’t make use of vaccines at all! Perhaps there is something to be said for not having a Democratic form of government! It also says something about how our society has changed since McCaffrey wrote this book!
September 14, 2010
Oh my God, the BEAUTY of this book.
I was kinda reluctant about starting it; it's been a few months since I've read my last Pern book, and I had this feeling that it was gonna be slow and a bit boring. How in the world could I forget the wonder that is Pern as a world and as a book series, I seriously don't know.
This book is set in the past (if we consider the present the time in which the first two trilogy were set), describing a part of the life of one of the most famous Dragonwomen in the history of Pern, Moreta. We almost at the end of a Pass and, to add to the distress of Threads, a misterious desease starts spreading so rapidly that before anyone understands what's going on, it's almost to late to do anything about it.
Everything is perfect, the little differences between the habits of people between this books and the previous ones, the constant feeling that you are reading the history of a world that really exist (because how can one person create this amazingly complex and "real" planet), and of course the characters are beautifully written, never flat and often surprising.
So beautiful.
I was kinda reluctant about starting it; it's been a few months since I've read my last Pern book, and I had this feeling that it was gonna be slow and a bit boring. How in the world could I forget the wonder that is Pern as a world and as a book series, I seriously don't know.
This book is set in the past (if we consider the present the time in which the first two trilogy were set), describing a part of the life of one of the most famous Dragonwomen in the history of Pern, Moreta. We almost at the end of a Pass and, to add to the distress of Threads, a misterious desease starts spreading so rapidly that before anyone understands what's going on, it's almost to late to do anything about it.
Everything is perfect, the little differences between the habits of people between this books and the previous ones, the constant feeling that you are reading the history of a world that really exist (because how can one person create this amazingly complex and "real" planet), and of course the characters are beautifully written, never flat and often surprising.
So beautiful.
August 2, 2023
I am slowly conquering the Pern books. :)
This book is (if the title didn't give it away) about Moreta.
Maybe you remember mentions of her in Dragonflight. Moreta was a heroine from the harper's ballads and a role model for Lessa.
So I was thrilled to read more about her.
Well, this book is not what I expected.
It's full of weyr politics and weyr-hold politics. Also, the epidemics happening on Pern in this book woke up some uncomfortable memories of covid.
So overall, not an easy or fun book to read.
But Moreta really helped me understand the dragon weyrs more. And the message behind the book is a powerful one.
This book is (if the title didn't give it away) about Moreta.
Maybe you remember mentions of her in Dragonflight. Moreta was a heroine from the harper's ballads and a role model for Lessa.
So I was thrilled to read more about her.
Well, this book is not what I expected.
It's full of weyr politics and weyr-hold politics. Also, the epidemics happening on Pern in this book woke up some uncomfortable memories of covid.
So overall, not an easy or fun book to read.
But Moreta really helped me understand the dragon weyrs more. And the message behind the book is a powerful one.
July 21, 2021
oof. If only we had time traveling dragons to end all pandemics.
February 9, 2021
I re-read this book for the first time in a while in an effort to get a new perspective on the ongoing pandemic. Warning, spoilers ahead!!
I’ve always loved this book since I first read it about 20 years ago, but I never thought the science fiction of a pandemic painted on another world would be so much better than what we’ve been experiencing this past year.
As the book opens, the entire Northern Continent on the planet Pern is anticipating two large festivals, called Gathers, on both sides of the planet. Such days without the constant interplanetary threat of the Thread organism are few and far between for the hardworking holders and the valiant dragon riders that protect Pern from the airborne Thread menace. The festivities prove to be a great deal of fun once a creature from the abandoned Southern continent is brought for curious onlookers to view. Little do the partiers know that the animal has unleashed an epidemic on the planet, leading to massive deaths of people and horses.
A quarantine is declared, leaders find out about vaccinations and a planet wide vaccination attempt is started within days of the first recovery.
I wish that our leaders had been able to get a handle on this pandemic in the same way that the mythical leaders of Pern were able to handle their pandemic. Science fiction in this case is actually better than our reality!
I’ve always loved this book since I first read it about 20 years ago, but I never thought the science fiction of a pandemic painted on another world would be so much better than what we’ve been experiencing this past year.
As the book opens, the entire Northern Continent on the planet Pern is anticipating two large festivals, called Gathers, on both sides of the planet. Such days without the constant interplanetary threat of the Thread organism are few and far between for the hardworking holders and the valiant dragon riders that protect Pern from the airborne Thread menace. The festivities prove to be a great deal of fun once a creature from the abandoned Southern continent is brought for curious onlookers to view. Little do the partiers know that the animal has unleashed an epidemic on the planet, leading to massive deaths of people and horses.
A quarantine is declared, leaders find out about vaccinations and a planet wide vaccination attempt is started within days of the first recovery.
I wish that our leaders had been able to get a handle on this pandemic in the same way that the mythical leaders of Pern were able to handle their pandemic. Science fiction in this case is actually better than our reality!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2017
If you enjoyed Anne McCaffrey's previous six Pern books, you'll probably enjoy this one. If you were getting tired of meeting the same characters with different names or beginning to get frustrated by the discrepancy between the books' potential and what they actually delivered, Moreta will be more of the same.
The story, which takes place nearly 1000 years before Dragonflight and the Harper Hall trilogy, involves a planet-wide plague of mysterious "flu" and the efforts of the people of the planet Pern, specifically Moreta, to deal with it. The logistics of this are a little vague. One is never quite sure exactly how big Pern is. My impression is that it must be an extremely small planet if the entire populated landmass can become infected by one animal within a week because of two large "gathers." Accepting that, and accepting the deus-ex-machina cure that is suddenly discovered would not be so difficult if the disease were merely a backdrop to a more interesting and human story. I believe this was the author's intent, but it is only partially successful.
Although sufficient time elapses between Moreta's ride and the beginning of Dragonflight that Moreta's ride has become a legend, the cultures depicted in the two books are remarkably similar. Actually, this is not surprising, considering the similarities between the people who make up the two cultures. The talent and imagination that enabled McCaffrey to create Pern and the dragons desert her when it comes to characterizations. She refuses to let the characters or their actions speak for themselves: she interjects her own opinions either as an omniscient presence or puts them in the minds of other characters. Nor does she really allow you, the reader, your own opinions. By the end of the book all the characters you're supposed to like survive the plague, while nearly all the troublesome ones have been killed off. The exception is Moreta herself, but she too is given very little depth either in life or in death.
This is not to say the book is entirely without merit. Some of the lesser dragonriders--the blues and greens--play an important part in the story for a change, rather than merely existing to absorb the contempt of the bronze, gold, and brown riders. The rider-dragon empathy, one of the stronger points in all the books, is also given some new and interesting twists. However, when beautiful, heroic Moreta flew into between never to return, my reaction was something like, "who cares?" because Moreta had never become a person, but remained a figment of Anne McCaffrey's active imagination.
The story, which takes place nearly 1000 years before Dragonflight and the Harper Hall trilogy, involves a planet-wide plague of mysterious "flu" and the efforts of the people of the planet Pern, specifically Moreta, to deal with it. The logistics of this are a little vague. One is never quite sure exactly how big Pern is. My impression is that it must be an extremely small planet if the entire populated landmass can become infected by one animal within a week because of two large "gathers." Accepting that, and accepting the deus-ex-machina cure that is suddenly discovered would not be so difficult if the disease were merely a backdrop to a more interesting and human story. I believe this was the author's intent, but it is only partially successful.
Although sufficient time elapses between Moreta's ride and the beginning of Dragonflight that Moreta's ride has become a legend, the cultures depicted in the two books are remarkably similar. Actually, this is not surprising, considering the similarities between the people who make up the two cultures. The talent and imagination that enabled McCaffrey to create Pern and the dragons desert her when it comes to characterizations. She refuses to let the characters or their actions speak for themselves: she interjects her own opinions either as an omniscient presence or puts them in the minds of other characters. Nor does she really allow you, the reader, your own opinions. By the end of the book all the characters you're supposed to like survive the plague, while nearly all the troublesome ones have been killed off. The exception is Moreta herself, but she too is given very little depth either in life or in death.
This is not to say the book is entirely without merit. Some of the lesser dragonriders--the blues and greens--play an important part in the story for a change, rather than merely existing to absorb the contempt of the bronze, gold, and brown riders. The rider-dragon empathy, one of the stronger points in all the books, is also given some new and interesting twists. However, when beautiful, heroic Moreta flew into between never to return, my reaction was something like, "who cares?" because Moreta had never become a person, but remained a figment of Anne McCaffrey's active imagination.
August 10, 2012
I have a rule that I call the "Dracula Rule" which states that you have to read at least fifty pages of a book before you pass even summary judgment. The rule exist to protect books, such as its namesake, that are a little slow to start. And it is this rule that saved this book for it is on page fifty that the first hint of a plot appears. Okay they try to establish a 'star-crossed lover' plot, which is a stupid plot to begin with and is even more toothless when neither lover holds a position that expects monogamy.
Alright let's deal the plot proper: If you've read this far into the series (4+ books) then you should be fairly familiar with the name Moreta since she is Lessa's (the 'hero' of the first book) idol. From what Lessa said we don't know much but we know three things; Moreta rides a golden dragon, is of Ruathan blood and she took some sort of ride worthy of song and after reading this book we know that one out of three is pretty bloody awful. She is not of Ruathan blood but rather has an affair with the Ruathan lord in the above conflict-less love story and her ride well...
The plot (spoiler) is about a plague that none of the characters can do anything about and after the plague they decided to prevent a relapse by vaccinating the entire planet in a single day and rather than doing this with the thousand odd able-bodied dragonriders with nothing better to do they use only a dozen or so bronzes and time travel to do it. And when one of these riders drops out Moreta has to borrow an elderly queen (her own being unable to fly having just laid eggs) so she can fill in on the time hops and...
SHE'S TRAVELING THROUGH TIME! The plan hinges on time travel and rather than taking the infinite amount at her disposal to find another rider to do it or to wait for her own dragon to be ready she stupidly rushes things risking four lives, and the ENTIRE PLANET, so she can time travel now. That's not action worthy of song that's an action worthy of ridicule.
Series Note: This book includes a timeline that states that the first pass started in year 58 (or sixty-six years after planetfall) which fits with the "two generations" mentioned in every prologue of the series so far and that this book takes place during the 47th year of the sixth pass. Which would be find except the body text and dateline of the book proper says that it is the 43rd year there by proving that McCaffrey can't do math.
Alright let's deal the plot proper: If you've read this far into the series (4+ books) then you should be fairly familiar with the name Moreta since she is Lessa's (the 'hero' of the first book) idol. From what Lessa said we don't know much but we know three things; Moreta rides a golden dragon, is of Ruathan blood and she took some sort of ride worthy of song and after reading this book we know that one out of three is pretty bloody awful. She is not of Ruathan blood but rather has an affair with the Ruathan lord in the above conflict-less love story and her ride well...
The plot (spoiler) is about a plague that none of the characters can do anything about and after the plague they decided to prevent a relapse by vaccinating the entire planet in a single day and rather than doing this with the thousand odd able-bodied dragonriders with nothing better to do they use only a dozen or so bronzes and time travel to do it. And when one of these riders drops out Moreta has to borrow an elderly queen (her own being unable to fly having just laid eggs) so she can fill in on the time hops and...
SHE'S TRAVELING THROUGH TIME! The plan hinges on time travel and rather than taking the infinite amount at her disposal to find another rider to do it or to wait for her own dragon to be ready she stupidly rushes things risking four lives, and the ENTIRE PLANET, so she can time travel now. That's not action worthy of song that's an action worthy of ridicule.
Series Note: This book includes a timeline that states that the first pass started in year 58 (or sixty-six years after planetfall) which fits with the "two generations" mentioned in every prologue of the series so far and that this book takes place during the 47th year of the sixth pass. Which would be find except the body text and dateline of the book proper says that it is the 43rd year there by proving that McCaffrey can't do math.
August 6, 2016
Every reader has a guilty pleasure. The Dragonrider of Pern books are mine. No, they are not the most earth-shattering novels ever published and they do not break any bounds of literary expression but they are a lot of fun. I was in elementary school when I first read the first 6 books in the series (which now are NOT considered the first 6 chronologically), so I was familiar with the legend of Moreta, a sort of sexy Florence Nightingale who rode dragons.
Although I like the book and got caught up in it I found the legend of Moreta to pale next to the "historical Moreta" presented here. (Assuming that Pern was a real world.) Moreta doesn't do half of what she's supposed to. Yes, she's a good character but no more so than some of the other women Dragonriders in the series.
I'm also finding it difficult to get my head wrapped around the time-travelling aspect of the dragons. When I was a kid I didn't question it. Hell, EVERYTHING was a potential TARDIS when I was a kid. But now I'm old and can't help but wondering, "Why don't a bunch of Dragonriders take vaccines back in time and stop everyone from dying of the plague in the first place?"
That question may have been addressed in other Pern books. I see that there have been a LOT more Pern books published since I more or less quit the series ca 1990. It's also been a long, long time since I re-read the first published Pern books. So I'll read the series and see if my questions will ever be answered. That and I get a kick out of dragons.
Although I like the book and got caught up in it I found the legend of Moreta to pale next to the "historical Moreta" presented here. (Assuming that Pern was a real world.) Moreta doesn't do half of what she's supposed to. Yes, she's a good character but no more so than some of the other women Dragonriders in the series.
I'm also finding it difficult to get my head wrapped around the time-travelling aspect of the dragons. When I was a kid I didn't question it. Hell, EVERYTHING was a potential TARDIS when I was a kid. But now I'm old and can't help but wondering, "Why don't a bunch of Dragonriders take vaccines back in time and stop everyone from dying of the plague in the first place?"
That question may have been addressed in other Pern books. I see that there have been a LOT more Pern books published since I more or less quit the series ca 1990. It's also been a long, long time since I re-read the first published Pern books. So I'll read the series and see if my questions will ever be answered. That and I get a kick out of dragons.
September 11, 2018
Oh maaaaaan. I don’t even KNOW. This is a hard one to review because, honestly there were parts of the book where I was bored or had to force myself to keep reading.
But then that ENDING OHMYGAH. I have so many FEELINGS right now and that makes me think it was a GREAT book.
For fans of the Pern series, you will find this similar to the other books; lots of peoples names to remember (I just have to accept the fact that I’m supposed to know who they’re talking about but I just DONT.) and very elaborate but cohesive world building.
For those of you who are just now stumbling onto the series through this book; this is a fairly good standalone- I don’t think you needed to read the earlier books to feel grounded in the world. The prelude covers most of it.
So anyway, I wanted to rate this more like a 3 cause there were a few long spaces where not much happens and I found myself wondering what the actual plot was.
BUT THAT ENDING!
That ending was the equivalent of riding a bike down a pleasant country road only to suddenly find out you’RE ACTUALLY ON A FRIGGIN ROLLER COASTER CAREENING AROUND AT 90 MILES AN HOUR.
So....yeah, I recommend this book. Over all I am pleased with it.
But then that ENDING OHMYGAH. I have so many FEELINGS right now and that makes me think it was a GREAT book.
For fans of the Pern series, you will find this similar to the other books; lots of peoples names to remember (I just have to accept the fact that I’m supposed to know who they’re talking about but I just DONT.) and very elaborate but cohesive world building.
For those of you who are just now stumbling onto the series through this book; this is a fairly good standalone- I don’t think you needed to read the earlier books to feel grounded in the world. The prelude covers most of it.
So anyway, I wanted to rate this more like a 3 cause there were a few long spaces where not much happens and I found myself wondering what the actual plot was.
BUT THAT ENDING!
That ending was the equivalent of riding a bike down a pleasant country road only to suddenly find out you’RE ACTUALLY ON A FRIGGIN ROLLER COASTER CAREENING AROUND AT 90 MILES AN HOUR.
So....yeah, I recommend this book. Over all I am pleased with it.
March 27, 2022
Unfortunately I read Moretta after two years of dealing with Covid, so it felt a bit more repetitive than it would have otherwise. It's actually pretty sad how accurate her story was compared to our lives now. I did feel the book spent a bit too long outlining the back and forth of the virus spreading around, with characters discussing it's effects and cause, and not enough time on the strange creature, the people who found it, fighting thread fall, or the hatching of dragon eggs. The end was also hectic, with an incredible number of characters, and I had trouble following who was speaking to whom. I did really enjoy the moments between Moretta and Alisann, and felt their characters were developed quite well. Overall I thought the book was well written, and I likely would have enjoyed it far more a few years ago when it's pilot might have actually felt like a fantasy so I gave it a 4 even though it felt closer to a 3.
May 4, 2023
4/5/23: What should have been an exciting race to save the people of Pern & their life-giving herds is all a bit anticlimactic & dull in the end. The fault seems to lie in so many passages dense with names & locations that are fairly meaningless to the reader. Yes, there was an epidemic &, yes, Moreta paid duty & sacrifice to save so many, but trying to keep track of who was whom just made it feel like a bit of a slog to the end. Just a couple of sentences & it's all over, Holth & Moreta have gone between & haven't returned - Leri & Orlith must wait to join them.
Poor writing & poor editing has sucked the life out of Moreta's Heroic Ride. So disappointing. I don't remember feeling so disgruntled last time because I gave it a 3.5* - I can't have been paying attention. This time it's 2.5*, & we'll use the average.
Poor writing & poor editing has sucked the life out of Moreta's Heroic Ride. So disappointing. I don't remember feeling so disgruntled last time because I gave it a 3.5* - I can't have been paying attention. This time it's 2.5*, & we'll use the average.
June 4, 2023
I read this in high school and loved it, but it’s been a while since then and I didn’t remember the plot that well. It was slightly eerie to read about a response to a pandemic after experiencing 2020. Kudos to Anne McCaffrey for getting it spot on. Who knew back then what living through a pandemic was like?
Talk about an ending that caught me off guard. It’s been a while since I read an ending that made me cry like that. I wasn’t ready.
Talk about an ending that caught me off guard. It’s been a while since I read an ending that made me cry like that. I wasn’t ready.
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March 4, 2024
Well. That was...inconsequential. And unemotional. Not bad, per se, but definitely the least entry in the series.
Entirely unnecessary and unengaging once you get past the part where it's actually a story of PLAGUE, PANDEMIC, SOCIAL-DISTANCING and QUARANTINES, OH MY! Prescient in that regard, but that's all there is to recommend it.
Entirely unnecessary and unengaging once you get past the part where it's actually a story of PLAGUE, PANDEMIC, SOCIAL-DISTANCING and QUARANTINES, OH MY! Prescient in that regard, but that's all there is to recommend it.
January 3, 2014
I wanted to give it 2 stars but the ending made me cry, so 3 stars it is.
March 17, 2020
Reread
January 27, 2020
Storyline: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
World: 2/5
McCaffrey and Pern fans need not worry about this seventh in the series, Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. Readers who enjoyed the original trilogy will find more of the same here. McCaffrey puts into it the things that she has shown herself to be adept with: relatable characters that one will eagerly support and a slow exploration of the social life of those characters. The book gives us a new crisis, one that could be – and has been – told in uncountable numbers of stories before, simply situating it on Pern and following along to see how it climaxes and resolves in her fantasy world. McCaffrey’s creative efforts were spent, it seems, in initially crafting Pern, and she adds little to any of the big picture questions or histories. It is loaded with endearing moments, more like the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy than the cuteness of the Harper Hall trilogy but continuing much in the same form. One has to wonder why McCaffrey chose this time period, these characters, and this crisis to turn to. The connection to the earlier-written books is not especially interesting or significant, and the story does not suggest interesting things to come. It is a very generic Pern book but irrefutably of the quality the series has thus far shown.
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
World: 2/5
McCaffrey and Pern fans need not worry about this seventh in the series, Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. Readers who enjoyed the original trilogy will find more of the same here. McCaffrey puts into it the things that she has shown herself to be adept with: relatable characters that one will eagerly support and a slow exploration of the social life of those characters. The book gives us a new crisis, one that could be – and has been – told in uncountable numbers of stories before, simply situating it on Pern and following along to see how it climaxes and resolves in her fantasy world. McCaffrey’s creative efforts were spent, it seems, in initially crafting Pern, and she adds little to any of the big picture questions or histories. It is loaded with endearing moments, more like the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy than the cuteness of the Harper Hall trilogy but continuing much in the same form. One has to wonder why McCaffrey chose this time period, these characters, and this crisis to turn to. The connection to the earlier-written books is not especially interesting or significant, and the story does not suggest interesting things to come. It is a very generic Pern book but irrefutably of the quality the series has thus far shown.
August 5, 2023
The funny thing is, I actually read the companion novella, Nerilka's Story, before reading Moreta so at least now I have the context of that full story for my reread of Nerilka to my son later on. Ultimately, this wasn't my favorite of the Pern books by a long stretch. I forgot how few women occupy the dragonrider ranks in the earlier novels, and I absolutely hated Sh'gall and often how Moreta, who is supposed to be his Weyrwoman, kind of just let him be an absolute ass. Only Leri seemed to be the strong, badass woman I expected of all gold riders. But I digress.
It's a little uncanny how this flu epidemic played out in Pern with the context of COVID still so fresh in my mind... So while I kind of liked that part, there were far too many characters in this book which made it drag in places as we spent time with each of them as they tried to figure out what the illness was, then how to treat it, and finally how to prevent the devastation from reoccurring. With so many characters, the tipping point that sparked the gut wrenching ending never got the set up it needed, in my opinion. I know this book was mainly important for setting up the "timing" aspect for later books, but there could have been more focus on that too. At the end of the day, it's not the best Pern has to offer, but still important for the history of Pern, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars.
It's a little uncanny how this flu epidemic played out in Pern with the context of COVID still so fresh in my mind... So while I kind of liked that part, there were far too many characters in this book which made it drag in places as we spent time with each of them as they tried to figure out what the illness was, then how to treat it, and finally how to prevent the devastation from reoccurring. With so many characters, the tipping point that sparked the gut wrenching ending never got the set up it needed, in my opinion. I know this book was mainly important for setting up the "timing" aspect for later books, but there could have been more focus on that too. At the end of the day, it's not the best Pern has to offer, but still important for the history of Pern, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars.
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