The People of Pern

I cannot praise highly enough this wonderful companion book to Ms. McCaffrey's Pern books. This book is a collection of portraits of the many characters in Dragonflight, Dragonquest, The White Dragon, Moreta, and the Harper Hall trilogy. There are artist renderings of almost every character, from Menolly, Lessa, and F'lar; to C'gan, Dorse, Moreta, even Dunca and Pona are in here! Main characters and minor ones--they are all here, and many are uncannily just as I had pictured them in my head! As a bonus, Ms. McCaffrey supplied little commentaries on each portrait that are fascinating to read. All the portraits are works of true art, but the masterpiece of the book is the portrait of Robinton! You've got to see it--Robin Wood captures him perfectly! Anyone who loves the Pern books should have this in their collection.

The artwork truly makes the people of Pern come alive. Each character is beautifully detailed exactly as I pictured him or her. I wish I could have these paintings framed in my own home.

If you're a dragon devotee, you have to get this book, even if it means mortgaging your house. The portraits are so sensitively, humourously done, with so much understanding of the character and so much convincing detail, that you simply won't be able to look away. The only disappointment was that the title is accurate - riders are portrayed away from their dragons except for the baby Path with Mirrim, Ruth's white wing and Holth's belly as a background for Leri - but quite a lot of fire lizards are shown. Anne McCaffrey's character notes, accompanying the portraits, add a new dimension to well-loved figures. A delight on all counts, but good luck finding it new. A good place to start looking for a secondhand copy is the MX Bookfinder

This book is incredible! If you have the chance to even look at it, do it! Robin Wood does an wonderful job of painting the People Of Pern. If you can buy this book, I would tell you to go for it because the paintings are beautiful to look at. They also show almost exactly how these people look in McCaffrey's world. Check your public library for it!!!! ;-)