Dragon's Fire (2006)

Dragon's Fire is a science fiction novel by the American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey and her son Todd McCaffrey. Published in 2006, it is the twentieth book in the Dragonriders of Pern series that she initiated in 1967.

Dragon's Fire may be considered the second of a trilogy by the McCaffreys, between Dragon's Kin and Dragon Harper. Primarily the three books feature Kindan as a boy and young man, about 500 years after landing on Pern (500 AL). He is not the protagonist of Dragon's Fire, however, which is told from the viewpoints of three others in his generation, which are Cristov, Pellar, and Halla.

Plot summary

Pellar's story provides background information related to the previous title Dragon's Kin. Cristov's story is mostly new material (blue firestone that survives in water) and takes place after the events in Pellar's. The focus of Cristov's story is the problem-laden transition from firestone to the phosphine-bearing rock that is used by later generations of dragons.

Reception

Publishers Weekly commended the McCaffreys for shining the light on the risks of mining fossil fuels and slave labor while also maintaining a suitable atmosphere for young and older readerships alike.