List of Pern books


Dragonriders of Pern is a science fiction series initiated by Anne McCaffrey with the Hugo Award–winning novella Weyr Search in 1967.
The stories feature human history on the planet Pern, which might be called human-draconian society for its lifelong inter-species relationships between humans and dragons. Anne McCaffrey wrote all the Pern stories until 2003; as of 2012, eight books by her son Todd McCaffrey or by Anne and Todd have continued the series. In all, there are 24 novels, two collections of short fiction, and a few uncollected works. That includes one book by Anne and Todd published in July 2012, several months after her death, and one published by her daughter Gigi in 2018.
This list follows Pern historical order, which is different from the order of publication. The sequence is disputable at some points because many of the works overlap in time or feature travel between times; limited annotations are provided here.
The point of reference for Pern chronology is "Landing", when transport ships arrived and human settlement began. Years, or "Turns" around Pern's sun, are counted After Landing or "AL".

Before Landing

The planet Rukbat 3 was surveyed about 200 years before settlement.The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall
  • : "The Survey: P.E.R.N."

First Pass

These stories are set before and during the First Pass, from just before settlers landed on Pern until about fifty years afterward.Dragonsdawn

First Interval

Just after the First Pass, 58 years after landing.Dragonsblood – set partly in 58 AL, primarily in 508 AL; see Third Pass

Second Pass

Just before and during the Second Pass, about 250 years after landing.

Third Pass

Just before and during the Third Pass, about 500 years after landing.Dragon's Kin Dragon's Fire – part one during Dragon's KinDragon Harper Dragonsblood – most events; see also First IntervalDragonheart – frame during DragonsbloodDragongirl Dragon's Time

Sixth Pass

Late in the Sixth Pass, about 1550 years after landing.Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern Nerilka's Story – coincident with Moreta

Ninth Pass

Just before and during the Ninth Pass, about 2500 years after landing.The Masterharper of Pern – set 55 years before the Pass until the first part of Dragonflight

Undatable

One short story cannot be dated even approximately. Some readers have inferred that it takes place during the Second or Third Pass.