This collaboration between Anne McCaffrey and her son, Todd, who’s taking over the Pern baton, wasn’t as bad as some reviews had led me to believe. It’s still recognisably Pern, albeit a slightly darker side than I remember reading before – the mining industry is something we haven’t really seen much of, and the Shunned are the outcast from society.

Beginning and end are with the ‘template’: a slow introduction to Pellar, a very bright but mute boy, who still wants to become a Harper. And – without really giving anything away, I hope! – the ending ties up all the lose threads and has that touch of saccharine you’d expect from Pern!

However, in the middle there is just far too much crammed in. The Shunned, the harpers, the miners, the Watchwhers; dozens and dozens of characters, too many plot threads, and nothing given enough attention to completely work.

It’s a pity, ‘cos I do like the ‘comfort reading’ from the Dragonriders series. This is still readable, but I think trying a little bit too hard.