The Renegades of Pern

📘 About This Book

As long as the people of Pern could remember, the Holds had protected them from Thread, the deadly silver strands that fell from the sky and ravaged the land. In exchange for sanctuary in the huge stone fortresses, the people tithed to their Lord Holders, who in turn supported the Weyrs, whose dragons were Pern's greatest weapon against Thread. But not everyone on Pern was part of that system of mutual care and protection, particularly those who had been rendered holdless as punishment for wrongdoing. And there were some, like Jayge's trader clan, who simply preferred the freedom of the roads to the security of a hold. Others, like Aramina's family, had lost their holds through injustice and cruelty. For all the holdless, life was a constant struggle for survival. Then, from the ranks of the criminals and the disaffected, rose a band of renegades, led by the Lady Thella. No one was safe from Thella's depredations, and now her quarry was Aramina, reputed to have a telepathic link with dragons. But when Thella mistakenly vented her rage on Jayge's family, she made a dangerous mistake. For Jayge was bent on revenge . . . and he would never let her have the girl who heard dragons! "From the Hardcover edition.

📖 Summary

The Renegades of Pern, written by Anne McCaffrey and published in 1997, spans 384 pages of rich fiction set within the beloved science fiction universe of Pern. For as long as its inhabitants can remember, the sprawling stone fortresses known as Holds have provided essential sanctuary to the population, protecting them from Thread, the deadly and destructive silver strands that rain down from the sky to ravage the landscape. In exchange for this vital protection, the people offer tithes to their powerful Lord Holders. These Lord Holders, in turn, financially and logistically support the Weyrs, where the magnificent dragons reside as Pern's absolute greatest weapon against the menace of Thread. This intricate system of mutual care, duty, and protection has sustained society for generations, forming the bedrock of civilization on the planet. However, not everyone on Pern fits neatly into or chooses to participate in this structured system of societal obligation. Some individuals have been rendered entirely holdless as a direct punishment for wrongdoing or criminal behavior, forcing them to exist on the fringes of society. Meanwhile, others, such as Jayge and his fiercely independent trader clan, simply prefer the vast freedom of the open roads to the rigid security and rules of a traditional hold. There are also tragic figures, like Aramina and her family, who have lost their ancestral holds not through any fault of their own, but rather through the cruel acts and injustices committed by others. For all of these marginalized, independent, or outcast groups collectively known as the holdless, daily life is a relentless and grueling struggle for mere survival against the elements and the constant threat of isolation. The narrative delves deeply into the lives of these outsiders, exploring the boundaries of a world defined by dragons and stone fortresses from a completely fresh perspective. As the lives of these diverse renegades begin to intersect, forces gather that threaten to disrupt the established order of Pern entirely. McCaffrey weaves a tale that questions the fairness of the traditional hold system while highlighting the resilience, ingenuity, and spirit of those who live beyond its massive walls. Through detailed worldbuilding and compelling character arcs, the novel expands the horizons of the Pern series, offering readers a fascinating look at the complexities of a society built under the constant shadow of falling death from the sky.

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