This was published in 1979 and is set roughly three years after the events of Dragonsinger: Harper Of Pern and about four years before The White Dragon. Piemur wakes up one morning in the Harperhall, helps Menolly feed her fire lizards, has breakfast, then goes off to rehearse a new musical piece that has been … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: Dragondrums
Pern Appreciation Month: The White Dragon
(The first part of this book was published as a chapbook entitled “A Time When” in 1975. I’ve managed to procure some copies of early versions of the novels and stories in this series for when it was relevant, but due to my parents not being named Rockefeller I was unable to obtain this.) This … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: The White Dragon
Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonsinger, Harper Of Pern
When we left Menolly at the end of Dragonsong, she was overjoyed to discover that she was going to live at the Harperhall. After a lifetime of abuse because of her musical talent, she was finally going to be recognised and accepted for her skills. Dragonsinger: Harper Of Pern begins with Menolly arriving at the … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonsinger, Harper Of Pern
Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonsong
I mentioned previously that “The Smallest Dragonboy” was picked up as a short story idea because Anne McCaffrey was working through a story about a girl called Menolly. After K’van’s adventure was published, she went back to her notes and fleshed out the basic idea some more. And in 1976, Dragonsong was published as a … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonsong
Pern Appreciation Month: “The Smallest Dragonboy”
In 1973, Anne McCaffrey should have had the world at her feet: she had released several short stories and novels into the world, won some awards that no other woman had won before her, and had the beginnings of a bestselling series in Dragonflight and Dragonquest. However, she had recently divorced her husband and emigrated … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: “The Smallest Dragonboy”
Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonquest
It’s not often that you read a sequel that feels as though it was written by a different author. I first experienced this with Terry Brooks’s The Elfstones Of Shannara, the sequel to The Sword Of Shannara, a novel that owes a rather large creative debt to The Lord Of The Rings. Elfstones is a … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonquest
Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonflight
Dragonflight first appeared as two short stories: “Weyr Search” and “Dragonrider”. These were originally published in Analog magazine in October 1967 and in the December – January 1967-68 issues. Together they make up parts 1, 3 and 4 of Dragonflight. Part 2 of the novel (named “Dragonflight” in the book) was submitted to John W. … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: Dragonflight
Pern Appreciation Month: Introduction
Anne Inez McCaffrey was born on April 1, 1926. She was the first woman to win both the Hugo and Nebula awards for Science Fiction and was one of the first SF writers to appear on the New York Times bestseller list. She was also a trained opera singer and music and the performing arts … Continue reading Pern Appreciation Month: Introduction
Anne McCaffrey Centenary: Pern Appreciation Month
April 1st 2026 marks the 100th birthday of Anne McCaffrey (1926 - 2011). Although she wrote many wonderful books and series, I’d like to devote the month of April to taking a closer look at her Dragonriders Of Pern series, which easily my favourite of all her books. I’ve mentioned the series here before but … Continue reading Anne McCaffrey Centenary: Pern Appreciation Month
A Comic Collection Ian Likes: Voyager and The World Shapers featuring The Sixth Doctor
Colin Baker was announced as the sixth actor to play Doctor Who in 1983. He took over from the incumbent Time Lord in the TARDIS, Peter Davison, during the 21st season of the Classic run of the series in 1984. He made his debut in the final moments of that season’s sixth story, The Caves … Continue reading A Comic Collection Ian Likes: Voyager and The World Shapers featuring The Sixth Doctor
A Novel Ian Likes: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Gilbert Norrell lives with a smug satisfaction caused by being the only practicing magician in Regency England. There are others who would like to study the magical arts, but he has successfully tied up the market for himself… until a young man named Jonathan Strange comes along and upends all that Mr Norrell thought he … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
An Anthology Ian Likes: StarStreak: Stories Of Space (edited by Betty M. Owen)
Usually I start these pieces with a quick precis of the plot. But since this month’s entry is an anthology, that’s really quite difficult to do. What I’m going to do instead is start with a memory… Across social media and blogs around the world, you’ll sometimes find readers reminiscing about Scholastic Books. Scholastic was … Continue reading An Anthology Ian Likes: StarStreak: Stories Of Space (edited by Betty M. Owen)
A Novel Ian Likes: Came Back To Show You I could Fly by Robin Klein
Seymour has been sent to live with a friend of his mother for the summer due to his parents having an acrimonious breakup, and he isn’t enjoying it. Instructed to stay inside when Thelma (his guardian) is at work, he one day rebels and winds up in the shabby accommodation of Angie, a vivacious young … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Came Back To Show You I could Fly by Robin Klein
A Movie Ian Likes: Krull
Colwyn and Lyssa are the heirs to their respective kingdoms. They’ve come up with a plan to unite them in the face of a mysterious enemy called the Beast. The Beast has a travelling castle and has been terrorising the world of Krull. Colwyn and Lyssa’s plan is pretty simple: they’re going to get married, … Continue reading A Movie Ian Likes: Krull
A Short Story Ian Likes: “Steel Dogs” by Ray Aldridge
Aandred is the Master of the Hunt, servant to the all-seeing Droam, Lord of Neverland. Aandred and his dogs patrol the once-famous island and keep its shores safe from the incursions of “Bonepickers”, the humans who live on the other islands and are now searching to expand their world. But Aandred does not count on … Continue reading A Short Story Ian Likes: “Steel Dogs” by Ray Aldridge