I Read What?!

So I've been thinking, and I think my review of Chapter Two was a little TOO critical. The thing that did not come across very well is that I actually DO like the chapter, and the book so far.

Essentially, Nerilka's Story hits the exact issue that Moreta did with me. I would say objectively that both of these books are the best written of the Pern books I've read so far. (And of the two, I'd say that Nerilka feels stronger.) The problem then is that the...McCaffrey-isms, if you will, stand out more.

But I think I'm getting carried away. My resentment over past books is overshadowing my review of the current book. That's not fair. I'm going to try to step back from that and judge the story on its own merits.



We start the chapter with drums: casualties reported at Telgar, Ista, Igen and South Boll. There's some slightly uplifting news though, as folks from Benden, Lemos, Bitra, Tillek and High Reaches are offering assistance. The latter Holds are remote enough as to be untouched by the plague.

There are coded reports too though from Telgar Weyr: dead riders and dragon suicides. Ista too. This hits Nerilka hard:

Why I had thought that dragonriders would be immune from this disease, I do not know, except that they seemed so invulnerable astride their great beasts, seemingly untouched by the ravages of Thread—though I knew well enough that dragons and riders were often badly scored—and impervious to other minor ailments and anxieties that were visited on lesser folk. Then I recalled that dragonriders often flitted from one Gather to another, and there had been two Gathers on the same day, Ista as well as Ruatha, to lure them from their mountain homes. Two—and plague well advanced in both! Yet Ista was halfway east. How could the disease spring up so quickly in two so distant places?

I like this a lot. It feels like a natural reaction. This isn't the beginning of the Ninth Pass when Thread was a long gone threat. This is the Sixth Pass, toward the end. Dragonriders have a mythic quality. (And of course, there are the practical concerns: if too many dragons die, who fights Thread?)

So Nerilka is doing as she intended last chapter: she goes to Journeywoman Desdra and offers her Fort's supplies. They've got enough for half the planet. Desdra starts to wave her off, but Nerilka explains that she knows the drum codes of everyone but the Masterharper and she knows what's going on. She actually does manage to get Desdra's attention, but before she can finish her offer of supplies/or herself as a nurse, Desdra is called away.

As she heads home, a blue dragon appears in the sky to deliver Tolocamp. And he is...well, his hypocrisy is well established:

“There is a quarantine! There is death stalking the land. Did you not hear the message? Are you all deaf that you gather in such numbers? Out! Out! To your homes! Do not quit them for any reasons! Out! Out!”

I like this bit too:

“Have you run mad to assemble folk? Did none of you pay heed to Capiam’s warning? They’re dying like flies at Ruatha!”

“Then why are you here, sir?” my rather stupid brother Campen had the gall to ask.

“What did you say?” Father drew himself up like a dragon about to flame, and even Campen drew back from the contained fury in his stance. How Campen escaped a clout I did not then understand.

“But—but—but Capiam said quarantine . . .”

Father tilted his handsome head up, and extended his arms, palms up and outward, to fend off a proximity none of us was at all likely to make.

“I am in quarantine from any of you as of this moment. I shall immure myself in my quarters, and none of you,” he said, shaking his heavy forefinger at us, “shall come near me until—” he paused dramatically “—that period is over and I know myself to be clean.”

Hah, he is pretty entertainingly shameless, isn't he. We knew about this from Moreta, but I'm glad to see it confirmed. He'd claimed the need to run the Hold as his reason for going home, then immediately hides himself in his quarters.

Nerilka tries to ask about the infectiousness and the level of contagion, but Tolocamp is hilariously "noble" saying "either way" he won't jeopardize his family. And no one dares ask about Lady Pendra or the girls. He swans off, with instructions to slide messages under the door and leave food in the hall.

The poor kids all try to process it. The younger ones are scared for their mother, and worried, because she'd know how to cure them (obviously untrue, but childish faith in a parent's infallibility is always sweet). Campen doesn't think it's fair that his father returned. Nerilka tries to reassure them all, while another sibling thinks that Alessan ought to have kept Tolocamp at Ruatha. Nerilka wonders if that means that Alessan was ineffective, giving in to a more overbearing lord's wishes.

Things get worse in the morning. Tolocamp, communicating through note, has ordered that Anella and "her family" be brought into the Hold. Nerilka is furious, understandably so, since he left his wife and daughters in danger.

I do like this bit though:

Oh, it was no scandal really. Mother had always ignored the matter. She’d had practice over the Turns, and indeed once I had overheard her say to one of the aunts that relief now and then from his attentions was welcome. But I didn’t like Anella. She simpered, she clung, and if Father couldn’t pretend interest in her, she was quite as happy on Mostar’s arm. Indeed, I think she hoped to be wed to my brother. I longed to tell her that Mostar had other ideas. Still, I wondered if her last son was my father’s issue or Mostar’s.

I wonder about Mostar's "other ideas". If not for the last line, I'd wonder if the guy was gay. But presumably they did bang once. Nerilka just notes that the child has a strong family resemblance.

Campen and Nerilka (he calls her Rill, the nickname used in Moreta) discuss the order about Anella. He doesn't like this at all. He can't go out and bring the mistress back in broad daylight. Nerilka is the one to suggest bringing her in from the fire-heights. Neither sibling is happy about it, but as Nerilka notes: when have their likes or dislikes ever mattered.

Okay, I did say I'd stop harping on this, but as a positive comment for once: I am appreciating that Nerilka's relationship with Campen actually does seem to have some semblance of complexity. She doesn't seem to like him much, but they do confer about things, and he does seem to be allowed a measure of competency. At least so far.

So Nerilka does her duties: checking the nurseries, the laundry, linens, and crafts folk. She eats breakfast in her mother's office and listens to the bells. There's lots of bad news, but no message from Ruatha.

Campen returns with Anella, and both seem to be in unspoken agreement when it comes to setting her up in guest quarters instead of their mother's. Anella has taken Tolocamp's instruction literally, bringing her ENTIRE family: mother, father, three younger brothers, and six frail dependents. And to be fair, I can't blame her. They're a breach of quarantine, but if I could get somewhere safe, I'd try like hell to get as much of my family in there too.

Nerilka has a snarky thought that Anella should be able to care for her children, but still assigns them two servants, both to keep Tolocamp from complaining and as basic guest courtesy. Nerilka's not happy about it though.

The chapter ends with Nerilka consulting with the cook, and then more of the "weeping" drums.

I'll give McCaffrey some credit here, while there's no attempt (yet, at least) to give Anella's side of the story. The Anella-Nerilka dislike is pretty lowkey for now. Nerilka's dislike stems from two reasons: a personality conflict (Anella being simpering and clingy) and her own mother's dangerous position. And neither of those are really Anella's fault. As I mentioned, I don't blame her for bringing as many of her loved ones as she could. If anything, I think this shows her as a far better person than Tolocamp himself. HE certainly didn't bother to bring any of HIS family with him to safety.

If McCaffrey keeps the conflict to this level, I'll be so happy. Anella can be annoying without being malicious. And Nerilka's under a lot of stress, it's completely understandable that she's angry about the whole situation. We can appreciate that without making Anella the worst person ever to justify Nerilka's dislike.