pearannoyed's Full Review: Anne McCaffrey - White Dragon
The World
The planet Pern is much like Earth, and is, in fact, populated by humans. The humans share the planet with large, telepathic dragons who can chew a stone which enables them to breathe fire. These fire-breathing friends are especially useful in combating Thread—the showers of deadly, parasitic spores which fall into Pern’s atmosphere at regular intervals.
The Story Caution—this review contains spoilers for the first two books in the series, Dragonflight and Dragonquest. If you don’t want those books spoiled, please don’t read this review. You have been warned.
Despite his social status, Lord Jaxom lives a troubled existence. He is the Lord Holder of Ruatha, but his youth prevents him from fulfilling his rightful position as Governor of that Hold. He is also the rider of the dragon Ruth, but the unusual nature of his mount as well as his position as Lord Holder prevent him from properly training with the weyrlings to learn to defend against the threat of Thread. In short, he feels as if he has no place.
Fortunately, the decision has been made that Jaxom can finally learn to ride Ruth since the unusual white runt has grown big enough and seems strong and healthy in every respect. While he still won’t be permitted to fly Thread – that danger is too extreme for any Lord Holder – at least he will be allowed to FLY. And, as with all teenagers trying to figure out how they fit in the world, Jaxom takes some liberties with the freedom he’s been given; training in secret with Ruth (whose abilities exceed anyone’s expectations), and allowing his own instincts and desires (rather than training and reason) to dictate much of his behavior.
At the same time, F’lar and Lessa are executing some plans of their own. With the troublesome Oldtimers out of the way at Southern Weyr, the Benden Weyrleaders begin to plan for a time when Dragonriders will be all but obsolete. With the discovery of the thread-eating grubs brought up from the southern continent, F’lar realizes that eventually all of Pern will be free of the total dependence on Dragons and their riders. Therefore, the Dragonriders’ claim on the Southern Continent is imperative so that they can be self-sufficient and no longer dependent on the tithes of the holds.
As explorations progress and more is learned about earliest settlers of Pern, the Dragonriders set up a new hold in the far eastern reaches of the Southern Continent. There they aren’t encroaching on the oldtimers, they can begin to develop their own resources, and they have a base of operations for further study in the south.
My Thoughts
This is easily the weakest of the original Dragonriders trilogy. Where the first two books were largely plot driven – first fighting the new and terrifying thread of Thread, later attempting to solve the conflict within the ranks of Dragonriders – this third book is more character driven. Unfortunately, the character driving the story is a petulant teenager intent on having his own way.
While we see Jaxom growing and maturing throughout this book, often he comes across as just another angst-ridden teen. He is particularly unpleasant in his dealings with a young woman with whom he has become friendly, using her for his own ‘needs’ in a way that I’m sure is much more offensive in 2005 than it was when this book was published in 1978.
But as much as I dislike Lord Jaxom, I find Ruth to be one of the most interesting characters in the series. He’s a dragon unlike any other; small, quick, agile, and possessing the singular ability to both know when he is at all times (making jumps in time much safer than for any other dragon), and to have a real memory of past events (something other dragons seem to lack). In many ways Ruth is like the ‘missing link’ between the flighty fire lizards with their collective memories, and the genetically engineered dragons who are useful, but must be directed by humans at all times.
McCaffrey’s writing remains quite descriptive and readable in this volume, and those who liked her other books will definitely enjoy this one as well. Unfortunately, the story presented in this book just doesn’t have the same impact as that of the first two installments of this trilogy. I still recommend this book as part of the series – much happens here that is important to the greater tale that Ms. McCaffrey is telling. But as it stands on its own, this particular volume just doesn’t have much to offer.
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For a more complete look at 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)
Dragon’s Blood (by Todd McCaffrey—coming Jan. 2005)
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)
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