Reading order · 15 books · 1968 to 2001 · Set in Pern
Dragonriders of Pern Books in Order
On the planet Pern, settled by humans long ago, riders bonded to great telepathic dragons defend the land from Thread, a deadly spore that falls from a wandering red star. The books follow Lessa and F’lar of Benden Weyr, Menolly the harper, Jaxom of the white dragon and the people of the Weyrs, Holds and Crafthalls.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Series facts
- Books
- 15
- Published
- 1968 to 2001
- First book
- Dragonflight
- Latest
- The Skies of Pern (2001)
- Setting
- Set in Pern
- Order
- Story order differs from publication order
The reading order
Every Dragonriders of Pern book in publication order, with the story order a switch away. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
15 books · Set in Pern
- 1Dragonflight1968With LessaLessa, the hidden heir of Ruatha Hold, lives as a drudge under the man who killed her family.Buy on Amazon
- 2Dragonquest1971With F'larThread is falling out of its expected pattern, and the dragonriders struggle as old Weyrs and new clash.Buy on Amazon
- 3Dragonsong1976With MenollyMenolly longs to be a harper, but her father forbids it.Buy on Amazon
- 4Dragonsinger1977With MenollyMenolly arrives at the Harper Hall, where she must prove herself as a musician.Buy on Amazon
- 5The White Dragon1978With JaxomJaxom, the young Lord of Ruatha, is bonded to Ruth, a small white dragon who is unlike any other.Buy on Amazon
- 6Dragondrums1979With PiemurPiemur, a harper apprentice whose singing voice has broken, becomes a drummer, and a spy for the Masterharper.Buy on Amazon
- 7Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern1983With MoretaCenturies earlier, Moreta, Weyrwoman of Fort Weyr, fights to save Pern from a deadly plague.Buy on Amazon
- 8Nerilka's Story1986With NerilkaThe same plague, told by Nerilka, the plain daughter of the lord of Fort Hold.Buy on Amazon
- 9Dragonsdawn1988With Sorka Hanrahan and Sean ConnellThe first human colonists arrive on Pern and build a new life, until Thread falls from the sky and they must create the dragons.Buy on Amazon
- 10The Renegades of Pern1989The holdless renegades of Pern, and those like Jayge and Aramina caught up with them, play their part as Pern rediscovers its past.Buy on Amazon
- 11All the Weyrs of Pern1991The discovery of an ancient computer left by the first settlers offers the people of Pern a chance to end the threat of Thread for ever.Buy on Amazon
- 12The Dolphins of Pern1994The people of Pern rediscover the intelligent dolphins that came with the first settlers.Buy on Amazon
- 13Dragonseye1997Some two and a half centuries after landing, Pern prepares for the second Pass of Thread while a negligent Lord Holder refuses to do his part.Buy on Amazon
- 14The Masterharper of Pern1998With RobintonThe life of Robinton, the Masterharper of Pern, from boyhood.Buy on Amazon
- 15The Skies of Pern2001With the end of Thread in sight, Pern’s dragonriders search for a new purpose, until a strike from the skies threatens the world.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in publication order, starting with Dragonflight. Dragonsong, Dragonsinger and Dragondrums were written for younger readers and are a gentle place to start; Dragonsdawn tells how Pern was first settled.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Menolly | Robinton | Jaxom | Lessa | F'lar | Piemur | Moreta | Nerilka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dragonflight | ·Minor | LLead | MMajor | |||||
| 2 Dragonquest | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | LLead | ||||
| 3 Dragonsong | LLead | |||||||
| 4 Dragonsinger | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | |||||
| 5 The White Dragon | ·Minor | MMajor | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 6 Dragondrums | MMajor | MMajor | LLead | |||||
| 7 Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern | LLead | |||||||
| 8 Nerilka's Story | ·Minor | LLead | ||||||
| 9 Dragonsdawn | ||||||||
| 10 The Renegades of Pern | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |||||
| 11 All the Weyrs of Pern | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||
| 12 The Dolphins of Pern | MMajor | |||||||
| 13 Dragonseye | ||||||||
| 14 The Masterharper of Pern | LLead | |||||||
| 15 The Skies of Pern | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Dragonriders of Pern books
9 characters from Anne McCaffrey’s chart, with the number of Dragonriders of Pern books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| MenollyGirl who becomes a harper | 5 | Dragonsong 1976 |
| RobintonMasterharper of Pern | 8 | Dragonflight 1968 |
| JaxomYoung lord whose dragon Ruth is white | 6 | Dragonquest 1971 |
| LessaWeyrwoman of Benden Weyr | 5 | Dragonflight 1968 |
| F'larWeyrleader of Benden | 5 | Dragonflight 1968 |
| PiemurHarper apprentice and spy | 4 | Dragonsinger 1977 |
| MoretaWeyrwoman during a great plague | 2 | Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern 1983 |
| NerilkaLord's daughter who goes to help in the plague | 1 | Nerilka's Story 1986 |
| Sorka Hanrahan and Sean ConnellFirst dragonriders among the colonists | 1 | Dragonsdawn 1988 |