Killashandra

Experience the first Killashandra Ree adventure, in which the indomitable Killa overcomes disappointment in one career by diving into a much more exciting one. Filled with suspense, anguish, romance, and intrigue, this distinctive adventure is one of Anne McCaffrey's best.

Killashandra Ree was drawn like a magnet to the song of crystal, and now it's erasing her memory. She knew the forgetfulness would be a byproduct of the singing, and she doesn't mind the little annoyances, like being unable to remember her address or the names of her colleagues. But she hadn't counted on the loneliness a person can feel when the heart still remembers what the mind has forgotten. Can the crystal that destroyed her memory somehow restore it?

Dragonsong is the spellbinding tale of Menolly of Half Circle Hold, a brave young girl who flees her seaside village and discovers the legendary fire lizards of Pern. All her life, Menolly has longed to learn the ancient secrets of the Harpers, the master musicians of Harper Hall. When her stern father denies her the chance to make her dream come true, Menolly runs away from home. Hiding in a cave by the sea, she finds nine magical fire lizards who join her on a breathtaking journey to Harper Hall.

Dragonsong is the spellbinding tale of Menolly of Half Circle Hold, a brave young girl who flees her seaside village and discovers the legendary fire lizards of Pern. All her life, Menolly has longed to learn the ancient secrets of the Harpers, the master musicians of Harper Hall. When her stern father denies her the chance to make her dream come true, Menolly runs away from home. Hiding in a cave by the sea, she finds nine magical fire lizards who join her on a breathtaking journey to Harper Hall.

Day by day, the sentient planet is learning to recognize and understand the meaning of outside stimuli, to communicate its own needs and desires...even to use human speech. The Petaybeans have their hands full trying to protect their beloved planet from the sudden influx of tourists. Then some of Petaybee's staunchest champions are kidnapped.

Pellar is an orphan taken in by Masterharper Zist. Though born mute, Pellar is a gifted tracker, and when Zist sets off to take over as harper for Natalon's coal-mining camp, Pellar - along with his fire-lizard, Chitter - joins him on a secret mission of his own: to find out if reported thefts of coal are the work of the Shunned, criminals condemned to a life of wandering and hardship.

The beautiful planet Pern seemed a paradise to its new colonists - until unimaginable terror turned it into hell. Suddenly, deadly spores were falling like silver threads from the sky, devouring everything - and everyone - in their path. It began to look as if the colony, cut off from Earth and lacking the resources to combat the menace, was doomed. Then some of the colonists noticed that the small, dragonlike lizards that inhabited their new world were joining the fight against Thread, breathing fire on it and teleporting to safety.

While on an archaeological dig, 7-year-old Tia falls mysteriously ill. Her sickness may have been caused by the EsKays, a race whose artifacts are scattered throughout the galaxy. The young shellperson goes in search of the EsKays, whose fate remains an enigma, to try to find answers. This heartwarming tale is narrated by television and stage actress Constance Towers.

Teenage Aramina has the unusual ability to hear dragons. Her keen perception causes dismay to her mother, who fears Aramina will desert her family and commit to living the life of a dragonrider. In the land of Pern, Aramina's family is known as the "holdless," nomads who roam the land to hide from bandits. Aramina must find a way to exploit her unique talent without sacrificing the family she loves.

Like Helva, The Ship Who Sang, Carialle was born so physically disadvantaged that her only chance for life was as a shell person. And again, like those others, Carialle decided she would strap on a spaceship. Her brawn is a guy named Keff. Their mission: to search the galaxy for intelligent beings.

There are only a few people who can save the galaxy. Among them are Sassinak, Lunzie, Fordeliton, Dupaynil, and Aygar. Together, they must fight hard to avert disaster. This gripping tale is part of the Planet Pirates series by Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Moon, and Jody Lynn Nye. It is narrated by stage and television star Constance Towers.

Clan of the Cave Bear is the first novel in Jean M. Auel's magnificent best-selling epic of life 35,000 years ago. Leave the 21st century and go back to Ice Age Europe. Follow Ayla, a Cro-Magnon child who loses her parents in an earthquake and is adopted by a tribe of Neanderthal, the Clan. See how the Clan's wary suspicion is gradually transformed into acceptance of this girl, so different from them, under the guidance of its medicine woman, Iza, and its wise holy man, Creb. Immerse yourself in a world dictated by the demands of survival in a hostile environment, and be swept away in an epic tale of love, identity and struggle.

Thomas's Duchess is no ordinary cat. She's a purebred Barque Cat, trained to patrol the ship on which she serves, sniffing out oxygen leaks and spotting other problems. But when a corrupt government announces it has found an epidemic that requires the impounding and possible destruction of animals across the galaxy - Barque Cats included - two young people, a kitten, and a mysterious, powerful cat with a hidden agenda, are all that stand between the galaxy's animals and total destruction.

Simeon is bored, even with his latest war game. When he hears of the arrival of an out-of-control refugee ship, he welcomes the excitement. But the refugees' story is horrifying: they were attacked by space barbarians. If anyone is to survive another attack, Simeon must turn his war game hobby into the real thing! This tale is narrated by television and stage actress Constance Towers ( Capitol).

Sassinak was 12 when the raiders came. That made her just the right age: old enough to be used, young enough to be broken. Or so the slavers thought. But Sassy turned out to be a little different from your typical slave girl. Maybe it was her unusual physical strength. Maybe it was her friendship with the captured Fleet crewman. Maybe it was her spirit. Whatever it was, it wouldn't let her resign herself to the life of a slave. She bided her time, watched for her moment. Finally it came, and she escaped.