The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall (1993)

A nice collection of Pern stories that answers a lot of questions about how certain traditions and names came about. ( )

A thrilling look at Pern. Highly recommended.

Travel back to the earliest days of Pernese history in this first-ever Dragonriders of Pern short story collection. Join the original survey team as they explore Pern and decide to recommend it for colonization. Share the terror of the evacuation from the Southern Continent as a flotilla of ships, aided by intelligent, talking dolphins, braves the currents of the Pernese ocean. Learn how the famous Ruatha Hold was founded, and thrill with the dragonriders as they expand into a second, then a third Weyr. And discover a secret lost in time - the rescue of some of the original colonists before the planet was cut off forever.

Building a new life on a distant world, braving the dreaded Thread that falls like silver rain from the sky only to destroy every living thing it touches, flying heroically on the wondrous dragons - The Dragonriders of Pern! ( )

(re-read 2018) ( )

Anne McCaffrey is the quintessential writer of fantasy books pertaining to dragons. These books are always wonderful, well written, and perfectly characterized. All of her series are great but the ones that take place on Pern are the best of all. Usually I do not particularly enjoy short stories but I love all the stories in this book without reservation. ( )

Pern #12 is actually five stories in a single novel form. The stories span many centuries of history and fill some gaps between stories. I've read this one before too, but coming back to was like reintroducing myself to the Pern world again. ( )