Pern's beloved dragons are coughing to death, literally. Weyrleaders and Healers have no answers as more dragons die each day. Worse, the ecological menace Thread is due to drop from the skies for the first time in two centuries. If the dragons don't rise to char Thread from the skies, Pern's fertile lands will be destroyed, condemning its people to starvation.

If humans and dragons are to survive, a cure must be found. It will take the effort of hundreds of people to battle the killer cough, with help coming from the most unexpected source. The question remains: Can the Dragons be saved before Thread destroys Pern?

This novel will be hard for a lover of Anne McCaffrey's Pern to put down. The transition to her son's writing is nearly seamless. Pern society, from Holds to Weyrs is depicted true to the established tradition, and the dragons are as magnificent as ever.

Readers new to the "Dragonriders of Pern" series may have difficulty keeping track of the many characters in the book; however, seasoned fans will find it to be consistent with the casts in previous titles. Although the story encompasses many characters, the action does center on a handful of character who are the driving force behind the search for a cure.

The plot is well developed, and the writing is up to McCaffrey standards. However, some of the sections pertaining to the genetics and science of the disease can be lengthy and involved. If the reader can get past that, they will find two engaging stories, which are nicely intertwined.

Todd McCaffrey promises to be a worthy successor to his mother's writing legacy.

-C.W.

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