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LitRPG / science fantasy
Series · science fantasy
Dragonriders of Pern
The Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey has 26 known books (26 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Dragonflight (1968). Anne McCaffrey wrote the series; it was continued by Todd McCaffrey, then Gigi McCaffrey.
- Books
- 26 known books (24 novels + 2 collections)
- Published
- 26
- First published
- 1968
- Status
- completed
- Shelved under
- Science Fiction, Fantasy
- Last checked
Start here: Dragonflight (1968) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Dragonflight
Published in 1968, "Dragonflight" opens the Dragonriders of Pern series and remains its most-recommended entry point: it introduces the telepathic bond between dragon and rider, the Weyr system, and the recurring menace of Thread falling from the sky, at 308 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonflight - Book 2:
Dragonquest
At 351 pages, "Dragonquest" (1971) picks up the main dragonrider storyline after "Dragonflight," running in the same period of Pern's history as the Harper Hall books that follow it, "Dragonsong" and "Dragonsinger."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonquest - Book 3:
Dragonsong
Published in 1976 at 194 pages, "Dragonsong" opens the Harper Hall trilogy, following the gifted young singer Menolly through events set during the same period as "Dragonquest" — McCaffrey wrote it partly for younger readers, making it a gentler entry point into Pern than "Dragonflight."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonsong - Book 4:
Dragonsinger
The second Harper Hall book, "Dragonsinger" (1977, 271 pages) continues Menolly's story between "Dragonsong" and "The White Dragon," carrying forward the trilogy's younger-reader-friendly approach to Pern's dragon-and-Thread world.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonsinger - Book 5:
The White Dragon
At 468 pages, "The White Dragon" (1978) returns to the main dragonrider storyline between "Dragonsinger" and "Dragondrums," set against Pern's feudal society of Weyrs, Holds and Halls under the recurring threat of Thread.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The White Dragon - Book 6:
Dragondrums
Closing the Harper Hall trilogy at 208 pages, "Dragondrums" (1979) sits between "The White Dragon" and "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern" in the reading order, following the same younger-reader thread McCaffrey began with "Dragonsong" and "Dragonsinger."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragondrums - Book 7:
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
Published in 1983 at 416 pages, "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern" jumps back centuries in Pern's internal timeline to a plague crisis that becomes legend by the era of the main dragonrider novels, positioned between "Dragondrums" and "Nerilka's Story."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern - Book 8:
Nerilka's Story
At 190 pages, "Nerilka's Story" (1986) revisits the same plague-era crisis as "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern," continuing the Dragonriders of Pern series between that book and "Dragonsdawn."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Nerilka's Story - Book 9:
Dragonsdawn
"Dragonsdawn" (1988, 431 pages) reaches furthest back into Pern's internal chronology, covering the original colony ship's arrival on the planet — the science-fictional origin that the fantasy-facing main series only hints at — and sits between "Nerilka's Story" and "The Renegades of Pern."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonsdawn - Book 10:
The Renegades of Pern
Published in 1989 at 340 pages, "The Renegades of Pern" continues the main dragonrider storyline between "Dragonsdawn" and "All the Weyrs of Pern," set within Pern's feudal Weyr, Hold and Hall society under the recurring threat of Thread.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Renegades of Pern - Book 11:
All the Weyrs of Pern
At 478 pages, "All the Weyrs of Pern" (1991) advances the series between "The Renegades of Pern" and "The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall," continuing the blend of dragon-and-Thread fantasy with the buried science-fictional history of Pern's lost Earth colonists.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of All the Weyrs of Pern - Book 12:
The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall
A short-story collection rather than a novel, "The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall" (1993, 306 pages) sits between "All the Weyrs of Pern" and "The Dolphins of Pern" in the series, gathering tales from across Pern's dragon-and-Thread history.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall - Book 13:
The Dolphins of Pern
Published in 1994 at 384 pages, "The Dolphins of Pern" continues the series between "The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall" and "Dragonseye," expanding Pern's ecology beyond dragons within the planet's Weyr-and-Hold society.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Dolphins of Pern - Book 14:
Dragonseye
At 416 pages, "Dragonseye" (1996) carries the series from "The Dolphins of Pern" toward "The Masterharper of Pern," set amid the recurring Threadfall crises that define Pern's feudal world.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonseye - Book 15:
The Masterharper of Pern
Published in 1998 at 432 pages, "The Masterharper of Pern" follows "Dragonseye" and precedes "The Skies of Pern," continuing Anne McCaffrey's exploration of Pern's Harper Hall alongside its dragonriders.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Masterharper of Pern - Book 16:
The Skies of Pern
At 464 pages, "The Skies of Pern" (2001) marks the end of Anne McCaffrey's solo run on the core series before her son Todd began co-writing, sitting between "The Masterharper of Pern" and "A Gift of Dragons."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Skies of Pern - Book 17:
A Gift of Dragons
Published in 2002 at 291 pages, "A Gift of Dragons" continues the series between "The Skies of Pern" and "Dragon's Kin," part of Pern's dragon-and-Thread world of Weyrs, Holds and Halls.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of A Gift of Dragons - Book 18:
Dragon's Kin
At 400 pages, "Dragon's Kin" (2003) is the first Pern novel Anne McCaffrey co-wrote with her son Todd McCaffrey, opening a run of books set earlier in Pern's timeline during the Third Pass that can be read as a self-contained pocket within the wider series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon's Kin - Book 19:
Dragonsblood
Written by Todd McCaffrey alone, "Dragonsblood" (2005, 608 pages) continues the Third Pass storyline he began with "Dragon's Kin," sitting between that book and "Dragon's Fire" in the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonsblood - Book 20:
Dragon's Fire
A collaboration between Anne and Todd McCaffrey, "Dragon's Fire" (2006, 432 pages) continues the Third Pass thread of the Dragonriders of Pern series, positioned between "Dragonsblood" and "Dragon Harper."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon's Fire - Book 21:
Dragon Harper
Published in 2007 at 464 pages, "Dragon Harper" continues the Anne and Todd McCaffrey collaboration between "Dragon's Fire" and "Dragonheart," set within Pern's Third Pass storyline.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon Harper - Book 22:
Dragonheart
Written solely by Todd McCaffrey, "Dragonheart" (2008) runs 544 pages and carries the Third Pass storyline forward from "Dragon Harper" toward "Dragongirl."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonheart - Book 23:
Dragongirl
At 640 pages, "Dragongirl" (2010) continues Todd McCaffrey's Third Pass storyline — this one co-credited with Anne McCaffrey — slotting into the series after "Dragonheart" and ahead of "Dragon's Time."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragongirl - Book 24:
Dragon's Time
Published in 2011 at 400 pages, "Dragon's Time" continues the Anne and Todd McCaffrey collaboration between "Dragongirl" and "Sky Dragons," released the year of Anne McCaffrey's death.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon's Time - Book 25:
Sky Dragons
At 400 pages, "Sky Dragons" (2012) is among the last Pern novels credited to Anne McCaffrey, co-written with Todd McCaffrey after her 2011 death, continuing the series from "Dragon's Time" toward "Dragon's Code."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sky Dragons - Book 26:
Dragon's Code
Written by Gigi McCaffrey — a third generation of the family to carry the series forward — "Dragon's Code" (2018, 352 pages) follows "Sky Dragons," extending Pern's dragon-and-Thread saga years after Anne McCaffrey's death.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon's Code
The order the story's events happen in, novellas slotted where they belong.
- Book 1:
Dragonsdawn
"Dragonsdawn" (1988, 431 pages) reaches furthest back into Pern's internal chronology, covering the original colony ship's arrival on the planet — the science-fictional origin that the fantasy-facing main series only hints at — and sits between "Nerilka's Story" and "The Renegades of Pern."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonsdawn - Book 2:
The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall
A short-story collection rather than a novel, "The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall" (1993, 306 pages) sits between "All the Weyrs of Pern" and "The Dolphins of Pern" in the series, gathering tales from across Pern's dragon-and-Thread history.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall - Book 3:
Dragonseye
At 416 pages, "Dragonseye" (1996) carries the series from "The Dolphins of Pern" toward "The Masterharper of Pern," set amid the recurring Threadfall crises that define Pern's feudal world.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonseye - Book 4:
Dragon's Kin
At 400 pages, "Dragon's Kin" (2003) is the first Pern novel Anne McCaffrey co-wrote with her son Todd McCaffrey, opening a run of books set earlier in Pern's timeline during the Third Pass that can be read as a self-contained pocket within the wider series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon's Kin - Book 5:
Dragonsblood
Written by Todd McCaffrey alone, "Dragonsblood" (2005, 608 pages) continues the Third Pass storyline he began with "Dragon's Kin," sitting between that book and "Dragon's Fire" in the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonsblood - Book 6:
Dragon's Fire
A collaboration between Anne and Todd McCaffrey, "Dragon's Fire" (2006, 432 pages) continues the Third Pass thread of the Dragonriders of Pern series, positioned between "Dragonsblood" and "Dragon Harper."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon's Fire - Book 7:
Dragon Harper
Published in 2007 at 464 pages, "Dragon Harper" continues the Anne and Todd McCaffrey collaboration between "Dragon's Fire" and "Dragonheart," set within Pern's Third Pass storyline.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon Harper - Book 8:
Dragonheart
Written solely by Todd McCaffrey, "Dragonheart" (2008) runs 544 pages and carries the Third Pass storyline forward from "Dragon Harper" toward "Dragongirl."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonheart - Book 9:
Dragongirl
At 640 pages, "Dragongirl" (2010) continues Todd McCaffrey's Third Pass storyline — this one co-credited with Anne McCaffrey — slotting into the series after "Dragonheart" and ahead of "Dragon's Time."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragongirl - Book 10:
Dragon's Time
Published in 2011 at 400 pages, "Dragon's Time" continues the Anne and Todd McCaffrey collaboration between "Dragongirl" and "Sky Dragons," released the year of Anne McCaffrey's death.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon's Time - Book 11:
Sky Dragons
At 400 pages, "Sky Dragons" (2012) is among the last Pern novels credited to Anne McCaffrey, co-written with Todd McCaffrey after her 2011 death, continuing the series from "Dragon's Time" toward "Dragon's Code."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sky Dragons - Book 12:
Dragon's Code
Written by Gigi McCaffrey — a third generation of the family to carry the series forward — "Dragon's Code" (2018, 352 pages) follows "Sky Dragons," extending Pern's dragon-and-Thread saga years after Anne McCaffrey's death.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragon's Code - Book 13:
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
Published in 1983 at 416 pages, "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern" jumps back centuries in Pern's internal timeline to a plague crisis that becomes legend by the era of the main dragonrider novels, positioned between "Dragondrums" and "Nerilka's Story."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern - Book 14:
Nerilka's Story
At 190 pages, "Nerilka's Story" (1986) revisits the same plague-era crisis as "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern," continuing the Dragonriders of Pern series between that book and "Dragonsdawn."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Nerilka's Story - Book 15:
The Masterharper of Pern
Published in 1998 at 432 pages, "The Masterharper of Pern" follows "Dragonseye" and precedes "The Skies of Pern," continuing Anne McCaffrey's exploration of Pern's Harper Hall alongside its dragonriders.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Masterharper of Pern - Book 16:
Dragonflight
Published in 1968, "Dragonflight" opens the Dragonriders of Pern series and remains its most-recommended entry point: it introduces the telepathic bond between dragon and rider, the Weyr system, and the recurring menace of Thread falling from the sky, at 308 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonflight - Book 17:
Dragonquest
At 351 pages, "Dragonquest" (1971) picks up the main dragonrider storyline after "Dragonflight," running in the same period of Pern's history as the Harper Hall books that follow it, "Dragonsong" and "Dragonsinger."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonquest - Book 18:
Dragonsong
Published in 1976 at 194 pages, "Dragonsong" opens the Harper Hall trilogy, following the gifted young singer Menolly through events set during the same period as "Dragonquest" — McCaffrey wrote it partly for younger readers, making it a gentler entry point into Pern than "Dragonflight."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonsong - Book 19:
Dragonsinger
The second Harper Hall book, "Dragonsinger" (1977, 271 pages) continues Menolly's story between "Dragonsong" and "The White Dragon," carrying forward the trilogy's younger-reader-friendly approach to Pern's dragon-and-Thread world.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragonsinger - Book 20:
Dragondrums
Closing the Harper Hall trilogy at 208 pages, "Dragondrums" (1979) sits between "The White Dragon" and "Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern" in the reading order, following the same younger-reader thread McCaffrey began with "Dragonsong" and "Dragonsinger."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dragondrums - Book 21:
The White Dragon
At 468 pages, "The White Dragon" (1978) returns to the main dragonrider storyline between "Dragonsinger" and "Dragondrums," set against Pern's feudal society of Weyrs, Holds and Halls under the recurring threat of Thread.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The White Dragon - Book 22:
The Renegades of Pern
Published in 1989 at 340 pages, "The Renegades of Pern" continues the main dragonrider storyline between "Dragonsdawn" and "All the Weyrs of Pern," set within Pern's feudal Weyr, Hold and Hall society under the recurring threat of Thread.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Renegades of Pern - Book 23:
All the Weyrs of Pern
At 478 pages, "All the Weyrs of Pern" (1991) advances the series between "The Renegades of Pern" and "The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall," continuing the blend of dragon-and-Thread fantasy with the buried science-fictional history of Pern's lost Earth colonists.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of All the Weyrs of Pern - Book 24:
The Dolphins of Pern
Published in 1994 at 384 pages, "The Dolphins of Pern" continues the series between "The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall" and "Dragonseye," expanding Pern's ecology beyond dragons within the planet's Weyr-and-Hold society.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Dolphins of Pern - Book 25:
The Skies of Pern
At 464 pages, "The Skies of Pern" (2001) marks the end of Anne McCaffrey's solo run on the core series before her son Todd began co-writing, sitting between "The Masterharper of Pern" and "A Gift of Dragons."
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Skies of Pern - Book 26:
A Gift of Dragons
Published in 2002 at 291 pages, "A Gift of Dragons" continues the series between "The Skies of Pern" and "Dragon's Kin," part of Pern's dragon-and-Thread world of Weyrs, Holds and Halls.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of A Gift of Dragons
About the Dragonriders of Pern series
On the planet Pern, humans bond telepathically with giant, fire-breathing dragons and ride them into the sky to combat Thread — a mycorrhizoid spore that falls like corrosive rain from a wandering neighbor planet every couple of centuries, devouring anything organic it touches. Anne McCaffrey began the series in 1968 with Dragonflight, and it became one of the foundational works of science fantasy: colonists from a lost Earth expedition, generations removed from their technological origins, now live in a feudal society of Weyrs, Holds and Halls, genuinely believing dragons and Threadfall are simply how their world works, while the reader is let in on the science-fictional truth underneath the fantasy trappings.
The series ranges freely across Pern's internal timeline rather than telling one continuous story — Dragonsdawn covers the original colony ship's arrival, the Harper Hall trilogy (Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragondrums) follows a gifted young singer named Menolly during the same period as Dragonquest, and Moreta jumps back centuries to a plague crisis that becomes Pernese legend by the time of the main dragonrider novels. McCaffrey wrote the core of the series alone through 2001; her son Todd McCaffrey then began co-writing new Pern novels with her, continuing the series into the 2010s and beyond her death in 2011. Its themes of ecological survival, found family, and women claiming authority in a rigidly gendered society were unusually progressive for the fantasy shelves of the late 1960s and helped make McCaffrey the first woman to win a Hugo and a Nebula Award.
Frequently asked questions
Who writes the Dragonriders of Pern series?
Anne McCaffrey wrote the series; it was continued by Todd McCaffrey, then Gigi McCaffrey.
What order should I read the Dragonriders of Pern books in?
Publication order starting with Dragonflight (1968) is the standard recommendation. Readers who prefer the story's internal chronology instead start with Dragonsdawn, which covers the original colonists' arrival centuries before Dragonflight is set.
How many Dragonriders of Pern books are there?
This site tracks 26 books in the continuous Pern timeline, spanning 1968 to 2018: 17 by Anne McCaffrey alone, five co-written with her son Todd McCaffrey, two more (Dragonsblood, Dragonheart) written solely by Todd, one (Dragongirl) crediting both Todd and Anne, and one (Dragon's Code) written solely by Anne's daughter Gigi McCaffrey after Anne's death.
Do I need to read the Harper Hall trilogy separately from the main series?
No — Dragonsong, Dragonsinger and Dragondrums are full Pern novels set during the same period as Dragonquest, following a young singer named Menolly. They can be read as their own mini-trilogy or interspersed with the main sequence.
Did Anne McCaffrey write all the Pern books?
No. She wrote the first seventeen alone, from Dragonflight (1968) through A Gift of Dragons (2002), then co-wrote five more with her son Todd McCaffrey through Sky Dragons (2012), published shortly after her November 2011 death. Todd also wrote two Pern novels entirely solo (Dragonsblood, Dragonheart), and Anne's daughter Gigi McCaffrey wrote one more (Dragon's Code, 2018) after both her mother's and (in this book's case) without Todd's co-credit.
What's the difference between Dragonseye and Red Star Rising?
They're the same book — Dragonseye is the US title and Red Star Rising the UK title for McCaffrey's 1996 novel.
If you like the Dragonriders of Pern series
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