Title: Dragonheart
Author: Todd McCaffrey
First published January 1, 2008
538 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780345491145 (ISBN10: 0345491149)
Rating: 4.16
Overview
In the world of Pern, dragons are dying from a mysterious illness that threatens the entire planet. Lorana, a young dragonrider, must find a cure before it’s too late.
The lyrics of a forgotten song may hold the key to saving her beloved dragon and all the others, but the knowledge to create the cure was lost centuries ago. Lorana must join forces with Wind Blossom, a woman from the past who foresaw the danger of a plague that would destroy the dragons.
Together, they race against time and Threadfall to save their world from certain doom. Dragonheart is a thrilling adventure and a testament to the enduring legacy of Pern.
About the Author
Todd Johnson, better known as Todd J. McCaffrey, is a science fiction author of Irish-American descent.
He is most recognized for his work in continuing the Dragonriders of Pern series, which he co-wrote with his mother, Anne McCaffrey.
Born on April 27, 1956, in Montclair, New Jersey, Todd was the middle child of Horace Wright Johnson and Anne McCaffrey. His father worked for DuPont, and his mother was a science fiction author who had her second short story published in 1956.
Todd has two siblings, Alec Anthony and Georgeanne (“Gigi”, Georgeanne Kennedy).
The family lived in Wilmington, Delaware, for most of a decade until they moved to Sea Cliff, Long Island, in 1965. Anne McCaffrey became a full-time author, and Todd became the first of her children to read science fiction.
He attended his first science fiction convention, Lunacon in New York City, in 1968.
In Decision at Doona (1969), Anne McCaffrey dedicated the story to Todd after she had directed him to lower his voice during the fourth-grade school play. The story is set on “an overcrowded planet where just talking too loud made you a social outcast”.
After Anne McCaffrey divorced in 1970, she emigrated to Ireland with her two younger children. During Todd’s school years, the family moved several times in the vicinity of Dublin and struggled to make ends meet, supported largely by child care payments and meager royalties.
Todd finished secondary education in Ireland and returned to the United States in 1974 for a summer job before studying engineering physics at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He later earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at the College of Technology (Bolton Street) and a Politics degree at Trinity College, Dublin.
Todd served in the United States Army from 1978 to 1982, stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. After Trinity, he returned to the US hoping to work in the aerospace industry but found employment in computer programming beginning in 1986.
He earned a pilot’s license in 1988 and spent a lot of time flying, including solo trips across North America in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile, he sold his first writings and contributed “Training and Fighting Dragons” to the 1989 Dragonlover’s Guide to Pern, using his military and flight experience.
The following year, he quit his job to write full-time and attended the Clarion Workshop for new science fiction and fantasy writers in 1992.
Writing under the name Todd Johnson until 1997/98, he specialized in military science fiction, contributing one story each to several collective works.
Todd was exposed to Pern before its beginning. When he was nine years old and living on Long Island, his mother asked him what he thought of dragons.
She was brainstorming about their “bad press all these years.” The result was a “technologically regressed survival planet” whose people were united against a threat from space, in contrast to America divided by the Vietnam War. “The dragons became the biologically renewable air force.”
After his mother passed away, Todd wrote Dragonholder (1999), which was a “sort of scrapbook” about her, partly to prevent her from writing her autobiography instead of more Pern books. The editor had also pitched it to him that someone ought to continue Mum’s legacy when she was no longer able.
At the time, Todd had misgivings and no story.
Editoral Review
Dragonheart by Todd McCaffrey is a novel that takes the reader on an exhilarating adventure in the world of Pern. A continuation of his mother, Anne McCaffrey’s, beloved Dragonriders of Pern series, Todd McCaffrey delivers an exciting and fresh take on the world that his mother developed.
Published on January 1, 2008, Dragonheart is a must-read for fans of the original series and newcomers to the world of Pern alike. Set on the planet Pern, the story follows the life of Fiona, a young woman who has always dreamed of bonding with a dragon, the most prestigious and honorable accomplishment for someone living on Pern.
As the story progresses, Fiona learns the importance of family, love, and sacrifice as she and her dragon, Talenth, become involved in various conflicts throughout Pern. Along the way, Fiona meets many other dragon riders and faces challenges that test both her physical and emotional strength.
One of the strongest aspects of Dragonheart is McCaffrey’s captivating and imaginative writing style. He deftly weaves intricate details and world-building into the story, transporting the reader into the unique and awe-inspiring world of Pern.
The characters are dynamic and relatable, with their struggles and triumphs providing a compelling central storyline that drives the narrative forward. However, the book is not without its flaws.
Some readers may find the pacing to be slow at times, and the writing may become overly descriptive, making it easy to become lost in the details rather than the plot. Additionally, those who are not familiar with McCaffrey’s other work may struggle with some of the references to past events and characters.
Overall, Dragonheart is a beautifully crafted novel that will be sure to delight fans of science fiction and fantasy. Its themes of friendship, perseverance, and adventure will resonate with readers of all ages.
It’s worth noting that Dragonheart does a great job of addressing issues of diversity and inclusion, offering a fresh perspective on the importance of embracing differences. Given its unique world-building, well-drawn characters, and fascinating plot, we highly recommend Dragonheart to anyone looking for an engaging read that explores themes of family, loyalty, and courage.
While Dragonheart is part of a larger series, it can still be enjoyed as a standalone novel. We give Dragonheart a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars – a truly immersive, unforgettable read.
