The McCaffreys' second fire-breathing collaboration (after 2003's Dragon's Kin
) again proves why these fabled dragons still cast a spell. Pellar, a mute Apprentice Harper; Halla, a homeless girl; and Cristov, a miner's son, learn invaluable life lessons as the planet Pern prepares for the return of the deadly Red Star and its annihilating "Thread," which can only be destroyed by firestone-fueled dragonfire. But mining firestone is dangerous work, often carried out by children of disenfranchised criminals called the Shunned. Accompanied by his new fire-lizard Chitter, Pellar joins Masterharper Zist in a search for Moran, a missing Journeyman Harper who's involved with the Shunned. Pellar finds his fate intertwined with Halla, but his tangle with Tenim, a ruthless thief, almost keeps them apart. Their friend Cristov learns about the Shunned firsthand after a terrible mine explosion. Fortunately, events lead to dragon-riding wish fulfillment and a remarkable discovery. While it allegorizes the risks of mining fossil fuels and the horrors of slave labor, this coming-of-age fantasy offers suitable dragon play for all ages. (July)
Details
Reviewed on: 06/05/2006
Genre: Fiction
Analog Audio Cassette - 978-1-4233-1454-7
Compact Disc - 978-1-4692-6355-7
Compact Disc - 978-1-4233-1456-1
Downloadable Audio - 978-1-4233-1460-8
Hardcover - 366 pages - 978-0-593-05498-7
MP3 CD - 978-1-4692-6356-4
MP3 CD - 978-1-4233-1458-5
MP3 CD - 978-1-5012-8394-9
Mass Market Paperbound - 432 pages - 978-0-345-48029-3
Open Ebook - 528 pages - 978-1-4481-2789-4
Paperback - 528 pages - 978-0-552-15348-5
Pre-Recorded Audio Player - 978-1-4418-2303-8
Pre-Recorded Audio Player - 978-1-4418-2183-6
