However, I went to the source, as it were, for correct astronomical dates for the latest Pern book, The Skies of Pern. Iasked Dr. Steven M. Beard of Edinburgh Observatory, and Scott Manley of the Armagh Observatory for substantiating facts in deploying a fireball above and into Pern. I went up to Armagh, also meeting Dr. Bill Napier, author of Nemesis,and other members of the observatory staff to see Scott's Cosmic Impact Program from which he directed Pern's fireball. Coincidentally, earth itself had a Near Earth Object scare about the time I finished writing the manuscript, and many concerned scientists were watching the rather busy skies near our planet to identify and forewarn of other close encounters with NEO's and PHA (Possibly Hazardous Asteroids). Such movies as Deep Impactand Armageddongave me visual evidences of such a disaster, but the dragons of Pern are unusually designed to help mitigate the worst effects of such a catastrophe. The thrust of The Skies of Pern,the need for the inhabitants to become more aware of their spatial environment, and the critical need to set up additional observatories to help prevent a recurrence of such a cosmic impact, is as modern and timely as the one currently in operation on earth, even if it requires the dragons of Pern to implement.

So, Did I plan the physics of Pern or did it develop along the way? The answer is, I didn't plan. It developed along the usual lines for any earth-type planet, and I dragged in whatever experts I needed to substantiate any unusual actions or positing. People want Pern to be believable: I've tried to make it logical as well. I also hope that the general attitude of the Pern People within the books has reflected their growing awareness of science and technology. I tried to infer this by their less restricted vocabulary and general acceptance of their historical origins.

Dragondex

THE WEYRS IN ORDER OF FOUNDING

Fort Weyr

Benden Weyr

High Reaches Weyr

Igen Wyer

Ista Weyr

Telgar Weyr

Southern Weyr

THE MAJOR HOLDS AS BOUND TO THE WEYRSFort Weyr

Fort Hold (oldest hold), Lord Holder Groghe

Ruatha Hold (next oldest), Lord Holder Jaxom, Lord Warder Lytol

Southern Boll Hold, Lord Holder Sangel

Benden Weyr

Benden Hold, Lords Holder Raid and Toronas

Bitra Hold, Lords Holder Sifer and Sigomal

Lemos Hold, Lord Holder Asgenar

Reaches High Weyr

High Reaches Hold, Lord Holder Bargen

Nabol Hold, Lords Holder Fax, Meron, Deckter

Tillek Hold, Lord Holder Oterel

Igen Weyr

Keroon Hold, Lord Holder Corman

Parts of Upper Igen Southern Telgar Hold

Ista Weyr

Ista Hold, Lord Holder Warbret

Igen Hold, Lord Holder Laudey

Nerat Hold, Lords Holder Vincet and Begamon

Telgar Weyr

Telgar Hold, Lord Holder Larad

Crom Hold, Lord Holder Nessel

Southern Weyr

Southern Hold, Holder Toric

CRAFTMASTERS AND MASTERCRAFTSMEN

Crafter Rank/Craft

Andemon Masterfarmer

Arnor Craftmaster, scrivenor

Baldor Weyrharper

Belesdan Mastertanner

Bendarek Craftmaster, woodsmith

Benelek Journeyman machinesmith

Briaret Masterherder

Brudegan Journeyman harper

Chad Harper

Domick Craftmaster, composer

Elgin Harper

Facenden Craftmaster, smith

Fandarel Mastersmith

Idarolan Masterfisher

Jerint Craftmaster, instruments

Ligand Journeyman tanner

Menolly Journeyman harper

Morshall Craftmaster, theory

Nicat Masterminer

Oharan Weyrharper

Oldive Maslerhealer

Palim Journeyman baker

Petiron Harper

Piemur Apprentice/journeyman

Robinton Masterharper

Sebell Journeyman/Masterharper

Sharra Journeyman healer

Shonegar Craftmaster, voice

Sograny Masterherder

Tagetarl Journeyman harper .

Talmor Journeyman harper

Terry Craftmaster, smith

Timareen Craftmaster, weaver

Wansor Craftmaster, glassmith

Yanis Craftmaster

Zurg Masterweaver

Location

Nerat Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Ista Weyr

Igen Hold

Lemos Hold

Smith Hall

Keroon Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Telgar Weyr

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Half-Circle Sea Hold

Smithcraft Hall, Telgar Hold

Tillek Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Fort Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Crom Hold

Benden Weyr

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Smithhall

Half-Circle Sea Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Fort Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Southern Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Keroon Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Harpercraft Hall, Fort Hold

Smithcraft Hall, Telgar Hold

Telgar Hold

Smithcraft Hall, Telgar Hold

Half-Circle Sea Hold

Southern Boll Hold

SOME TERMS OF INTEREST

Agenothree: a common chemical on Pern, HNO3.

Between: an area of nothingness and sensory deprivation between here and there.

Black rock: analagous to coal.

Day Sisters: a trio of stars visible from Pern.

Dawn Sisters: an alternate name for Day Sisters.

Deadglow: a numskull, stupid. Derived from glow.

Fellis: a flowering tree.

Fellis juice: a juice made from the fruit of the fellis tree; a soporific.

Fire-stone: a phosphine-bearing mineral which dragons chew to produce flame.

Glow: a light-source which can be carried in a handbasket.

High Reaches: mountains on the northern continent of Pern (see map).

Hold: a place where the common people live; originally they were cut into the mountains and hillsides.

Impression: the joining of minds of a dragon and his rider-to-be at the moment of the dragon's Hatching.

Interval: the period of time between Passes, generally 200 Turns.

Klah: a hot stimulating drink made of tree bark and tasting faintly of cinnamon.

Looks to: is Impressed by.

Long Interval: a period of time, generally twice the length of an interval, in which no Thread falls and Dragonmen decrease in number. The last Long Interval is thought to herald the end of Threads.

Month: four sevendays.

Numbweed: a medicinal cream which, when smeared on wounds, kills all feeling; used as an anesthetic.

Oldtimer: a member of one of the five Weyrs which Lessa brought forward four hundred Turns in time. Used as a derogative way to refer to one who has moved to Southern Weyr.

Pass: a period of time during which the Red Star is close enough to drop Thread on Pern.

Pern: third of the star Rukbat's five planets. It has two natural satellites.

Red Star (sic): Pern's stepsister planet. It has an erratic orbit.

Rukbat: a yellow star in the Sagittarian Sector, Rukbat has five planets and two asteroid belts.

Sevenday: the equivalent of a week on Pern.

Thread: (mycorrhizoid) spores from the Red Star, which descend on Pern and burrow into it, devouring all organic material they encounter.

Turn: a Pernese year.

Watchwher: a nocturnal reptile distantly related to dragonkind.

Weyr: a home of dragons and their riders, weyr: a dragon's den.

Weyrsinger: the Harper for the dragonriders, usually himself a dragonrider.