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we can to make Pern fair up to our means； to make it the world our Ancestors hoped to create。〃
He felt his chest fill with determination to succeed in his new tasks。 He could feel fears ing to his eyes as he held out his hand to Tai。 She rose； inclining her body toward him； her eyes shining； too。 He saw Lytol's face light up so that he seemed younger and more vital than ever。 D'ram and Erragon got to their feet； while Master Wansor beamed benignly around the table。
The dragons continued to bugle and； m his head； F'lessan was certain that their call reverberated through every Weyr on the planet。 He had the dragons' support。
〃Whatever we have to do； we shall；〃 he said in a choked voice 〃There will always be dragons in the skies of Pern！〃
THE PHYSICS OF PERN
Anne McCaffrey
Did Anne McCaffrey plan the physics of Pern or did it develop along the way？ Here's her response：
The Physics of Pern…ah； yes； well； they have been developed by Dr。 Jack Cohen of Warwick University in Dragonsdawn and All the Weyrs of Pern。 They are basically Newtonian physics and/or biology in which Jack holds both a Ph。D and a D。Sc。 He is also a generalist； and was able to correct some of my basic errors； which were legion。 I satisfied the science requirement at Radcliffe by taking cartography。 Although I did not know at that point in my life that it would be a valuable asset in my life's work； being able to develop a map of new worlds has been extremely valuable。 Even expert Karen Wynn Fonstad； whom I helped with details in the Atlas of Pern； remarked that most of my suppositions about Pernese terrain jibed well with what was geologically possible。 It was a case of the subconscious running with an idea in the best of possible directions。
To Jack Cohen； I owe the biology of Pern； especially of the dragons and the fire…lizards who supplied the genetic material used to create…by a special and now…unknown process of the alien race…the Eridani； the dragons of Pern。 （You can't just breed large examples of a species to other large examples and keep increasing the size in a few generations。） He also figured out how to decimate the malignant and possibly dangerous life…forms that inhabited the Oort Cloud with the zebedees （his name and creation； a creature that replicates itself despite its environment）。
I had； you see； backed myself into a corner in The White Dragon； because there was no way the present day population of Pern could eradicate the mycorrhizoid Thread life form without the help of the original colonists。 It was my notion to have a voice address artificial intelligence unit…AIVAS…as part of the settlers' equipment； and for the present day Pernese to discover this device and learn from it。 I might have been ahead of the game in suggesting such a puter in 1970； but current puter techniques indicate that such a device is within the realm of possibility。 What I desperately needed was a system by which the Pernese generation could access the technology left by their progenitors so that they could actively fight Thread and honor the Weyrleader's vow to end the Threat of the Red Star forever。 Jack was ingenious in working out details that would forward this ambition。 For instance； how the colony ships were powered。 He figured out that； in order to move such a mass as a planet； there would need to be several attacks on it。 He utilized the draconic ability to move between time and place； and also set up the zebedees to be sure that the mycorrhizoid spore did not again leave the Oort Cloud。 According to the Hoyle…Wickramansingh theory （to which Jack does not personally subscribe but was willing to use as a mechanism in the story） about Oort clouds； many organisms might lurk within such astronomical features； as well as embryonic etary masses； and it would be as well to disseminate a killer virus in the cloud to prevent any recurrence of Thread or similar nebular virii。
So； as far as the physics of Pern is discussed by me in the books； it is legitimate even if it hasn't happened elsewhere。 Jack was adamant that I give a logical explanation of as much as I could； because then people would be more apt to trust the improbable。 It's much easier to describe Pern as earth…like； and that is quite legitimate； too； especially now that we have discovered other star systems do have earth…type planets around their primaries。 I try to have some basis for even the most drastic suggestions I make。
However； I went to the source； as it were； for correct astronomical dates for the latest Pern book； The Skies of Pern。 I asked 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 Impact and Armageddon gave 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 bee 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 WEYRS
Fort 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
Lemas Hold； Lord Holder Asgenar
High Reaches 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； poser
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 mon 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 mon 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。
Wherries： a type of fowl roughly resembling the domestic turkey of Earth； but about the size of an Ostrich。
Withies： water plants resembling the reeds of Earth。
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