Words, doodles and magic

I've been lucky to get my mitts on a lot of Pern editions, but some of my favourite are the (signed!) original Analog magazines featuring the short stories that went on to become Dragonflight (Weyr Search, Dragonrider Parts 1 and 2)!

Whatever you think of the text, you had to admit John Schoenherr did a great job of the illustrations! In McCaffrey's own words: "You did me and my dragons real proud" (Reactor Magazine, 2014)

The text is different in places, but both begin with the fantastic first line: "Less woke, cold."

(Shown below, the second page of Dragonflight, Corgi 1982 edition, and the first two pages of Weyr Search.)

The Atheneum editions of Dragonsong (1976), Dragonsinger (1977), and Dragondrums (1979), illustrated by Fred Marcellino.

These are lovely editions, with the weirdest wings, but what really baffles me are the little headless dragons on the backs of the first two books...Anyone know why they exist?

Time for another Crossroads Adventure illustration post – this time, Dragonfire by Jody Lynn Nye! I've talked more about it in another post (link), but finally got around to sorting out the scans.

The interior illustrations were done by Todd Cameron Hamilton, who also illustrated the Dragon Lover's Guide to Pern. The difference between Hamilton's dragons in this, versus the last Adventure book (link), is pretty drastic. I don't know if McCaffrey had a sit down talk with him or what, but they're much more like the Pern dragons we know from the book descriptions now.

There are a few more dragon/firelizards illustrations in this one, but still beware spoilers for Dragonfire and the odd bit of vague kissing!

(For anyone using a screenreader, the rest of the post contains 9 images with alt text and it might get slightly long. All of the images are black and white.)

Golden Dragon by Michael Whelan (1994)

Pern Dragons

Next to top left image: Have a natural smile when viewed head on (like dolphins and whales)

Next to image of rider and dragon, next to the penant: Weyr-colours on pennant

Next to bottom left image: Weyr insignia patterns on thigh

Next to top right image: Newborn

Next to head of image of rider and dragon: Wearable feathers on bridle

Large multi-faceted eyes

Next to middle right image: Basic head shape

Next to bottom right image of flaming dragon: Basic dragon body shape

They also shared the below images!

I've shared the cover before, but I've finally managed to scan in the illustrations from the Crossroad Adventure, Dragonharper by Jody Lynn Nye!

The interior illustrations were done by Todd Cameron Hamilton, who also went on to illustrate the Dragon Lover's Guide to Pern two years after this. His dragons change pretty dramatically from '87 to '89 – there's only one more dragon illustration below, right at the end, so get to scrolling if you don't care about Robinton's adventures! Otherwise, beware spoilers for Dragonharper and potential clues for problems in the 'adventure' portions.

(For anyone using a screenreader, the rest of the post contains 9 images with alt text and it might get slightly long. All of the images are black and white.)

Now this is one I haven't seen before! (Scan taken from CayCayShay on Ebay.)

The White Dragon by Michael Whelan (1978) cover for Anne McCaffrey’s book of the same name

Crossroads Adventure books were published between 1987 and 1988, and featured two books set on Pern – Dragonharper (1987) and Dragonfire (1988). (Not to be confused with Todd's books, Dragon's Fire and Dragon Harper!)

I've not read either in great detail, but Dragonharper is set during Robinton's first Harper posting (and is 10 years ahead of The Masterharper of Pern's publication), while Dragonfire takes places after the events of The White Dragon (and published as McCaffrey was writing Dragonsdawn, as the introduction notes!).

Published by Tor, they're credited as 'A Tom Doherty Associates, Inc. Book', and were marketed as "...interactive novels compatible for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons™ level play" – which basically means they use DnD stat names/hit points and have you roll dice to make 'checks' in combination with a choose your own adventure structure. You roll 3d6 and compare the results to your hero's stats, and then move to the page number for your success or failure.

Both contain an introduction/preface by Anne, but only one (Dragonharper) contains an explanation of Pern, which I find interesting.

Dragonfire credits Doug Beekman for the cover art, which is incorrect! Instead, the artwork is by David Cherry, and features in his trading card series (neat!).

Dragonharper, however, does correctly credit Doug Beekman, which is a name you might recognise as a prominent artist for the Conan series!

A little hunt to see if the rest of the story was illustrated turned up where this illustration comes from: Science Fiction Tales, a 1973 short story collection for children edited by Roger Elwood, and illustrated by Rod Ruth.

There is one other illustration for The Smallest Dragonboy in there:

Sleeping at the Wheel: Matchbox Twenty

I was listening to this song one day and it reached the part around 2:34 and I just thought: Yeah, that sounds like Reki angst.

So behold: My Edit.

(I had to wing editing the rest of the three minutes of the song, but I think I finally happy with how this turned out.)

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