• The Chronicles of Pern

  • First Fall
  • By: Anne McCaffrey
  • Narrated by: Meredith MacRae
  • Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,167 ratings)

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The Chronicles of Pern  By  cover art

The Chronicles of Pern

By: Anne McCaffrey
Narrated by: Meredith MacRae
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Publisher's summary

Travel back to the earliest days of Pernese history in this first-ever Dragonriders of Pern short story collection. Join the original survey team as they explore Pern and decide to recommend it for colonization. Share the terror of the evacuation from the Southern Continent as a flotilla of ships, aided by intelligent, talking dolphins, braves the currents of the Pernese ocean. Learn how the famous Ruatha Hold was founded, and thrill with the dragonriders as they expand into a second, then a third Weyr. And discover a secret lost in time - the rescue of some of the original colonists before the planet was cut off forever.

Building a new life on a distant world, braving the dreaded Thread that falls like silver rain from the sky only to destroy every living thing it touches, flying heroically on the wondrous dragons - The Dragonriders of Pern!

Anne McCaffrey suggests The Chronicles of Pern should be followed by The Dolphins of Pern.

©1993 Anne McCaffrey (P)2002 Fantastic Audio, an Imprint of American Audio Literature

Featured Article: 16 of the Best Fantasy Authors Ever


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What listeners say about The Chronicles of Pern

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    787
  • 4 Stars
    238
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    87
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    32
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Story
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  • 4 Stars
    130
  • 3 Stars
    63
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    7

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

It filled in some gaps but...

I know that the stories were cobbled together from Individual stories rather than being written is one book but it still seemed kind of clunky. The narrator was very uninspired and had very little voice differentiation for the most part and was boring to listen to. I am glad to have the information in the additional tidbits of back story but this entire presentation was not up to what I expect from Ann McCaffrey's work.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Intrigue

This book is a great book for the science fiction enthusiasts of all ages. Enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic post earth series!!!!

Loved it!! Highly recommend this older series for all the new scifi readers. McCaffrey is truly an artist painting worlds with words in your mind!!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Back-stories part 2. A Pern fan must-read

What made the experience of listening to The Chronicles of Pern the most enjoyable?

Short stories filling in details of the past.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Chronicles of Pern?

The story of Red Hannrahan.

Have you listened to any of Meredith MacRae’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I may have. The voice is familiar.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It is short stories, so listening in parts was easy.

Any additional comments?

Read / listen after reading Dragonsdawn. An essential duo for true Pern fans.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great stories

These 5 short stories are great about filling in gaps of details or loose threads of the history of PERN

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love this narrator!.

What made the experience of listening to The Chronicles of Pern the most enjoyable?

The story as all of Anne's is first rate and provides a wonderful "filling in of the blanks," from her other books. Wish she was still around to give us more!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Red, the founder of Ruatha

Have you listened to any of Meredith MacRae’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first. I wish she had done more of the Pern books. I would easily pick her to listen to again. She would be perfect for reading "Nerilka's Story!"

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

McCaffrey is always enjoyable

It's been many years since my first round of Pern books. This time I'm listening v reading. So far, it's been fun.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Rescue

I really like this book, the story. I wish the ending were a little different.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Very good animated narration! Anne McCaffrey is a wonderful author!!! I look forward to listening to the next in my chronological list of Pern stories!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Stories for Pern enthusiasts, poor reading

Love these stories, the narrator is not good for storytelling. She mispronounces a lot of words and some names and she has no change in tone of voice so it is difficult to know who is speaking. It's more like she is just reading a story to you (without any acting at all). It's hard to listen to Torene (Tor een) pronounced as (Toe Reen) over and over...

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1 person found this helpful