Dragondrums
Sixth Pern novel, completing the Harper Hall trilogy.
Dragondrums, a young adult science fiction novel by Anne McCaffrey, was released in 1979 by Atheneum Books. It is the sixth installment in the Dragonriders of Pern series and concludes the Harper Hall of Pern trilogy.
The story follows Piemur, a small, quick, and clever apprentice at Harper Hall. When his clear treble voice changes, his future with the Harpers becomes uncertain. He is sent to the drum towers to learn drumming—the main long-distance communication method on Pern for those who are not dragonriders—while his voice settles. There, he faces jealousy and bullying from other drumming apprentices. Masterharper Robinton secretly takes Piemur as his apprentice, sending him across Pern to gather information and run discreet errands. In his travels, Piemur relies on his knowledge and wits to confront a cruel Lord Holder and rogue dragonriders. He Impresses a coveted gold fire-lizard he names Farli, discovers his place in the world, and earns journeyman status among the Harpers.
The events of *Dragondrums* occur after *Dragonsinger* and overlap with some events in *The White Dragon*, which covers characters and happenings elsewhere on Pern.
In 1999, the American Library Association cited the first six Pern books, along with *The Ship Who Sang*, when McCaffrey received the annual Margaret A. Edwards Award for her lifetime contribution to writing for teens. *Dragondrums* placed eighth for the annual Locus Award for Best Novel and won the annual Balrog Award in the Novel class.
- published
- 1979
- publisher
- Atheneum Books
- series
- Dragonriders of Pern
- trilogy
- Harper Hall of Pern
- author_nationality
- American-Irish
- genre
- young adult science fiction
Lore & Background
Dragondrums is the coming of age story of Piemur, a small, quick, clever apprentice at Harper Hall. When Piemur's clear treble voice changes, his place among the Harpers is no longer certain. He is sent to the drum towers to learn drumming, the primary method of long-distance communication on Pern for non-dragonriders, while his voice settles. There he has to deal with the jealousy and bullying of the other drumming apprentices. When Masterharper Robinton secretly asks Piemur to be his apprentice, Piemur begins journeying through Pern, gathering information and running discreet errands for the Masterharper. In his adventures throughout Pern, Piemur has only his knowledge and wits to deal with a cruel Lord Holder and rogue dragonriders. He Impresses one of the coveted fire-lizards – a gold he names Farli – as a companion, discovers his place in the world, and earns journeyman status among the Harpers. The events in Dragondrums take place after Dragonsinger and are contiguous with some events in The White Dragon, which discusses characters and events elsewhere on Pern.
Reader's Guide
Dragondrums completed the Harper Hall of Pern trilogy one year after The White Dragon completed the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy. Boxed and omnibus editions of both trilogies soon followed. The American Library Association in 1999 cited these first six Pern books, along with The Ship Who Sang, when McCaffrey received the annual Margaret A. Edwards Award for her 'lifetime contribution in writing for teens'. Dragondrums placed eighth for the annual Locus Award for Best Novel and it won the annual Balrog Award in the Novel class. The novel is significant as the conclusion of the Harper Hall trilogy, focusing on Piemur's transition from child singer to journeyman Harper, and for its integration with the concurrent events of The White Dragon, expanding the world of Pern.
Did You Know?
- Dragondrums is the sixth book in the Dragonriders of Pern series.
- It won the annual Balrog Award in the Novel class.
- The novel placed eighth for the annual Locus Award for Best Novel.
- The American Library Association cited this book among others when McCaffrey received the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1999.
More in Novels by Anne McCaffrey 1-24
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