I always felt like the later novels were some kind of cleanup. Like, “Well of course these immense dragons couldn’t fly without help. I better show their genetic creation and how it includes telekinesis! All the good guys will have names associated with good guys in the future (Paul Benden) and bad guys will have names associated with future bad guys (Nahbi Nabol, future home of Meron).” And I’m not sure how the Weyrs would be harmed by the reduction in tithing, since the acquisition of their Southern land was meant to backstop their needs. I agree we are better off without this manuscript being in print.
I said something like this in the other comment, but the first trilogy had a vivid elegance that was faded by the peek behind the curtain offered in Dragonsdawn. It and subsequent Pern novels felt..less.
It's a curiosity. If one could time-capsule it, make it available 100 years from now... Then yes, publish it then, no fanfare, available at whatever library has McCaffrey's papers.
There's a saying in the writing world. It was the last book--for a reason. Generally, last works tend to be the least worthy specimens to any writer's oeuvre. Nothing left in the tank--so to speak.
I always felt like the later novels were some kind of cleanup. Like, “Well of course these immense dragons couldn’t fly without help. I better show their genetic creation and how it includes telekinesis! All the good guys will have names associated with good guys in the future (Paul Benden) and bad guys will have names associated with future bad guys (Nahbi Nabol, future home of Meron).” And I’m not sure how the Weyrs would be harmed by the reduction in tithing, since the acquisition of their Southern land was meant to backstop their needs. I agree we are better off without this manuscript being in print.
I said something like this in the other comment, but the first trilogy had a vivid elegance that was faded by the peek behind the curtain offered in Dragonsdawn. It and subsequent Pern novels felt..less.
It's a curiosity. If one could time-capsule it, make it available 100 years from now... Then yes, publish it then, no fanfare, available at whatever library has McCaffrey's papers.
There's a saying in the writing world. It was the last book--for a reason. Generally, last works tend to be the least worthy specimens to any writer's oeuvre. Nothing left in the tank--so to speak.