Dragonsinger
Dragonsinger is a young adult science fiction book authored by American-Irish writer Anne McCaffrey, released by Atheneum Books in 1977. It represents the fourth installment in the Dragonriders of Pern series and serves as the second volume within the Harper Hall of Pern trilogy, designed for a young adult readership under a new publishing house and editorial team.
Plot summary
The narrative centers on Menolly, who has become an apprentice at Harper Hall, an institution dedicated to training harpers—musician-educators—as she embarks on her formal education. This story continues directly from Dragonsong, concluding Menolly's transition into adulthood.
As the first female apprentice at Harper Hall, Menolly encounters opposition. Her nine fire lizards attract considerable attention, and there is division among the Masters regarding her training due to her gender. She resides with female students who largely exclude her, while male apprentices also reject her as an outsider, leaving Menolly uncertain about where she belongs.
Nonetheless, Menolly thrives and earns the position of personal apprentice to Masterharper Robinton. She composes original pieces and supports Dragonriders by sharing insights about fire-lizards. She presents Masterharper Robinton and his Journeyman Sebell with their own fire-lizards. One evening, her fire-lizards transmit a vision of a Dragonrider plummeting from the sky—a telepathic message that confirms a connection between fire-lizards and dragons and hints at undiscovered capabilities.
By the end of the week, the Masters acknowledge that Menolly has effectively fulfilled her apprenticeship requirements under her Hold's Harper Petiron prior to arriving at Harper Hall. She is elevated to Journeyman status and develops friendships with Hall servant Camo, apprentice Piemur, and student Lady Audiva.
Awards
In 1999, the American Library Association presented McCaffrey with the Margaret A. Edwards Award in recognition of her "lifetime contribution in writing for teens," highlighting her early Pern trilogies (Dragonriders and Harper Hall) as well as The Ship Who Sang.
Dragonsinger achieved ninth place in the annual Locus Award for Best Novel rankings.