Anne McCaffrey

- The Worlds of Anne McCaffrey, Anne's homepage, used to hold the Kitchen Table Bulletin Board and Chat Room, but these closed in December 2004. To my eyes, this was a very valuable part of the website, and since these were removed the original '.org' domain name has not worked - and some might claim "poetic justice" for this. The site is now housed under '.net' and '.info' instead, and new forums started up to fill the resulting void in McCaffrey fandom.
With the demise of the KT, fans were promised a blog from Anne, but this has, as yet, failed to materialise. What is now left is an (incomplete, though detailed) bibliography, and some general information on Anne.
Unfortunately, the website does not seem to be updated often (the last 'news' being dated May 10 2005 (Dec 05)). Still a nice resource though, despite an apparent lack of effort, a little of which could make the website particuarly good - such as the yet to (and unlikely to) materialise blog.
Update: There has been some activity at Anne's homepage! "We've been working on lots of new changes behind the scenes, and we know it's been quiet around here!" (5th April 06). So, hopefully, there will be some proper updates before too long!

Todd McCaffrey

- Todd McCaffrey's website holds information about him as well as pictures, has a blog which is quite regularly updated, and a page on which he answers emails sent to him. Useful for information on Todd.

Tania Opland and Mike Freeman (MasterHarper CD Musicians)

- This is the website of the musicians who worked with Anne to create the MasterHarper CD and the MasterHarper Songbook, and also where they can be purchased. Each of these has a nice page dedicated to them. The website also has information about Tania Opland and Mike Freeman and examples of their other music.

Robin Wood

- Robin Wood is the artist who painted the pictures in The People of Pern, and for the cards of the board game. On her site she sells prints of the picture of MasterHarper Robinton and of his wine glass made especially for when Robinton moved into Cove Hold, as well as many of her other wonderful paintings. Her site also has lots of other sections which are well worth a look!

Jody Lynn Nye

- Jody Lynn Nye is the author of the DLG, Dragonharper and Dragonfire in the Pern universe. She has also written other novels with Anne McCaffrey, and (of course) plenty of her own. This site is a nice background on her, with a section on her books, and on personal appearances.

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Forums

Anne McCaffrey Fans

- Anne McCaffrey Fans, aka 'The New Kitchen Table', was set up in response to the closure of the Kitchen Table on Anne's official website. It contains discussion forums about all of Anne's works, and a forum dedicated to other authors. But there is much more to the NKT than just the books, as there is an entire 'culture' built up, mainly around the Lounge and Fun and Games forums, affectionately referred to as 'Outsanity' by the 'natives'. This is the home of Clan Fiend (a particuarly incestuous virtual family, where it is perfectly possible have several parents, and be part of identical triplets where your identical sister is also your cousin, and your identical brother who is also one of your mothers...) and the WLT or Willet (World's Longest Thread) with its unique initiation rituals of the pot and the cushion...
The NKT also has a Chat Room, and many other forums, dedicated to the series, Art, Writing, Collecting, and a 'Buy and Sell' forum, as well as a recently (Feb 06) added AMCF McCaffrey Bibliography of Anne's works and worlds.

A Meeting of Minds

- A Meeting of Minds (ran by the Master Archivist who also runs Sariel's Guide to Pern, The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey, and McCaffrey Quest) is another forum which sprung up in response to the end of the KT. Here then there is much more emphasis on the book discussion forums than at the NKT, and whilst it has not developed the same level of a 'culture', the members are friendly, just less "fluffy". There is also a monthly book discussion, currently focusing on the Pern series (with attendant trivia), a recently opened (Feb 06) Exhibit Hall for art and writing, and a bi-monthly article in the Collectors forum on McCaffrey merchandise, written by two of the hosts, the Master Archivists of Sariel's Guide to Pern and the Pern Museum and Archives. A Chat Room has also been added (March 06).

Pernese Friends

Pernese Fandom Forums

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Information Sites: Pern..............................

Sariel's Guide to Pern

- Sariel's Guide to Pern must be one of the best Pern sites out there. It is extremely detailed and well set out, and ran by a Master Archivist (who also runs The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey and the forum A Meeting of Minds, as well as the annual McCaffrey Quest). Sariel's Guide is full of useful information, with one the highlights being the timeline of Pernese events. An excellent site indeed, and highly recommended.

Pern Museum and Archives

- The Pern Musuem and Archives is, like Sariel's Guide to Pern, run by a Master Archivist. Again, this website is very well done, and contains the Pern Encyclopedia (see below). Apart from the Encyclopedia, the highlight of the Pern Museum has to be the Bloodlines for the major Holds of Pern, which goes into exhaustive detail, and also contains a similar 'Bloodline' of the McCaffrey family.

..> Pern Encyclopedia

     - The Pern Encyclopedia is contained within the Pern Museum and Archives, and is a spectacular list of Pernese terms and characters from the novels all explained in simple language. I have used this quite extensively in my own site due to the coherence of the phrases, and its sheer length. Whilst I doubt that it is definitive, it is certainly the best resource of its kind.

Rukbat 3

- Rukbat 3 is a useful Pern site, with its sections very detailed. The information contained is very good, though I personally dislike the setup of the side menu, as well as the accompanying sounds. I also dislike the way the frames shrink the available viewing space. However, this is purelky aesthetic, and by no means detracts from an otherwise engaging and well-developed site.

Dragonhealing

- Dragonhealing has plenty of information on the physical structures of dragons, from the skeleton to the muscles. Dragonhealing is aimed at use for role playing on Pern, but interesting nevertheless, even if you do not RP.

All The Plants Of Pern

- All The Plants Of Pern is a long list of the herbs and plants of Pern, with the uses of the plant, as well as any other relevant information, such as location.

Pernese Herbarium

- The Pernese Herbarium is a list of all of the herbs and medicines, and their uses, used by Healers to combat ill-health and injury on Pern. This has also been added into the Pern Encyclopedia.

The Archives Of Pern

Rukbat al Rami - Pern's sun

- Here is a look at Rukbat, Pern's sun, in it's real position and existence as a 'B8V star' rather than the golden G-type which it appears as in the novels. There are pictures of Rukbat from the view of Earth, and "as seen from Pern"! If you are interested in astronomy, then it is well worth a visit!

Who's Who On Pern

- A list of the characters of Ninth Pass Pern. It appears full, though I have not had the time to fully examine in detail.

Jenaith's Weyr

- A general site, covering dragon genetics, herbalry, and heraldry. Basic, but useful.

Green Dragon Genetics

- An examinatuion of green dragon genetics, and why they are sterile. Based on the premise of the "triple helix gene thing", it appears to make sense to me from what I can remember from GCSE Biology.

Jillian's World Of Pern

- A basic Pern website, with character lists, a timeline, a glossary, and an FAQ. The best part of this site, however, is the introduction, which is quite thorough.

Sabria's Guide To Online Pern

- Whilst Sabria's Guide To Online Pern is of most use to roleplayers, it has other useful information, such as the Knot Chart, and is an entertaining and amusing read.

All The Clothes Of Pern

- A site looking at the clothing styles of the Pernese.

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Information Sites: Other Anne

The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey

- The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey (run by the same person as Sariel's Guide to Pern and A Meeting of Minds forum) is a lovely site dedicated to all things Anne McCaffrey, with a timeline of her life, and many book lists, in every format which you could possibly wish to see!

Elrhan's More MAC

- Elrhan's More MAC is part of the Pern Museum and Archives, and has blurbs of other, non-Pern, works by Anne McCaffrey, including anthologies and interviews.

AMCF McCaffrey Bibliography

- This is a new addition (Feb 06) to the Anne McCaffrey Fans forum web site. This is a very basic bibliography of Anne's works and worlds, with a cover and a blurb for most of her books, and designed to enable readers, particuarly new ones, or fans of a particular series, to see what other books Anne has written. It includes more than just the books written by her, but also notes extra books written by other authors, but in Anne's worlds (such as Todd in the Pern universe) and books written about Anne, as well as games set in her worlds. Whilst this is not inexhaustible (and is unlikely ever to be) it is good basic starting point for some of Anne McCaffrey's works beyond Pern.

Disclaimer: I am likely to be biased in my reviewing of this site, as I was one of those who designed and made this bibliography.

FantasticFiction: Anne Bibliography

- A bibliography of Anne's works, divided by series, with covers and a description, which is sometimes the blurb of the book, and sometimes not. Contains links to bibliographies of Anne's co-writers also. Worth a look, though there are better sites for the same purpose.

Gallery of Anne McCaffrey Book Covers

- The name says what it is: a gallery of book covers of Anne McCaffrey books, from many times and places. There is still more covers out there, though, so you may not see any of the covers there on your shelf or in your bookshop!
It is quite amazing to see the difference between some artists portrayals, and some of the riders in the pictures must get damned cold between, as they never seem to be wearing anything - especially on the French covers!

McCaffrey Cover Art

- This is smaller collection of Anne book covers than above, though still worth a look as there are different covers.

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Miscellaneous

McCaffrey Quest

- The McCaffrey Quest is an annual trivia competition, ran by the staff of the A Meeting of Minds forum. In January, then the subject for the next Quest is announced to allow time for preparation, and then in October, for one weekend, the Quest is active - questions are posted, and submissions accepted. The results are then announced, and slowly followed by the answers. Prizes, from a list on the site, are sent to the winners.
The 2005 Quest was on "The Life and Times of Anne McCaffrey", and I myself entered, and was the third runner up!

You Know You've Been Reading Pern Too Long When...

-This is a site full of Pernese-orientated jokes. Although it is no longer to be updated, it is still very funny to read (especially for the first time).

Origami Dragonrider

- This is basically instructions how to make a dragonrider from paper. I do not have anywhere near the dexterity necessary, but I am sure that someone out there does! Please send me a pic if you do manage to make it!

Dragonchoice

- Dragonchoice is primarily a site for Pern fanfiction, and Dragonchoice it is very good - many say better than Todd. It is very well illustrated, the plot is good, and the quality of the writing is excellent. Whilst I disagree with some of the interpretations of Weyr politics,  it catches other sections of Weyr life very well indeed. Very much worth a read!
And now Dragonchoice II is open for reading! The website does also have some very well written information segments, which are well worth a browse.