Master Harper of Pern, by Anne McCaffrey

Reviewed By: The Goose

The thing about good writing, and a good story is that it never goes out of style. Good writing is as fresh today as it was – say 400 years ago. Just look at Shakespeare. Good writing, good stories. Another thing about a good story is that it allows for expansion, and embellishment. The writer can go back and fill in gaps in the story or create new threads and it all fits together.

Now I am by no means suggesting that McCaffrey is another Shakespeare. For while she clearly expresses her opinions on culture and society in her books they are not on the level of Shakespeare’s plays. BUT, she does tell a damn good story, the best of these are the Pern stories. The first of which (Dragon Flight) was written over twenty years ago. The latest of which is Masterharper of Pern.

McCaffrey’s genius lies not in her insight into the human condition (although she does have such vision) but in the strength and depth of her characters. Their utter reality. In this business she creates the most true people. No, no that they don’t lie, but that they are most like ourselves: the people we wish we were, are scared that we are, and those that we know ourselves to be. You might expect to meet Robinton on the street someday the way he is realized in this book and others.

Her characters have life-like depth as well as shallowness, and foibles, and irks, and pet peeves. They are driven out of real emotions like you and I experience every day. The situations that these characters often find themselves easily strike a cord with our own lives. They are ordinary people who can accomplish extraordinary things – just like all us monkies wish to and sometimes do achieve.

In this latest installment Anne gives us the story of Robinton, Master Harper of Pern, from the time of his birth to the opening events of Dragon Flight. Robinton is one of the pivotal figures in the original Pern series (Dragon Flight, Dragon Quest, and The White Dragon). A man of such good heart and faith that the best of us might feel like our hearts are black on the inside. Yet, we cannot help but identify with him.

While this book is about Robinton and the events of his early life ultimately it is about love, and it’s myriad incarnations, even the lack of it. It’s about the impact has on lives: the characters lives, our lives. Anne explores this most peculiar human emotion and in some ways comes to terms with it, exults in it, lauds it.

Along the way, she shapes the world so familiar to her fans. Still, this story stands on its own. If you haven’t read any of the other Pern novels you don’t have to in order to “get” this one. Although those who have read the others will have a different appreciation for the plot (if it can be said to have a plot). The PEOPLE are what drive this story.

If you like watching people’s lives unfold and their interaction with each other this is the book for you and there’s enough action for those of you that enjoy good plot to definitely keep your attention.

Mass Market Paperback – 422 pages 1 Mass mkt edition (January 1999) Del Rey; ISBN: 0345424603 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.11 x 6.85 x 4.22