The Dolphins of Pern
Thirteenth Pern novel about dolphins and their human allies.
The Dolphins of Pern, the thirteenth novel in the Dragonriders of Pern series, is a science fiction work by American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey. Published in 1994, its cover art by Rowena Morrill was later reused for the biography *Anne McCaffrey: A life with dragons* (Roberts 2007). The story picks up after *Dragonsdawn* and the short story "The Dolphin's Bell" (from *The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall*), examining the dolphins introduced to Pern by the original colonists during the Ninth Pass. Taking place near the conclusion of *All the Weyrs of Pern* and beyond, it blends the series' science fiction origins with its earlier fantastical elements. The plot centers on two young protagonists and the founding of the Dolphincrafthall and its first Dolphineer. Readis, son of the Paradise River Lord Holder, is rescued by talking dolphins ("shipfish") as a child and becomes obsessed with them. T'lion, a young dragonrider of Bronze Gadareth from Eastern Weyr, shares this fascination after an early encounter. United by their interest, they defy family, Hold, and Weyr to maintain bonds with the dolphins and prove their intelligence and speech. While familiar characters like Lessa, F'lar, Robinton, and Menolly work to end the Thread era, Readis and T'lion strive to begin a new one where humans and dolphins cooperate.
- Author
- Anne McCaffrey
- Nationality
- American-Irish
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Series
- Dragonriders of Pern
- Publication Year
- 1994
- Cover Artist
- Rowena Morrill
- Preceded by
- All the Weyrs of Pern
Lore & Background
The novel follows Dragonsdawn and the short story The Dolphin's Bell, discussing the present state (Ninth Pass) of dolphins brought to Pern by colonists. The plot focuses on two young characters: Readis, the Paradise River Lord Holder's son, who is saved by talking dolphins as a boy and develops a fascination with them, and T'lion, a young Eastern Weyr dragonrider of Bronze Gadareth, who also becomes interested after an early dolphin encounter. They befriend each other due to their shared interest and defy family, Hold, and Weyr to maintain friendships with dolphins and convince others of the dolphins' intelligence and ability to speak.
Reader's Guide
The Dolphins of Pern chronicles the birth of the Dolphincrafthall and its first Dolphineer, integrating the science fiction origins of the Pern series with the fantastical aspects of earlier books. While familiar characters like Benden Weyrleaders Lessa and F'lar, and Masterharpers Robinton and Menolly struggle to end the era of Thread, Readis and T'lion work to begin a new era of human-dolphin cooperation. The novel's cover painting by Rowena Morrill was later reused for the biography Anne McCaffrey: A life with dragons (Roberts 2007). Its significance lies in expanding the Pern universe by reintroducing the intelligent dolphins originally brought by colonists, bridging the series' sci-fi and fantasy elements.
Did You Know?
- The cover painting by Rowena Morrill was used again for the biography Anne McCaffrey: A life with dragons (Roberts 2007).
- The novel follows the short story The Dolphin's Bell, contained in The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall.
- Readis is the Paradise River Lord Holder's son, saved by talking dolphins as a young boy.
- T'lion is a young Eastern Weyr dragonrider of Bronze Gadareth.
More in Novels by Anne McCaffrey 1-24
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