But the further I got into Dragonsinger, I started getting the inkling that something wasn't right. That there was something MISSING. And it wasn't until I forced myself to finish Dragondrums Sunday that I realized what it was:
There was no "all is lost" moment. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how incredibly easy the characters had it. Just when you started thinking that MAYBE things were starting to go downhill, something happened to make their life invariably better. In real life, I would be more than happy. But in a book, it makes me bitter. Disappointed. And it leaves me with the feeling that nothing happened. Which isn't true; loads happened. Menolly goes from a Sea Holder's outcast daughter--punished for singing and writing music--to arguably the most talented Harper ever. Not to mention she has nine fire lizards that love her . . .and very powerful friends.And then we move on from her to Piemur, her mischievous friend, and his misadventures. (Why, I want to know, do we not stick with the same character for the duration of the trilogy?) Piemur eavesdrops on important conversations, steals a fire lizard egg, and ends up in the less-friendly South where he escapes Thread (some sort of devouring death-ray) three times. Despite all this, I still felt as if the bigger story was taking place somewhere off page, which frustrated me to no end. What's the point of overhearing important conversations, confronting Oldtimers (dragonriders from another time), and being transported to a mostly hostile territory if nothing comes of it? Eh?
So, to sum it up, I think Ms. McCaffrey is too nice to her characters. At least in this series. But I also got the impression that maybe this was the fluff reading of the bigger Pern stories. And that's what all the hinting at a bigger (unresolved) conflict was about. But, really, it's just disappointing that she couldn't take that conflict and make her characters a bigger part of it.Recommended: For fluff reading.
Rating (out of five stars): 3.5
You should have started with Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon. Those came first, and the trilogy you just read fills in some of the simultaneous events. The Harperhall trilogy is more of a life story theme rather than adventure theme. I think that's why it was a letdown; you expected the wrong pace. And the switching for the third book happens for the first trilogy as well. That one primarily follows Lessa until book 3 which is about Jaxom. The Dragonriders themselves have most of the overarching series arc. Harperhall is a lesser arc within it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Master Robinton does play a significant role in the bigger plot. He's one of my favorite characters. He's in the first trilogy as well.
I'm not a fan of her work. I give you credit for even finishing one of her books. I couldn't do it.
ReplyDeleteBut that's really a testament to your skills as a storyteller to be able to pinpoint what was missing in the structure. Kudos. :D
@ Jaleh
ReplyDeleteYes, I will definitely have to pick those books up one day and I suspected that they were the books that held the bigger, action-packed plots, I just wish that the Harper Hall series could have stood more on its own, if you know what I mean. And I really like Master Robinton, too. (For some reason he was super hot in my mind...for an older man.)
@ Lydia
Thanks! Hopefully that means I don't end up doing the same thing in my stories.
I've not read much Anne McCaffrey but have never been much inspired too. Her stories don't really call to me.
ReplyDeleteJai