Best Selling Books by Anne McCaffrey

Once upon a time, a long time ago, even before the classic novel Dragonflight was written, a story was published. It was called Weyr Search and it introduced to the world the incredible Dragonriders of Pern. Now, Anne McCaffrey celebrates a quarter-century of dragons and dragonriders as she returns to the form that started it all: the first-ever Pern short-story collection! Let the queen of dragons herself take you back to the earliest days of Pernese history as she brings to life events that shaped one of the most popular worlds in all of science fiction. Join the original survey team as they explore Pern and decide to recommend it for colonization. Share the terror of the evacuation from the Southern Continent, as a flotilla of ships, aided by intelligent, talking dolphins, braves the dreadful currents of the Pernese ocean. Learn how the famous Ruatha Hold was founded, and thrill with the dragonriders as they expand into a second, then a third Weyr. And discover a secret lost in time: the rescue of some of the original colonists, before the planet was cut off forever! Building a new life on a distant world, braving the dreaded Thread that falls like silver rain from the sky only to destroy every living thing it touches, flying heroically on the wondrous dragons: The Dragonriders of Pern!

Kai and Varian spent forty years in coldsleep, hiding from the mutineers who had taken over the planet Ireta. But when they woke, the mutineers were still around—and had sired two generations of ornery descendants! Worse yet, space pirates were on their way to join the illegal colony. Then a huge group of alien Theks, intent on some cryptic purpose of their own, appeared unexpectedly. Kai and Varian were determined to save the planet and its unusual dinosaurs. All they had to do was solve the myriad mysteries of Ireta and gain the trust of teh most dangerous beings in their Universe. Not an easy task, at best!

Helva had been born human, but only her brain had been saved—saved to be schooled, programmed, and implanted into the sleek titanium body of an intergalactic scout ship. But first she had to choose a human partner—male or female—to share her exhilirating excapades in space! Her life was to be rich and rewarding . . . resplendent with daring adventures and endless excitement, beyond the wildest dreams of mere mortals. Gifted with the voice of an angel and being virtually indestructable, Helva XH-834 antipitated a sublime immortality. Then one day she fell in love!

"I must find my own kind!"Found as an infant drifting in space, Acorna, the Unicorn Girl, has become a young woman. She still has her tiny, translucent horn, and her "funny" feet and hands. And, she still has her miraculous ability to make plants grow and heal human sickness. But Acorna has strange dreams of a gentle folk who mind-speak by touching horns. With her "Uncle" Calum, one of the three grizzled asteroid prospectors who rescued, protected, and raised her, she sets off to find her people. No sooner does she leave than a mysterious craft appears, piloted by the Linyaari, a gentle race with telepathic powers. The Linyaari are roaming the galaxy, spreading the alarm about the deadly Khleev--And searching for a beloved little girl they had given up for lost, long ago...

The unicorn girl must rescue her beloved and defeat a dreaded alien menace in this action-packed conclusion to the fantasy space opera series. Beloved by millions of readers, Anne McCaffrey is one of science fiction’s favorite authors. Writing with award-winning author Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, she has created the bestselling Acorna series, focusing on the adventures of the brave unicorn girl. With Acorna’s Triumph, they turn to the dramatic conclusion of the series, as Acorna faces her most difficult challenge ever. She has defeated slavers, a deadly international conspiracy, and the vicious alien Khleevi, only to endure the loss of her beloved Aari, distant in both time and space. Now, finally, Aari has returned, and together they can finish rebuilding their home world. But Aari is oddly changed, to the point where he barely remembers Acorna—much less their love—and his actions grow more and more sinister. . . . As Acorna tries to stop a vicious criminal from destroying innocents, a new complication arises. Sensing the Linyaari weakness, the deadly Khleevi return, determined to take back the planet—for good. In this dark time, it will take all the unicorn girl’s courage and determination to rescue Aari and stop the alien menace once and for all. Praise for Acorna’s Triumph “McCaffrey and Scarborough’s finale to the charming Acorna saga will please the two authors’ many fans and lovers of horses and cats generally. . . . A fitting coda to the series. Both Acorna and Aari and their creators can ride off into the starlight with clear consciences.” —Publishers Weekly “This coda to McCaffrey’s popular series packs plenty of action into 320 pages.” —Booklist “I would recommend this as great read for anyone that is interested in time travel and fantasy. Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Scarborough have not only hit a home run but cleared the bases with this novel.” —SFRevu

In this triumphant return to Pern, Anne McCaffrey takes us on an adventure as surprising and unforgettable as any that has come before . . . It is a time of hope and regret, of endings and beginnings. The Red Star, that celestial curse whose eccentric orbit was responsible for Thread, has been shifted to a harmless orbit, and the current Threadfall will be the last. Technological marvels are changing the face of life on Pern. And the dragonriders, led by F''lessan, son of F''lar and Lessa and rider of bronze Golanth, and Tia, rider of green Zaranth, must forge a new place for themselves in a world that may no longer need them. But change is not easy for everyone. There are those who will stop at nothing—not even violence—to keep Pern and its people pure. And now a brand-new danger looms from the skies . . . and threatens a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. Once again, the world looks to the dragons and their riders to solve the crisis and save the world. But now, as the friendship of F''lessan and Tia begins to bloom into something more, unforeseen tragedy strikes: a tragedy destined to forever change the future—not just of the two young lovers, but of every human and dragon on Pern . . .

Beloved by millions of readers, Anne McCaffrey is one of science fiction''s favorite authors. Writing with award-winning author Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, she has created the bestselling Acorna series focusing on the adventures of the brave unicorn girl. Now the exciting saga of the next generation begins. First Warning Khorii, daughter of the near-mythic Acorna and her lifemate, Aari, must contend with an overwhelming legacy to forge a path of her own through a universe filled with new adversaries and adventures. A simple journey home to visit her parents turns into a race against time when Khorii happens upon a derelict spacecraft drifting in space, its crew dead in their seats. But this gruesome discovery is only a dread harbinger—a deadly plague is spreading across the universe and not even the healing powers of the Linyaari can slow its horrific advance. Khorii, one of the few unaffected by the outbreak, must find the nefarious perpetrators and a cure before the disease consumes all in its path—including her beloved parents.

For more than thirty years, Pern has conjured visions of brave men and women mounted upon the backs of dragons. As anyone knows who has been touched by the storytelling magic of Anne McCaffrey, to read of the exotic world of Pern is to inhabit it—and to experience its extraordinary dragons is to soar aloft with them and share their dazzling adventures. Now, A Gift of Dragons brings together three beloved stories and a thrilling new tale of Pern in a single volume illustrated with beautiful artwork by Tom Kidd. In “The Smallest Dragonboy,” Keevan is the youngest dragonrider candidate, determined to impress a dragon when the next clutch of eggs hatches. But what transpires will surprise everyone—Keevan most of all. In “The Girl Who Heard Dragons,” a young girl’s rare ability to communicate with dragons puts her family in danger and will bring her face to face with her greatest fears—and with her most secret desire. The “Runner of Pern” is a girl named Tenna, who follows family tradition by delivering messages—and who will find her destiny on the mossy traces that runners have used for centuries under the dragon-filled sky. And finally, a very special gift: an exciting new Pern adventure, published here for the first time, fresh from the imagination of Anne McCaffrey.

Everyone, holder and dragonrider alike, pitched in to help--except Nerilka''s father, who refused to share Fort Hold''s bounty with the other holds. So, ashamed of her family and determined to doher part, Nerilka packed up medicines and supplies and sneaked off to aid her people. Her quest to help wherever she was most neded led her finally to Ruatha Hold, where Lord Alessan was frantically inoculations against the dread plague. Nerilika had long ago abandoned the hope of marraige and a home of her own. Now she found happiness in being useful and appreciated---first the Healers and then Alessan made very clear that they were grateful for her help. She had no idea that her new path would change the course of her life forever!

Filled with adventure and wonder, the third Acorna novel continues the enthralling saga of the beautiful, brave, and kindhearted Unicorn Girl. “Welcome Home, Linyaari Child!” With the help of her “uncles” and the thousands of humans who love and admire her, Acorna has found her true people, the peaceful, telepathic Linyaari. But Acorna still has much to do before she can enjoy her new home. The legendary resting place of the lost Linyaari ancestors has yet to be found. And with the help of a rogue spacetrader and his feline sidekick, Acorna must strive to right an unspeakable wrong and defeat an enemy even crueler than the Khleevi. Along the way, she will at last uncover the Universe’s most carefully guarded secret—the true nature of the ancient link between the Linyaari and the space-faring humans she has also come to think of as her “people.” Praise for the Acorna series “McCaffrey and Ball have created a magical alien in this fantasy/science fiction story.” —Library Journal “Good spacefaring fun.” —Publishers Weekly “Combining colorful characterizations, lots of fast-paced action, and a decided sense of menace . . . this is entertaining fare, indeed, for sf fans.” —Booklist

This sequel to Freedom''s Landing continues the adventures of human and alien colonists on a dangerous unknown planet.

They inherited their mother''s legendary powers of telepathy. But Damia''s children will need more than psionic Talent to face the enemy''s children--an alien race more insect than human...

A Crystal Singer novel—a captivating blend of adventure, intrigue and romance. Killashandra Ree''s life was one of catastrophic changes. She had joined the Heptite Guild to become a crystal singer, get rich, and forget her past. And at first everything went just as she had hoped. In one season on the deadly beautiful world of Ballybran, she had sung Black Crystal, grown wealthy, and met a man who made her sorrows seem unworthy of notice. But then, a year later, a devastating storm turned her claim to useless rock. In short order she was broke, she had crystal sickness so bad she thought she''d die, and the only way she could be true to the man she loved was to leave him. . . .

From the Hugo and Nebula award-winning authors comes the Petaybee series, full of gripping fantasy and daring adventure. Strange things are happening on the icy planet of Petaybee: Unauthorized genetically engineered species have been spotted; geologic survey teams sent to locate newly detected mineral deposits are either coming up empty or disappearing altogether. And the locals aren’t talking—especially not to the company bent on exploiting the planet. Disabled combat veteran Yanaba Maddock seems to be the perfect spy for the company. The frailty that was a liability in the military allows her to gain the trust of the Petaybean natives. But miraculously, with Yana’s relocation to the arctic planet comes the return of her health and strength. And the closer she gets to the people of Petaybee, the more determined she is to protect her new home. For something unusual and wonderful is happening on Petaybee. Something worth fighting for, even dying for—but especially, something worth living for. . . .

Enslaved on an uninhabited planet by the alien Eosi, Kristin Bjornsen and her fellow humans not only survived against all odds to colonize the world now known as Botany, but liberated themselves from their captors and claimed it as their home… The colonists could not have achieved victory without the help of the exiled Catteni alien, Zainal, who helped Kris contact other races subjugated by the Eosi, and inspired the rebellion that freed them all. To ensure Botany’s future, its people must build alliances. In the wake of alien devastation, Earth has been looted of its technology—technology Botany desperately needs. If Kris and Zainal can reclaim the stolen goods, they can assist Earth while setting a foundation for Botany’s place in the universe…

InterGal Corporation has long desired to exploit the resource-rich Petaybee. But the planet and its guardians, led by Yana Maddock and Sean Shongili, along with their twin children, Ronan and Murel, have successfully thwarted every attempt by the Corporation to impose its iron-fisted dominion. Until now. With a bold move, InterGal’s military arm has dispatched an invading force to subdue the planet once and for all. While their parents work to foil the assault, Ronan and Murel are captured and sent to a desolate prison world where an old enemy, Dr. Mabo, waits to continue her cruel experiments on the shape-changing siblings. The twins’ only hope of escape lies in the uncharted seas of the prison planet. But in the murky depths, something else is waiting. . . .

"Good spacefaring fun" as the Unicorn Girl returns in her fourth adventure from the New York Times–bestselling authors of Acorna''s People ( Publishers Weekly). Acorna, the "unicorn girl" has made peace with her Linyaari past, and aboard the interplanetary salvage vessel Condor she is finally free. But dread overtakes her when a distress signal summons Acorna and her companions to a nearby planet. For among the myriad wonders of this world of sentient plants and intoxicating perfumes are unmistakable signs that everything Acorna holds dear is in peril. A promise of world-shattering devastation is in the celestial winds—and impending catastrophe at the claws of the cold-blooded insectile race that seeks to eradicate all Linyaari and human life from the galaxy . . . the Khleevi! Praise for the Acorna series "McCaffrey and Ball have created a magical alien in this fantasy/science fiction story." — Library Journal "Combining colorful characterizations, lots of fast-paced action, and a decided sense of menace . . . this is entertaining fare, indeed, for sf fans." — Booklist

Behold Acorna, the Unicorn Girl. Discovered as an infant and adopted by threegruff asteroid miners, she has now grown into a beautiful youngwoman with delicate, ivory fur and silken skin, the tiny hornon her forehead is all but hidden by her silvery locks. Acorna is known as Lukia of the Light bythe grateful children she rescued from brutal slavery in the minesof Kezdet. She is helping them recover, and enjoying life withher guardian "uncles," when she receives a mysteriousand disturbing message: There are yet more children enslavedon Kezdet, overlooked by the Child Labor League--childrensuffering a cruel, almost unimaginable fate. Only Acorna, with her healing powers, canrescue them from the enigmatic figure known as "The Dodger." But to save the children, she must deceive Pal Kendorno, the man she is beginningto love in spite of herself. Inspired by Anne McCaffrey''s and Margaret Ball''s unforgettablenovel Acorna, the soaring adventures in this extraordinaryvolume are written by some of today''s most celebrated fantasyauthors, and illustrated by world-acclaimed artists. Here youwill read about (and see!): Acorna''s heartbreaking search forher home planet Acorna''s fight to stop a deadly plagueon the beautiful and fabled planet, Earth Acorna''s first love affair...witha human Don''t miss the wonder and excitement ofAnne McCaffrey''s most beloved creation, the Unicorn Girl, broughtto life by modern fantasists Mickey Zucker-Reichert, Jody LynnNye, and Roman A. Ranieri. These beautifully illustrated stories willdelight all who believe in the magic of truth, the healing powerof beauty--and the reality of unicorns!

For more than thirty years, Anne McCaffrey has reigned as one of the premier talents in science fiction and fantasy, flying above the crowd on the glittering wings of such masterworks as The Dragonriders of Pern and Crystal Singer. Now, McCaffrey soars to dizzying unscaled heights in an exciting new world bursting with adventure and romance . . . On Vega III, where the jaded inhabitants pursue lives of malicious intrigue and decadent pleasure, Lady Nimisha Boynton-Rondymense has always been an anomaly. Disdainful of the frivolity of her fellows, she prefers the exciting and challenging world of her father, Lord Tionel, owner and principal starship designer of the famous Rondymense shipyards. Precociously gifted, Nimisha becomes Lord Tionel''s secret assistant—and, in the aftermath of a shocking tragedy, his chosen successor at the helm of the shipyards. But supplanting her father''s designated body-heir, the callow Lord Vestrin, is a slight that Vestrin and his mother, Lady Vescuya, will not easily forget. Or forgive. Preoccupied with carrying on her father''s ambitious plans for the Mark 5, an experimental long-distance cruiser, Nimisha dangerously disregards Vestrin''s animosity—until a solo test flight of the Mark 5 goes horribly awry, marooning Nimisha light-years from home on a planet as deadly as it is beautiful. Now, Vestrin and Vescuya are given the chance they''ve been waiting for: to reclaim the shipyards . . . by any means necessary. Only Nimisha''s child, Cuiva—a girl every bit as ingenious as her mother—stands in their way. But for how long? For just when her daughter needs her most, Nimisha is unable to help—and in a precarious situation herself. But Nimisha has never given up in her life—and she''s not about to start now . . .

A SCIENCE FICTION CLASSIC BACK IN PRINT! Simeon was a shell-person—the brain who ran Space Station SSS-900 on the fringes of human space. But things hadn’t been going too well lately, and he was more than a little discontented. Though normally he enjoyed his work, these days it seemed boring. To make matters worse, his long-time partner had just retired and he was having a hard time adjusting to his newly assigned brawn—a strong-willed woman named Channa Hap who seemed to feel it her duty to keep him in line. He’s buried himself in his favorite pastime—wargaming. Simeon’s hobby would find unexpected uses when the brutal Kolnari attack the nearby colony planet Bethel. Sheltering the colony’s refugees brought “the city” an invitation to serious trouble with Kolnari pirates. And only Simeon and Channa working together can save the city. At the publisher’s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About Death of Sleep by Anne McCaffrey and Jody Lynn Nye: “McCaffrey has created a feisty, likable character in Lunzie Mespil.” —Publishers Weekly About S.M. Stirling: “Rousing . . . a stirring tale.” —John Ringo

New York Times–Bestselling Author: While she pursues her missing beloved, the unicorn girl Acorna must foil a plot against the sacred Temple Cats . . . Acorna''s people, the Linyaari, have begun reclaiming their homeworld from the ravages of the brutal Khleevi. But the first wave of explorers has unlocked a larger mystery about the origins of the Linyaari—one that has led Aari, Acorna''s beloved lifemate, on a dangerous journey from which he may never return. Setting off on a quest to find Aari, Acorna and her friends—Captain Becker, Mac, Nadhari, and RK—are forced to crash land on the beautiful and barbaric exotic jungle world of Makahomia, home of the mysterious Temple Cats. But an evil scheme threatens to destroy the sacred felines. To save the cats, Acorna will lead a band of rebels on a journey into Makahomia''s temples and hidden sanctuaries. And there, within one sacred shrine, she will discover shocking information that could lead to Aari . . . or to disaster.

The fate of the galaxy is placed in the hands of Lunzie, who discovers the true nature of a new friend; Fordeliton, who is dying of a mysterious poison; Dupaynil, who is exiled; and Aygar, who tries to prove himself. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

When his boy soprano voice begins to change, Piemur is drafted by Masterharper Robinton to help with political work and is sent on missions that lead him into unusual and sometimes dangerous adventures.

An indispensable handbook to the wonderful world of Anne McCaffrey and her dragons. Lavishly illustrated, officially sanctioned, THE DRAGONLOVER''S GUIDE TO PERN brings to light the fantastic facts behind the bestselling stories. No Pern pilgrim will want to be without it.

As long as the people of Pern could remember, the Holds had protected them from Thread, the deadly silver strands that fell from the sky and ravaged the land. In exchange for sanctuary in the huge stone fortresses, the people tithed to their Lord Holders, who in turn supported the Weyrs, whose dragons were Pern''s greatest weapon against Thread. But not everyone on Pern was part of that system of mutual care and protection, particularly those who had been rendered holdless as punishment for wrongdoing. And there were some, like Jayge''s trader clan, who simply preferred the freedom of the roads to the security of a hold. Others, like Aramina''s family, had lost their holds through injustice and cruelty. For all the holdless, life was a constant struggle for survival. Then, from the ranks of the criminals and the disaffected, rose a band of renegades, led by the Lady Thella. No one was safe from Thella''s depredations, and now her quarry was Aramina, reputed to have a telepathic link with dragons. But when Thella mistakenly vented her rage on Jayge''s family, she made a dangerous mistake. For Jayge was bent on revenge . . . and he would never let her have the girl who heard dragons! "From the Hardcover edition.

Crystal had destroyed Killashandra’s memory, and only crystal could restore it—if she dared! When Killashandra Ree joined the mysterious Heptite Guild, she knew that she would be forever changed. Crystal singing brought ecstasy and pain, near-eternal life . . . and gradual loss of memory. What she hadn’t counted on was the loneliness she felt when her heart still remembered what her mind had forgotten. Fortunately, someone still cared enough to try to salvage what was left of Killashandra’s mind. But she would have to learn to open herself—to another person, and to all her unpleasant memories. “A treat for long-time McCaffrey fans, a good read and a satisfying look at one of the most haunting facets of the crystal singers’ profession.”—Locus

A second volumeof short novels by three Masters of Modern Fantasy. Terry Goodkind tells of the origin of the Border between the lands in the world of The Sword of Truth, in “Debt of Bones.” George R. R. Martin sets his piece a generation before his epic, A Song of Ice and Fire, in the adventure of “The Hedge Knight.” Anne McCaffrey, the poet of Pern, returns once again to her world of romance and adventure in “Runner of Pern.” And look for Legends 1 (featuring Stephen King, Robert Silverberg, Orson Scott Card, Raymond E. Feist) and Legends 3 (featuring Robert Jordan, Ursula K. Le Guin, Tad Williams, Terry Pratchett) at your local bookstore!

Chessie, a pregnant Barque Cat, is kidnapped and her Cat Person Janina and Dr. Jared Vlest attempt to free her before an alien feline Pshaw-Ra with psionic power takes her to his planet so they can begin the universal domination of the unknown universe.

The Dragonriders of Pern learn about the special talents of the watch-whers in this new novel by the beloved creator of the series and her son. Advertising.

Open these pages and discover 14 remarkable stories of fantasy by a grand master of the genre. A wonderful writer, as well as successful and beloved by fans across the world, Anne McCaffrey has created an exciting collection of telepaths, secret gifts, dangerous missions, dragonriders, and more. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

Inheriting their family''s paranormal powers that enable them to protect the peaceful people of their world, the children of Damia and Afra Lyon encounter a new enemy in the Hivers, an alien race that is bent on destruction.