Todd J. McCaffrey

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Scores of dragons are dead after plague swept across the world of Pern, and now the Weyrs are struggling to rebuild before Threadfall destroys everything--and everyone--left alive. Their best hope lies with a group of new dragonriders who have volunteered to brave the dangers of an unexplored island populated by vicious wild felines and voracious tunnel-snakes to create a safe home for their young dragons, whose offspring will hopefully replenish Pern's decimated population. But their leader, Xhinna, the first female rider of a blue dragon, faces an uphill battle to win the respect of her peers, especially after tragedy leaves the new colony reeling. The way forward seems to lie with the awesome ability of the dragons to travel through time. But that power comes with risks: By venturing into the past, Xhinna may jeopardize the very future she has sworn to save. "Memorable characters and a good balance of individual dramas and large-scale action make this a strong addition to the Pern saga."--Library Journal "Longtime fans will enjoy the latest adventures of the cheerful dragonriders and their colorful mounts."--Publishers Weekly "McCaffrey will be remembered, rightly, as one of science fiction's grand masters."--Tordotcom

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Even though Lorana cured the plague that was killing the dragons of Pern, sacrificing her queen dragon in the process, the devastating disease has left too few dragons alive to fight the fall of deadly Thread. As morale at Telgar Weyr plunges in the wake of the widespread loss, and Weyrwoman Fiona and the harper Kindan struggle to keep hope from vanishing, a pregnant Lorana decides she must take drastic steps. Nothing short of manipulating time itself will undo the damage done by the plague. But attempting time travel could have devastating consequences--altering history, and destiny, forever. Now, somehow, Lorana must find a way to accomplish what seems impossible: bending the natural laws of the universe without wreaking havoc on existence itself. To ensure the future of Pern, she's willing to take the fateful chance--even if it demands yet another, far greater, sacrifice.

With a cast of beloved characters from previous Pern novels, Dragongirl is another triumph for Todd McCaffrey--and a riveting chapter for the Dragonriders of Pern. Young Fiona, rider of the gold queen Talenth, has returned with the dragons and riders who fled into the past to heal their battle wounds and prepare to fight anew the menace of Thread. Now more than three years older, Fiona is no longer a child but a woman--thrust into authority by a shocking tragedy. But leading weyrfolk who are distrustful of a young outsider will be only one of her challenges. Despite gaining reinforcements from the past, too few dragons have survived the recent plague to stem the tide of the intensifying Threadfall. As a senior Weyrwoman, Fiona must take decisive action. With the aid of Lorana, the rider who sacrificed her dragon for others, and Fiona's true love, the harper Kindan, she proposes a daring, nearly impossible plan. But if it succeeds, it just might save them all.

The specter of sickness looms over the Weyrs of Pern, felling fire-lizards and threatening their dragon cousins, Pern s sole defense against the deadly phenomenon that is Thread. Fiona, the young rider of queen dragon Talenth, is about to assume the duties of a Weyrwoman when word spreads that dragons have begun succumbing to the new contagion. As more dragons sicken and die, Weyrleader B Nik and queen rider Lorana comb Fort Weyr s archives in a desperate search for clues from the past that may hold the solution to the plague. But could the past itself prove the pathway to salvation for Pern s imperiled dragons? Guided by a mysterious ally from a wholly unexpected place, and trusting in the dragon gift for transcending time, Fiona will join a risky expedition with far-reaching consequences for both Pern s future and her personal destiny."

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - "Captivating . . . The McCaffreys are well known for their brilliant characterizations, and they do not disappoint here."--Booklist In Fort Hold, a clutch of fire-lizard eggs is about to hatch, and Lord Bemin's beautiful young daughter, Koriana, is determined to Impress one of the delightful creatures. At the hatching, apprentice harper Kindan Impresses a fire-lizard of his own . . . and wins the heart of Koriana. But Lord Bemin mistrusts harpers and will not hear of a match between his daughter and the low-born Kindan. Then fate intervenes in the form of a virulent plague as fast-spreading as it is deadly. Arising suddenly, as if out of nowhere, the contagion decimates hold after hold, paying no heed to distinctions of birth. In this feverish crucible, friendship and love will be tested to the breaking point and beyond. For with Threadfall scant years away, the Dragonriders dare not expose themselves to infection, and it will fall to Kindan and his fellow apprentices to bravely search for a cure and save humanity. "Strong storytelling and compelling drama, along with memorable characters."--Library Journal

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - "A richly detailed story on a par with the rest of the Pern canon . . . another successful McCaffrey mother-and-son collaboration."--Booklist At Natalon's mining camp, Pellar embarks on a secret mission to discover whether the condemned criminals known as the Shunned are stealing coal. But the gifted tracker discovers that a far more treacherous plot is unfolding. A heartless thief named Tenim has realized there is profit to be made from firestone, the volatile mineral that enables the dragons of Pern to burn the lethal Thread out of the sky. When the last remaining firestone mine explodes, a desperate race begins to find a new deposit of the deadly but essential mineral. Sure enough, Tenim has a murderous plan to turn tragedy to his own advantage. Now Pellar and his new friends--the kind and gentle Halla, a child of the Shunned, and Cristov, the son of a corrupt miner--must stop Tenim. If they fail, it will mean the end for Pern and its dragonriders. "Grittier than the early parts of the series; Todd's apparently brought a wider, more current worldview to Pern."--The San Diego Union-Tribune "These fabled dragons still cast a spell."--Publishers Weekly

With the dragons of Pern dying and the only person who can save them long dead, the grieving dragonriders find clues in the lyrics of an ancient ballad to long-forgotten knowledge and secrets hidden somewhere in Benden Weyr, but to save the dragons, one young woman must make the ultimate sacrifice. Reprint.

A collaboration between the best-selling author of A Gift of Dragons and her son finds the dragonriders exploring the capabilities of the dragons' distant cousins, the watch-whers, a discovery that enables them to save more lives in their ongoing fight with Thread. Reprint.