The Master Harper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey Synopsis: Pern: a beautiful world colonized by humans, terrorized by the deadly spores called Thread, and defended by magnificent flying dragons. Anne McCaffrey's bestselling tales of this planet have yielded a multitude of unforgettable characters. And now, after years of urging by devoted readers, one of the most popular denizens of Pern takes center stage in a novel that chronicles his extraordinary life. Along with the dragonriders, perhaps none are so revered on Pern as the harpers, whose songs record history, warn of the coming of Thread, and prepare Pern's people for the future. And no one is more influential than the Masterharper of Pern. The son of renowned composer Petiron and gifted singer Merelan, Robinton is a prodigy from birth and enjoys a special rapport with the telepathic dragons. But it is a time when Thread has not been a threat for centuries, the harpers have fallen into disfavor, and one despotic man is plotting to take over Pern. In this climate of unrest, Robinton will come into his own . . . driven by his belief in music, in the dragons, and in the salvation of his beloved Pern. Also by Anne McCaffrey The Dragon Books DRAGONFLIGHT DRAGONQUEST DRAGONSONG THE WHITE DRAGON DRAGONDRUM MORETA; DRAGONLADY OF PERN DRAGONSINGER; HARPER OF PERN NERILKA'S STORY & THE COELURA DRAGONSDAWN THE RENEGADES OF PERN ALL THE WEYRS OF PERN THE CHRONICLES OF PERN; FIRST FALL THE DOLPHINS OF PERN RED STAR RISING: THE SECOND CHRONICLES OF PERN Crystal Singer Books THE CRYSTAL SINGER KILLASHANDRA CRYSTAL LINE Talent Series TO RIDE PEGASUS PEGASUS IN FLIGHT PEGASUS in SPACE Tower and the Hive Sequence THE ROWAN DAMIA DAMIA'S CHILDREN LYON'S PRIDE Catteni Sequence FREEDOM'S LANDING FREEDOM'S CHOICE Individual titles RESTOREE DECISION AT DOONA THE SHIP WHO SANG GET OFF THE UNICORN THE GIRL WHO HEARD DRAGONS Written in collaboration with Elizabeth Ann Scarborough POWERS THAT BE POWER LINES POWER PLAY The MASTERHARPER of PERN ANNE McCAFFREY LONDON BANTAM PRESS NEW YORK 0 TORONTO 7 SYDNEY AUCKLAND Because she is always gracious and supportive, this book is most affectionately dedicated to Shelly Shapiro and her husband, Tom Hitchins, as well as their daughter Adrianna TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS LTD 61-63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD 15-25 Helles Avenue, Moorebank, NSW 2170 TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS (NZ) LTD 3 William Pickering Drive, Albany, Auckland Published 1998 by Bantam Press a division of Transworld Publishers Ltd Copyright Anne McCaffrey 1998 The right of Anne McCaffrey to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. All of the characters in this book are fictitious. and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 0593 037766 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise. without the prior permission of the publishers. Typeset in 11/12 pt Linotype Times by Falcon Oast Graphic Art Printed in Great Britain by Mackays of Chatham Plc, Chatham, Kent. Acknowledgments As usual, I am indebted to a variety of people for their help and input in writing this volume. Not the least of whom is Master Robinton (aka Frederic H. Robinson) who was quite upset that I had ended his life so abruptly. I would suspect it of a tenor, but for a baritone to insist on another encore is almost unheard of. But I have recently been asked - via the impressive Del Rey Website - to explain certain facts which had not previously been brought to light anent Pern pre-Dragon flight history. As Robinton had a fine Pernese hand in most of it, it behoves me to tell the story from his viewpoint. I would like to thank Dr. Will Chlosta of St Mary's Hospital New Haven for reading over the medical, and sartorial, inclusions. This time, my gratitude to Marilyn and Harry Alm as first readers is immense since they saved me from several time discrepancies and inconsistencies. Their knowledge of Pern is extensive and better remembered than mine at times. I am also grateful to my daughter, Georgeanne Kennedy, for reading two sets of proofs in four days: a true labour of love. Most of all let me thank Tania Opland and Michael Freeman for their invaluable contribution on the musical side. When I asked them if they could possibly supply some of Robinton's early compositions, I didn't realize that Tania had always wanted to be Robinton, from the days when we first met in Fairbanks, Alaska. Mike has already made up a tune for me, the Dragonlady, so his inclusion was natural. Finally, let me thank the numerous folk online in January and February whose IDs helped me find character names. List of Characters dessa Lady Holder, Lessa's mother Ruatha Hold gust voice trainer Harper Hall nta child Benden Hold shmichel ex-Lord Holder Ruatha Hold arba bossy child Harper Hall argen 2nd son Faroguy High Reaches Hold ,enoria Lady Holder Fort Hold ,errice MasterHealer Harper Hall ,osler MasterHarper, instrument maker Harper Hall ourdon SeaHold captain, Kasia's father Greystones Hold ;rahil 1st son Halibran Ista Hold ;rashia Kasia's mother Greystones Hold ,ravonner half-brother Falloner Benden Weyr ;ristol harper Telgar Hold ,rodo cotholder's son Benden Hold irosil 3rd son Halibmn Ista Hold Ygan - Tagath Weyrsinger Benden Weyr Yrob - Spakinth bronze rider Benden Weyr Yvrel - Falarth bronze rider Benden Weyr kamo son Robinton/Silvina Harper Hall "arola - Feyrith Weyrwoman Benden Weyr "arral Rantou's wife Pietie Hold "hochol hill holder Tillek Hold slostan Hold Healer Tillek Hold "ording spouse Morjella Benden Hold Ereline MasterHarper Harper Hall gunos child Harper Hall Dalma trader Sev's train Domick composer Harper Hall Donkin tenor singer Harper Hall Drevalla child Benden Hold Dugall spouse Segoina South Boll Ellic seaman Wave Rider Emfor assistant guard Harper Hall Emry suitor Tillek Hold Erkin boy Nerat border Evarel MasterHarper Benden Hold Evelene Lady Holder High Reaches Hold Evenek tenor singer Harper Hall Falawny apprentice Harper Hall Fallamon (F'lar) - Mnementh I st son Falloner Benden Weyr Falloner (F'lon) Simanith weyr lad, son S'loner Benden Weyr Famanoran (F'nor) - Canth 2nd son Falloner Benden Weyr Fanderal MasterSmith Farevene 1 st son Faroguy High Reaches Hold Faroguy Lord Holder High Reaches Hold Forist Petiron kin Telgar Hold Furlo MasterMiner Tillek Hold G'ranad ex-Weyfieader Benden Weyr Gemma Lady Holder, Fax's spouse High Reaches Hold Gennell MasterHarper Harper Hall Germathen healer Nabol Giffien assassin High Reaches Hold Ginia MasterHealer Healer Hall Gorazde WorkMaster Harper Hall Gorton MasterWineman Bendon Hold Gostol MasterFishman, Wave Rider Tillek Hold Grodon 1st yr apprentice Harper Hall Grogdian Lord Holder Fort Hold Groghe 3rd son Grogellan Fort Hold Halanna alto student Ista Hold Halibran Halanna's father Ista Hold Hayara Lady Holder Benden Hold Hayon Ist son Hayara Benden Hold Idarolan MasterFishman Tillek Hold Ifor journeyman harper Tillek Hold Isla cot keeper Harper Hall Jerint becomes Master Harper Hall Jesken weyr lad Benden Weyr Jez beastholder Ruatha Hold Jonno weyr lad Benden Weyr Jora - Nemerth Weyrwoman Benden Weyr Jurana Lady Holder Tillek Hold K'net - Pianth bronze rider Benden Weyr Kailey journeyman harper Wide Bay Hold Kale Lord Holder Ruatha Hold Kalem journeyman shipbuilder Tillek Hold Karenchok journeyman harper South Boll Kasia Juvana's sister Tillek Hold Kepiru Fax's lad Telgar Gather Klada shy holder Tillek Hold Kubisa primary teacher Harper Hall Kulla hospitable woman Nerat border Laela woman South Boll Hold Landon 2nd son Halibran Ista Hold Larad son Tarathel Telgar Hold Lama Carola's daughter Benden Weyr Lear dorm-mate Harper Hall Lessa Kale's daughter, Weyrwoman Ruatha Hold Lesseldon Lord Holder Crom Lexey slow child Harper Hall Libby Kubisa's daughter Harper Hall Lissala seawoman Wave Rider Lobirn MasterHarper High Reaches Hold Londik treble apprentice Harper Hall Lorra headwoman Harper Hall Lotricia Lobirn's spouse High Reaches Hold Lytonal (L'tol) - Larth ex-harper, brown rider Benden Weyr M'odon - Nigarth oldest rider Benden Weyr M'ridin - Cortath bronze rider Benden Weyr Macester guard Telgar Hold Maidir Lord Holder Benden Hold Maizella daughter Maidir Benden Hold Mallan journeyman harper High Reaches Hold Manora mother Famanoran Benden Weyr Marcine dancer High Reaches Hold Marlifin MasterCarver Tillek Hold Matsen SeaHolder South Boll Hold Maxilant harper Ista Hold Melongel Lord Holder Tillek Hold Merdine (dec.) Kasia's ex-espoused Greystones Hold Merelan MasterSinger Harper Hall Meren Station Master Runner Station Miata teacher Benden Weyr Milla kitchener Benden Weyr Minnarden MasterHarper Tillek Hold Monegal MasterVintner Tillek Hold Motif weyr lad Benden Weyr Motjell journeyman harper Fort Hold Mosse boy Nerat border Mumole...
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