Part of Pern
First published 1977
The Rowan operates as one of only five complete Prime telepaths in existence. She wields extraordinary mental abilities from her tower until another Prime arrives from distant space, desperately requesting help against a brutal cosmic threat. Peter carries a special gift that earns his mother small payments while bringing happiness to people around him. A dishonest man learns about Peter's talent and traps the boy in a scheme built on lies, destroying his childhood innocence. Helva, the famous thinking ship, gets a critical new mission with her human partner. Their assignment violates the most forbidden rule and puts both their lives at risk. Keevan wants to become a dragonrider like his father, but barriers stand in his path. The boy approaches the crucial time when dragons select their human companions, uncertain whether his small size and youth will disqualify him. These stories unfold in McCaffrey's world where telepathic powers reach across space, ships possess consciousness and emotions, and the connection between dragons and their riders determines fate.
Genres: short-stories, science-fiction, anthologies, fantasy, space-opera, young-adult
Vibes: adventurous, bittersweet, imaginative, thought-provoking, wondrous
Tropes: chosen-one, coming-of-age, found-family, mentor-figure
Setting: The Rowan's tower, space
303 pages · Paperback · Del Rey Books
Content warnings: child-abuse