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inkyinsanity's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
jess_justmaybeperfect's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Yes old school sci-fi so there are some dated themes but the story, the astronomy, the ritualism, and the dragons are amazing. Also, this book (published in 1968) tackles gender roles, faith, respecting and expanding upon tradition, and the "girl" (she's a grown woman) saves the day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexism, and Sexual assault
duchessnikki's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault
shellbow's review against another edition
I can see how this book series is perhaps a foundational one, but unfortunately I could not move past the markers of its age.
Particularly, the way women are written. Most every woman we meet is being abused physically/mentally, if not sexually. And there is not really any sympathy extended towards these women. They're seen as vapid, shallow, useless, and more often than not ugly (as if this is a mark of their character). The one exception, of course, is our protagonist Lessa - a classic "not like other girls".
One such passage that really sticks out to me is when Lessa and the other girls taken for the searching (against their will) are dropped into an arena to potentially bond with the new dragon queen. Lessa "....regarded them curiously, contemptuous of their tears, although her heart was probably beating no less rapidly than theirs...Her contempt of their bleating made her aware of her own temerity...Let them be afraid."
Two of these girls were then mutilated. In my mind, their fear was justified.
The prose itself was also confusing at times, and there seemed to be some context to the dialogue I couldn't understand. I chalked this up to a style of the times it was written. I could have been able to push past that, if the blatant misogynistic tones were easier for me to stomach. It was for those reasons I ultimately decided to DNF.
Particularly, the way women are written. Most every woman we meet is being abused physically/mentally, if not sexually. And there is not really any sympathy extended towards these women. They're seen as vapid, shallow, useless, and more often than not ugly (as if this is a mark of their character). The one exception, of course, is our protagonist Lessa - a classic "not like other girls".
One such passage that really sticks out to me is when Lessa and the other girls taken for the searching (against their will) are dropped into an arena to potentially bond with the new dragon queen. Lessa "....regarded them curiously, contemptuous of their tears, although her heart was probably beating no less rapidly than theirs...Her contempt of their bleating made her aware of her own temerity...Let them be afraid."
Two of these girls were then mutilated. In my mind, their fear was justified.
The prose itself was also confusing at times, and there seemed to be some context to the dialogue I couldn't understand. I chalked this up to a style of the times it was written. I could have been able to push past that, if the blatant misogynistic tones were easier for me to stomach. It was for those reasons I ultimately decided to DNF.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
caffeinated_magpie's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual assault
inbigtreble's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Another reviewer pinpointed exactly what I love about older fantasy and sci-fi: they don't take ages to get to the point. This book takes place over the course of years and packs multiple signifigant plotlines and tons of worldbuilding into 300 pages. There's no handholding; for the most part you are left to figure out what's happening. This book has all the things I like about that writing style. Unfortunately it also has some outdated ideas about the world, including what I found to be a particularly uncomfortable dynamic between the leads. Overall, though, despite their flaws, the characters felt real and well-realized within the world as described. Can't wait to read more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
summerleighann7's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
messica's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
3.0
I’m only giving this lower stars because the rape theme is completely unnecessary. Thank God we aren’t living in the 60s anymore.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
polarbbp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My mother put me onto these books and I knew the premise of the world but had never actually got around to reading them for myself until recently. I got the "searing spore-threads fall from the sky and need to be cleared by dragon mounted riders before the spores land and carnage ensues".. but now I understand why this series is known for having a convoluted timeline. Timespace teleporting dragons.
Set on Pern, a planet that is an abandoned human colony, we have a moderately low-tech setting with its own distinct flora and fauna. Having read the Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragondrums books I'm now wondering which order I should read the other titles in! Despite being first published in 1968, I was interested to see that the language used in the writing was still pretty modern in feel. I wonder if this is because of the setting being pseudo-medieval; it's a lot easier to age "modern" and "futuristic" settings by how prominent cigarettes are and how clunky the tech and attitudes toward it feel.
I enjoyed the story of a woman who has had hardships but is no saint. She can be impulsive and messes up frequently and is very stubborn, in ways that male characters in fantasy have often been allowed to get away with unchallenged. It's refreshing to see someone powerful and self-directed, and interesting to see her being sneaky and under-handed while still basically likeable. She is powerful but gets overwhelmed in utterly overwhelming situations, and this humanises her quite a bit.
I can see how Anne McCaffrey has been really influential in fantasy writing. Her basic sci-fi sensibilities underpin a fantasy that is immersive and believable. The magic of it is mysterious and we get a sense that we are experiencing something that is not what we know, but only because we haven't learned enough yet. This is key to magical realism that really grabs me.. (and thinking on that I can see why books like Thief's Magic by Trudi Canavan really caught my attention). It's internally consistent.
Looking forward to reading more of these as I get hold of them!
Set on Pern, a planet that is an abandoned human colony, we have a moderately low-tech setting with its own distinct flora and fauna. Having read the Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragondrums books I'm now wondering which order I should read the other titles in! Despite being first published in 1968, I was interested to see that the language used in the writing was still pretty modern in feel. I wonder if this is because of the setting being pseudo-medieval; it's a lot easier to age "modern" and "futuristic" settings by how prominent cigarettes are and how clunky the tech and attitudes toward it feel.
I enjoyed the story of a woman who has had hardships but is no saint. She can be impulsive and messes up frequently and is very stubborn, in ways that male characters in fantasy have often been allowed to get away with unchallenged. It's refreshing to see someone powerful and self-directed, and interesting to see her being sneaky and under-handed while still basically likeable. She is powerful but gets overwhelmed in utterly overwhelming situations, and this humanises her quite a bit.
I can see how Anne McCaffrey has been really influential in fantasy writing. Her basic sci-fi sensibilities underpin a fantasy that is immersive and believable. The magic of it is mysterious and we get a sense that we are experiencing something that is not what we know, but only because we haven't learned enough yet. This is key to magical realism that really grabs me.. (and thinking on that I can see why books like Thief's Magic by Trudi Canavan really caught my attention). It's internally consistent.
Looking forward to reading more of these as I get hold of them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Classism