Nerilka's Story
A non-dragonrider's perspective on Pern's deadly plague.
Nerilka's Story is a science fiction novella by American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey, serving as the eighth installment in the Dragonriders of Pern series. It functions as a companion piece to *Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern* (1983), offering a second viewpoint on the same events. Released in 1985, this was the first Pern book published after *The Atlas of Pern*, meaning its events are not included in that atlas.
Unlike the previous seven books, the main character is neither a dragonrider nor a harper. The story follows Nerilka, the daughter of a Lord Holder, who abandons her privileged upbringing to combat a deadly plague threatening all human life on Pern. A *Chicago Tribune* critic described her as an "intelligent, resourceful, selfless and, alas, homely" protagonist.
Critics have praised the novella for its "terse power." It reached number seven on *Time* magazine's fiction bestseller list on April 7 and 21, 1986. On the *New York Times* paperback bestseller list, it debuted at number twelve on February 22, 1987, and climbed to number eleven the following week.
- author
- Anne McCaffrey
- published
- 1985
- series
- Dragonriders of Pern
- genre
- Science fiction novella
- nationality
- American-Irish
- viewpoint_character
- Nerilka, a non-dragonrider, non-harper
Lore & Background
Nerilka's Story takes a different approach from the previous seven books in the Dragonriders of Pern series by having a non-dragonrider and non-harper as its major viewpoint character. The story is set during the events detailed in Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. Nerilka is the daughter of a Lord Holder who turns her back on her life in an upper-class family and sets out to fight the disease that threatens to kill all humans on Pern.
Reader's Guide
Nerilka's Story is significant as a companion piece that provides a second perspective on the plague events of Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern, expanding the narrative beyond dragonriders and harpers. Critics have called the story one with 'terse power.' It reached #7 on Time Magazine's Best Sellers list for fiction on April 7 and 21, 1986, and appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list for paperbacks, first at #12 on February 22, 1987, then rising to #11 the following week. Its publication in 1985 marked the first work in the series after The Atlas of Pern, meaning it is not covered in that reference work.
Did You Know?
- Nerilka's Story is the eighth book in the Dragonriders of Pern series.
- It is a companion story to Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern, narrating a second perspective on the same events.
- The viewpoint character, Nerilka, is a non-dragonrider and non-harper, a departure from previous books.
- The novel reached #7 on Time Magazine's Best Sellers list for fiction in April 1986.
More in Novels by Anne McCaffrey 1-24
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