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Nerilka's Story
It was in Moreta's time -- a time of legend, of heroic valor, of terrible Threadfall and the Great Plague that devastated both Holders and Dragonfolk. For Lady Nerilka of Fort Hold, the tragedy was twofold, for with the death of her mother and her sister, her father's mistress took possession of the Hold. Angry and betrayed, Nerilka decided to escape and, as Pern seethed in turmoil, she began her perilous journey to Ruatha, Lord Alessan and an unknown destiny.
The Coelura
When the Lady Caissa was told by her exalted sire to enter into an heir-contract with Cavernus Gustin she was appalled. For although Gustin was genetically sound he was vain, pompous and intellectually inept. But Caissa's father was determined there should be a union -- he had his own privately plotted plans for such a match. And a few hours later Caissa began to suspect what they were. On a private flight over the forbidden areas of the North, she was alerted by a distress signal -- and there discovered a stranger who said his name was Murell -- a man surrounded by coelura, the incredible rainbow creatures whose very brilliance threatened their extinction. It was the coelura her father wanted. And Murell was determined to save them.
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Customer Reviews
This book is tighter than the usual Dragon series, although Dragondrums and DragonSong have a similar flavour, being more closely tied with central characters also. But this one is written as if by Nerilka in a memoir form which is quite charming and much more than a 'prequel'. It stands well on its own even if you haven't read the Moreta book - I read Moreta afterwards and that was great too.
Being shorter, its nice that The Coelura is squeezed into this volume as well, but it does not stand up well in comparison with Nerilka. The plot is fair enough but has Flash Gordon sort of ambience and the society structure seems to owe much to Michael Moorcock's sci-fi-fantasy world - unintended I'm sure! Still a good read, teamed up with a great one! A worthy addition to the McCaffrey bookshelf collection.
This book gives us a feel for what the average citizen of Pern must endure; privation, sickness, a medieval culture governed by far-from-enlightened nobles, and the desperation of facing endless drudgery with little hope of ever improving one's lot in life.
The entire Pernese series is greatly enriched by the grass roots knowledge revealed in this story. Nerilka faces daunting challenges from a variety of sources, eventually proving that both tragedy and triumph are the domain of all people, and that indomitable spirits are not limited to those whose lives are spent in the Weyrs.
Ms McCaffrey goes to great lengths, including illustrations, to emphasize how physically plain and unappealing Nerilka is. Regardless, nothing can keep the beauty of her spirit and personality from bursting through. She is as true a heroine as any who ever rode a dragon.
Nerilka's Story may be a saphire in a world of diamonds, but it is still a jewel in the crown of the Pernese Saga. Without this volume, the tale of the Dragonriders of Pern is incomplete.
Ms. McCaffrey has spun many a wondrous tale of these heroic figures, creating a world rich with a culture all it's own. This story, however, does not feature a dragonrider, nor does it feature Ms. McCaffrey's other favorite Pernese subject, the Harpers. Instead, both of those groups play secondary parts to the main character, Nerilka. Rill, as she's known, is a new type of character for fans: she is an ordinary person. A middle child, a daughter in a culture that favors sons, and an average human being with jealousies as well as compassion, Rill stands out amongst the characters that the author has created as she becomes the 'average Rill' who rises above tragedy and finds strength deep inside to do what must be done.
The book stands best as a companion volume to Ms. McCaffrey's "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern", though it can be read on it's own. There is a greater richness of understanding and unsaid detail available if the reader is familiar with the storyline and characters populating "Moreta", though.
The writing style is a bit more simplistic than usual for the author, and the book is a very quick read, not taxing in either length or complexity. The illustrations are interesting, though I have to admit that the characters looked very different in my own mind's eye, but that is probably to be expected.
All in all this book is good for a quick 'dip' into the world of Pern. The characters are engaging, Nerilka and those that the reader comes across at Ruatha Hold are the most clearly delineated. It has an enjoyable, simple plotline with no real shocks or unexpected twists and turns. An excellent read for times when the reader just wants something light.
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