Dragonflight by Anne Mc Caffrey

Dragonflight (1968) by Anne McCaffrey is book six for my classics challenge, choose a science fiction classic, hosted by Ann at Search For Wonder.  Science Fiction/Fantasy is not a genre I normally read but I have been curious for a long time about Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series. Dragonflight is the first novel in this 24 book series.

Dragonflight is set way into the future on the planet of Pern. Pern was first colonized by humans from Earth. But no one from Earth came back to bring the colonists home. And so after thousands of years the people of Pern have built their own civilization and have forgotten all about their Earthly ancestors.

The people of Pern have created a world that is medieval, a feudal society consisting of three groups: The Holds, The Crafts, and the Weyrs.  The Holds are the townspeople. They farm, provide food and supplies to the Crafts and the Weyrs. The Crafts are skilled at particular trades: artists, doctors, teachers, musicians, etc.

And then we have the Weyr people. They are the dragonriders. Their sole job along with their dragons is to protect Pern. The people of Pern are in danger every 200 years when a wayward planet in their solar system nears them and the "threads" on that planet descend on Pern like a plague of locusts devouring everything in sight.

And as Dragonflight opens, danger is coming. But it’s been so long since the last thread attack that the Holds and the Crafts have decided that fear of the threads is a myth that people once believed in but no longer should. The Weyrs have gotten cavalier as well. The number of dragons has been allowed to run low and only the dragonrider F'lar and Lessa, a young woman from the Hold, understand the danger that Pern is facing. But will they be able to convince others and create a battle plan capable of vanquishing the threads?

A word of caution.  The dragons share a close bond with their riders and the dragons do not harm the people of Pern.  But they are predatory and hungry creatures and the livestock on Pern is not so lucky when the dragons are around. This can be somewhat off putting to readers new to science fiction.   But cuddly dragons would not have been believable and they certainly would be no match for the threads

Anne McCaffrey is an excellent writer and I can see why her Dragonriders series is such a classic in the world of science fiction and fantasy. She has created in Pern a world of wonder and imagination. And once I learned the history of Pern the novel opened up to me. I recommend Dragonflight to lovers of science fiction and fantasy, Game of Thrones fans, and those who enjoy medieval historical fiction. My genre continues to be mystery novels, true crime, and gothic suspense. But I am glad I moved out of my comfort zone and gave Dragonflight a read.