pearannoyed's Full Review: Anne McCaffrey - Nerilka's Story
As I alluded to in my review of Moreta, often the history we learn is not so much what actually happened, but more what someone decided we should know. I was perhaps too harsh in my assessment of that book, partly because the history of Pern that I thought I knew turned out to take quite a different turn than I expected. Moreta, the Weyrwoman who saved her people from a deadly plague, died, not because of her heroic deed, but because of a foolish error in judgment.
Perhaps I will re-read that book and and reconsider the value I placed on it in the greater scheme of Pern's history. I think that re-examining that story from the view-point of one of its minor characters in Nerilka's Story was a way for Anne McCaffrey show how differently an event can be viewed from even a small step back.
The Story
Nerilka is an under-appreciated daughter of the Fort Hold ruling family. Though she is in her early twenties, her father, Lord Tolocamp, treats her more as free labor than as a valued daughter. Her mother, Lady Pendra, has other, younger daughters to care for and can't take the time to understand or show much affection to the highly independent Nerilka. Even on the special occasion of a gather scheduled at nearby Ruatha Hold she is summarily dismissed by her parents and left to oversee the drudges of Fort Hold while her brother, Campen, is in charge of the hold itself.
The blow is made even more bitter by the fact that Ruatha was the home of her best friend, Suriana, who was married to Lord Alessan, the head of that hold. Suriana was a daughter of the family that fostered Nerilka in her teen years and in many ways had been closer than a sister. Sadly she had died in a fall from a runner a year earlier, and all agreed it was time for Alessan to begin a search for a new Lady Holder. His search, however, was cut short by the unexpected arrival of a killing plague that took hold quickly and forced a quarantine throughout Pern.
Nerilka, whose mother and sisters were caught by the plague, was infuriated when her father returned home despite the quarantine. She became even more aggravated when Tolocamp refused to allow any medical supplies to be shared with the Healer Hall, despite excesses going to waste in Fort's storage rooms. So, defying her father's explicit instructions, Nerilka gathers as many supplies as the hold can spare and, beyond mere generosity, leaves the hold to help treat the sick and dying in a quarantined camp outside the Hold.
While the quarantine is lifted within days, Nerilka, now presenting herself as Rill, continues helping the Healers. She travels to several smaller holds with medicines, and eventually ends up at the now decimated Ruatha Hold. Despite the loss of her mother and sisters in this neighboring community, she hopes that perhaps she can start over and create a new life for herself in Ruatha.
My thoughts Nerilka's Story really completes the thought started in Moreta. All of the major events that take place in Moreta, are seen from a new angle and from a slight distance in this book. While the first book shows the burgeoning relationship between Moreta and Alessan from Moreta's viewpoint, this one shows more of Alessan's attatchment, and his devastation at losing a second love so soon after the death of his wife and on the heals of the ravaging of his hold.
This story is told in first person by Nerilka, five years after the plague that swept across Pern. As her personal memoir, I got the impression that her descriptions may have softened the severity of the events somewhat. I think that speaks volumes about McCaffrey's writing ability. I never for a moment doubted the sincerity of Nerilka's voice.
If I have any complaint about this book, it's that I wish it were longer. At under 200 pages, it was a very quick read – perhaps too quick. It also assumes that its readers will have read Moreta first, so it doesn't give as much detail as one might otherwise expect to find. For that reason, I'm forced to change my recommendation to skip reading the prior book – read Moreta but know that the story is not fully complete until you've read Nerilka as well.
I've heard other complaints about this book also – that Nerilka is too weak, that Alessan's reaction to Moreta's death didn't make sense. I disagree completely on both counts. Alessan is a young man who has experienced the loss of a wife, the death of a lover, and the destruction of security in his home. He was responsible for his people, but could do nothing to help them. In real life, that would be more than enough to explain the depression he allowed himself to sink into for a season. Nerilka, on the other hand, was raised to be compliant, submissive, and useful. It is no fault then, that she demonstrates those traits. She does, however, choose to walk away from her family, her home, and her security in order to do what she believes is right. That is not the act of a weak woman.
I liked this book. I liked the voice and I liked the characters. What's more, this book gave me a new appreciation for it's sister book, Moreta. I will be re-reading that volume while keeping this one in mind, and will likely be updating that review within the next week or so – hopefully with an improved outlook on the heroine.
I'm sorry Anne McCaffrey didn't write more first-person companion novels like Nerilka's Story. This book was a refreshing change from the typical Pern story and I enjoyed it completely.
***************
For a general examination of life on Pern, check out this brief overview.
Other Pern Novels Moreta, Dragonlady of Pern Nerilka’s Story
Dragonsdawn
Renegades of Pern
All the Weyrs of Pern
Chronicles of Pern: First Fall
The Dolphins of Pern
Dragonseye (U.S.), Red Star Rising (U.K)
The Masterharper of Pern
The Skies of Pern
Dragon’s Kin (with Todd McCaffrey)
Dragonsblood (by Todd McCaffrey)
Compilations
The Dragonriders of Pern (Dragonflight, Dragonquest and The White Dragon)
On Dragonwings (Dragonsdawn, Dragonseye and Moreta)
A Gift of Dragons (short stories)
Related Works
The Dragonlover’s Guide to Pern (ed. Jody Lynn Nye / Bill Fawcett)
The Atlas of Pern (by Karen Fonstad)
The People of Pern (a ‘portrait gallery’ by artist Robin Wood)
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.