The Masterharper of Pern

I enjoyed the book, even upon rereading it years later, and wish I could give it more than 3 stars. Unfortunately, there are just too many discrepancies between this book and previous Pern books for me to do that.

It’s a nice tribute to Robinton, but don’t read it expecting it to really fit in with the rest of the stories, even though it tries to do just that.

I love the Pern Series and have for years. My favorite part of the books has been the dragons and the fire lizards, so I wasn’t sure that I’d like a book that had less focus on them and more focus on the harpers, even if it is the beloved Master Robinton. However, this book proved me wrong as Anne McCaffrey’s incredible world pulled me into yet another story in this glorious series. I laughed, I fell in love, and I cried. Another great book in this amazing series.

I read most of the Pern books a very long time ago and recently re-read the “big three” Dragonflight, Dragonquest and the White Dragon. This one I somehow missed before and I must say I really loved this book. Robinton is one of the best characters in the books and this develops his character and history while making an very satisfying stand alone story.
Spoiler Alert__
I do agree that The Masterharper is painted here a bit too perfect–I think perhaps the author could have better integrated the Petiron as portrayed in other books and made Robinton more believable if there had not been so much perfection and maturity on Robinton’s behalf in his later dealings with his father–and perhaps even more of a change of heart by his father. (now realizing for some reason what he has missed, but sorry too late for forgiveness from his son).
I also found the way the author arranges for Robinton to witness the Search of Lessa first hand strained credibility. One last nit pick–Anne McCaffrey is usually very good about making sure her character ages and time lines track from one book to the next–but if Sebell is 10 when his character is introduced in this book —then he is much older than I assumed by Dragondrums and the White Dragon and takes a heck of a long time to make Journeyman and Master.
These items kept the book from a five star.

I have read almost everything she wrote 3-4x. I love all of her books. Miss Her 🙁
This book was no exception. A great story about one of Pern’s most prominent figures. The MasterHarper of Pern, tells his origin story. A must read for anyone who Loves Pern.

Robinton is one of the most beloved citizens of Pern, he has figured prominently in most of the books but many personal details of his life have not been revealed …until now. THE MASTERHARPER OF PERN is the story of those ‘missing’ years up to the events of DRAGONFLIGHT.
Born into a musical family and raised in the Harper Hall Robinton showed extreme talent from his earliest days to the delight of all around him but his own father. Never quite understanding or recovering from this rejection Robinton grew to excel at his profession even though his dream of becoming both a harper and a dragonrider was not to be. His friendship with F’lon, father of F’lar and F’non is shown as well as the beginnings of many of his relationships throughout Pernese society. Many of these relationships have be alluded to in other books in the series.
Perhaps the most touching aspects of the book are his ill-fated romance and the recurring losses that seem to plague Robinton’s life.
For fans of the series this is a ‘must read’. If you are new to Pern I highly recommend the series and this prequel would be a good place to start, then continue through the rest in the order they were written.

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