From: tkogoma@vesta.unm.edu (Gym Z. Quirk)
Subject: Monthly Post - Welcome to alt.fan.pern
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 92 20:24:05 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

[Yeah, I know I'm a day early, but I'm not sure if I can get on
tomorow. ;-) - Quirk ]

WELCOME TO ALT.FAN.PERN!  [Last modified: 31JUL92]

This newsgroup is dedicated to discussion of the fictional world of
Pern as described in the various novels and short stories by Anne
McCaffrey.  Related topics include Ms. McCaffrey's other works, and
several of the on-line 'virtual realities' depicting Pern (see below).

Questions addressed:

1) What is Pern?
2) Can you list the books?
3) What else is there?
4) Reference books?
5) Pern on-line?
6) Access to Pern-type MU*s?


1) "Ok.  So what is this Pern place anyway?"

   Pern is the third planet of the Rukbat system in the Sagittarius
sector.  It is a colony world which has lost contact with 'Mother
Earth' due to periodic attacks from an organism called 'thread' which
devours all organic material it comes into contact with.  To counter
Thread, the Pernese - back when they still had the skills - modified
an indigenous life-form to create Dragons - so named for the mythical
beasts they resemble.
   'Modern day' Pern has lost many of the skills originally brought
with the colonists and can probably be best described as a 'pre-
industrial' society.
   Alternatively, Pern is the home of Dragons, their riders, and
various other people as depicted in Anne McCaffrey's _Dragonriders of
Pern_ series and related books.


2) "Ah...Books.  Can you give me a list?"

[Release of 1st printing in parentheses.]

The _Dragonriders of Pern_ trilogy (Also available in a single
hardcover volume through the SF book club, and trade paperback in a few
bookstores).

_Dragonflight_(1968), _Dragonquest_(1971), _The White Dragon_(1978)

The _Harper Hall of Pern_ trilogy (Available as a single hardbound
copy through the SF book club).

_Dragonsong_(1976), _Dragonsinger_(1977), _Dragondrums_(1979)

_Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern_ (1983)
_Nerilka's Story_            (1986)
_Dragonsdawn_                (1988)
_The Renegades of Pern_      (1990)
_All the Weyrs of Pern_      (1991)

Additionally, there are two short stories and a limited-release
novella.

"The Smallest Dragonboy"     (Pub ???, found in _Get off the Unicorn_)
_The Girl Who Heard Dragons_ (1985 - 100 signed copies published.)
"Rescue Run"                 (Aug 1991 _Analog_)

There are rumors that the above three will be appearing in a Pern anthology
to be released sometime later this year.

It should also be noted that this all started with the Hugo-winning
novella: "Weyr Search" published in October 1967 in _Analog_.  This
story now forms the first quarter of _Dragonflight_.


3) "That's a lot of books.  I take it it's pretty popular."

Indeed.  In addition to the above books by McCaffrey, there is a
boardgame, two "Choose your path" books, a game simulating fighting
thread from dragonback, several 'reference books', and numerous
computer-based 'virtual realities' based on Pern.


4) "Reference books?"

Yes.  They include:

_The Atlas of Pern_ by Karen Fonstead
  (Out of print, but still available if you look around for it. The
    Science Fiction Book Club apparently still has copies in stock.)

_The People of Pern_ with sketches/paintings by Robin Wood,
                        text by McCaffrey.
  (Actually, more of a 'photo album' for the major characters.)

_The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern_ by Jody Lyn Nye with Anne McCaffrey
  (Considered by many to be *the* reference work on Pern...aside from the
     books themselves.)


5) "You mentioned something about 'virtual realities' back there. Care to
     elaborate?"

[ Thanks to: jsb16@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Jennifer S Broekman)
    for legwork in tracking down many of these. - Quirk ]

Some people have gone to the extent of attempting to duplicate Pern
with a multi-user program designed to allow people to assume the roles
of dragonriders, harpers, holders, etc.  While the most frequently discussed
is PernMUSH (See the 'What is PernMUSH?' Mimi-FAQ' for more details),
it is by no means the only one.

  Pern-themed MUSHes:
	PernMUSH (wiretap.spies.com 4201 or 130.43.3.3 4201)
	SouConMUSH (soucon.cygnus.com 4201 or 140.174.1.69 4201)

        [These two are set just prior to the 10th pass and are considered 
          parallel.]

	DragonsDawnMUSH (elof.iit.edu 2508 or 192.41.245.90 2508)

        [Set during the interval following the first pass.]

  MUSHes with Pern areas:
	TinyTIM (foof.dorm.clarkson.edu 5440 or 128.153.48.3 5440) [1]

        [Contains the missing Telgar/Crom area from PernMUSH.  Also
          considered in parallel with PernMUSH and SouConMUSH.]

        TinyCWRU (caisr2.caisr.cwru.edu 4201 or 129.22.24.22 4201)
	SpellBoundMUSH (bongo.cc.utexas.edu 4201 or 128.83.186.13 4201)
	AmberMUSH (amber.cygnus.com 6250 or 140.174.1.69 6250)

  Pern-themed MUSE:
	DragonsFireMUSE (chezmoto.ai.mit.edu 4444 or 18.43.0.102 4444)

        [Set before/during the 11th pass, I believe.]

  [1: Currently down looking for a new site.]


6) "How do I get on these things?"

Well, the quick way of doing it is to telnet to the appropriate
machine specifying the port listed (use the numeric address if the
name won't work).  For more info, look at the rec.games.mud.*
newsgroups.  (Rec.games.mud.tiny and rec.games.mud.misc primarily.)

---
Remember, while discussion about the various PernMU*s often threaten to
overwhelm the traffic of this newsgroup, it is primarily about *Pern*, not
the implementations thereof.

[ Additions/corrections/comments welcome. - Quirk ]

Kurion@PernMUSH, Fort WeyrHarper, master of archives,
                   and self-appointed MasterNit-Picker.
-- 
Capt. Gym Z. Quirk  (Known to some as Taki Kogoma)  tkogoma@triton.unm.edu
  I'll get a life when someone demonstrates that it would be superior to
                           what I have now...
Newsgroups: alt.fan.pern