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  • Dragonflight

  • Dragonriders of Pern, Book 1
  • By: Anne McCaffrey
  • Narrated by: Sophie Aldred
  • Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (354 ratings)

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Dragonflight cover art

Dragonflight

By: Anne McCaffrey
Narrated by: Sophie Aldred
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Summary

The classic first Dragonriders of Pern novel from New York Times best seller Anne McCaffrey.

The Dragons of Pern are the world's only defence against an ancient threat - Thread, an evil rain that devours everything it touches. Paired with their riders from the moment they hatch, they risk their lives burning the scourge of the Red Star from the sky. But the dragons are in decline - the Red Star hasn't posed a threat for generations, and the people of Pern have forgotten what they owe the Dragonriders. Only one Weyr remains, and the only dragon queen is dying....

F'lar knows that the Red Star is rising again and that the ancient threat will return. His only hope is the last queen egg and finding a woman strong enough to be the new queen's rider. But the villainous Lord Fax has other plans....

©2012 Anne McCaffrey (P)2020 Orion Publishing Group

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What listeners say about Dragonflight

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, an old favourite series

I loved this, I found the narration too fast at 1st so turned the speed down to 0.90 and it read at just the right cadence for me.

Must admit it was weird to hear the Question song put to song, I've read these books since I was a pre teen in the very late 80s/early 90s and never thought of a tune!!

I wish I could find a good narrator for the white dragon, I'm not a fan of the one available on here but Sophie Aldridge does a great turn at a young Lessa, if you haven't already, do listen to the dragon song trilogy, a different narrator buy she's also really great!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Revisiting and still wonderful

I love the Pern books and I'm enjoying revisiting them on audible! Well narrated and I'm off to get the next.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Quality Storytelling, Awsome Narration

I have read and re-read this series many times since my teens, in the 1990s. I'm now a grandmother and it's as good now as it was when I first read it. Quality writing, a gripping story, and now, a fantastic narrator. Sophie Aldred played the Doctor's Companion, Ace, back in the 1980s incarnation of Dr Who, which for me as a child of the 80s, adds to the magic.

Yes, as someone has mentioned, it has a dated attitude to women, but that will happen with pretty much anything written before the 1980s, especially as it is meant to be set in a feudal, pastoral society. I find a lot of modern literature has unrealistic portrayals of women in pre-industrial societies. We might not like it, or agree with it, but for millennia women have been treated as inferior beings. I find the attitude to women realistic and adds to my sympathy towards the female characters who must navigate chauvinism and suppressive attitudes.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Love This series!!!

This is a great story, combining fantasy with a historical, feel. I just wish all the books were on Audible

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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outstanding

Great story, beautifully told- really bringing to life one of the classics of the genre

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Back to my youth

I first read the pern series as a teenager..... revisiting them now they have lost none of their power.... I'm looking forward to listening to the next in the series . The books have it all, mystery , thrill, intrigue and humour..... I'm off now to hear more

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A trip down memory Lane

I really enjoyed reading the Pern novels oh so many years ago and have fond memories of the stories. I looked forward to this audio book version. The story is as good as ever with the exception that the relationships between men and women now seem rather dated. I wanted to shout at F’Lar “don’t shake her! It’s a form of assault and unworthy of you!”
That aside, it’s a well told story of “daring do” and fighting against the odds.
Narrator was good but really struggled when it came to Robinton. She simply could not produce his rich voice and it came out rather strangled.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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My beloved Pern

Who would not love to ride
your own
Beloved friend for life despite the dangers

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awesome book

awesome would make a brilliant film !! about time either that or a mini series

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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As good as ever!

I'm the same age as this book and first read it when I was around 15 years old.
I still have a paperback copy somewhere in a box, and when the title came up on my suggested reading list I thought I'd reacquaint myself with my old friends from Pern.
It's good to hear of them all again and know that time can't change a belting good story.
Very much looking forward to listening to the others in the series! 🙂

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