I have finished The White Dragon, the third and final volume of Anne McCaffrey's original The Dragonriders of Pern trilogy.
I know what you are thinking: "Well, Ian, better late than never. About time you read one of Fantasy literature's most famous works, the one that put dragon riders on the map, no less!" I absolutely agree and enjoyed every word of it. A unique Fantasy and Sci-Fi blend even by today's standards, in the early days of the genre – post-Tolkien but pre-Rowling – it must have been staggering. Indeed, I saw truly how all Dragon Riders literary DNA descended from the Dragonriders of Pern and the resemblance, which some exceptions, of course, remains strong.
Beyond that, thus it is that Jaxom, rider of white Ruth, changes and protects the face of Pern from Thread and the bitter jealousies of diehard traditionalists, Oldtimers, raw ambition, and well-meaning friends who need to adapt as well. All while, under the baleful Red Star's eye, having fun on the way. Let's face it, exploration of terra incognita and the history of the original Pernese settlers, plus dragon training and finding love is about as good as it gets – even if it was touch-and-go a few times.
So it is that I depart Pern, 3rd planet of the Rukbat system in the Sagittarian sector. Perhaps not forever as Anne McCaffrey wrote many Pern books, the series as a whole covering over two and a half millennia (and I would like to learn more about the Dawn Sisters). But now, for right now, I take my leave of the world.
My duty to you and fly far Lessa of Ruatha and golden Ramoth, F'lar and bronze Mnementh, F'nor and brown Canth, Brekke, Jaxom and white Ruth, Masterharper Robinto, T'bor and bronze Orth, D'ramand bronze Tiroth, Harper Menolly, Mastersmith Fandarel, Sharra, and many others of Weyr and Hold.
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.
Weyrman, watch; Weyrman, learn,
Something new in every Turn.
Oldest may be coldest, too.
Sense the right; find the true!
Wheel and turn or bleed and burn.
Fly between, Blue and Green.
Soar, dive down, Bronze and Brown.
Dragonmen must fly when threads are in the sky.
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