Internet Surfer: Getting Started/Internet Surfer - Getting Started (Wayzata Technology)(7231)(1995).bin/pc/textfile/faqs/pern_int

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From: [e-mail] (Taki Kogoma)
Subject: Welcome to alt.fan.pern (Semi-monthly posting)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 01:10:43 GMT
Expires: Mon, 04 Jan 93 07:00:00 GMT
Organization: Nit-Pickers for a Better Tomorow Afternoon
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Taki Kogoma)
Followup-To: alt.fan.pern
Approved: [e-mail]
Summary: Introductory material for the alt.fan.pern newsgroup
Keywords: Pern FAQ Intro
Originator: [e-mail]
Lines: 436

Posted-By: auto-faq 2.4
Archive-name: pern-intro
Last-Modified: 09 Dec 92

WELCOME TO ALT.FAN.PERN!

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).

Note: Starting 1 November 1992, this article is being cross-posted to
the news.answers newsgroup for extended expire times and archival on
rtfm.mit.edu.

Questions addressed:
1) What is Pern?
2) Can you list the books?
   a) What is the chrnological order of events?
   b) In what order should I read them?
3) What else is there?
4) Reference books?
5) Pern on-line?
6) Access to Pern-type MU*s?
7) Why is this group always being innundated with this MU* stuff?
8) Any Fan clubs?
9) What's the deal wrt fan fiction on this group?


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 1973, 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 in the future.

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_.


2a) "What is the chronological order of events?"

This is kinda tricky, as some books depict the same events from
different points of view.  Here's what the concensus seems to be:

[Thanks to [e-mail] (Joshua Sean Bell) for concocting
the following:]

+--------------+                       Backwards
| Dragonsdawn  |                           ^
+--------------+                           |
+--------------+                         Time
| "Rescue Run" |                           |
+--------------+                           v
                                        Forwards

+--------+------------------+
| Moreta |  Nerilka's Story |
+--------+------------------+

                                        +-----------+
+--------------+                        |           |
| Dragonflight |                        |           |  +---------------+
+--------------+                        |           |  | "The Smallest |
|              |      +--------------+  |           |  |   Dragonboy"  |
| Dragonquest  |      | Dragonsong   |  |           |  +---------------+
|              |      | Dragonsinger |  | Renegades |  +---------------+
|              |      +--------------+  |    of     |  | "The Girl Who |
+--------------+      +--------------+  |   Pern    |  | Heard Dragons"|
                      | Dragondrums  |  |           |  +---------------+
                      +--------------+  |           |
+------------------+                    |           |
| The White Dragon |                    |           |
|                  |                    |           |
+------------------+                    |           |
                            +-----------+-----------+
                            |                       |
                            | All the Weyrs of Pern |
                            |                       |
                            +-----------------------+


2b) "What is the suggested reading order?"

Ms. McCaffrey suggests that the books be read in order of publication
(i.e. start with _Dragonflight_ and go in published order).
Alternatively, she suggests starting with _Dragonsong_ as a 'gentler'
introduction, completing the Harper Hall trilogy, and then going back
to _Dragonflight_, _Dragonquest_, et. al.


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.)

[* Frequently abbreviated as 'DLG'.]


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

[ Thanks to: [e-mail] (Jennifer S Broekman)
for legwork in tracking down many of these. ]

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.

[Note to readers in Australia: My understanding is that the authorities
there have banned overseas MU*ing for the forseeable future.]

  Pern-themed MUSHes:
    PernMUSH [1] (freya.arc.nasa.gov or 128.102.31.78) port 4201
    SouConMUSH (soucon.cygnus.com or 140.174.1.69) port 4201

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

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

        [Set during the start of the second pass.]

  MUSHes with Pern areas:
    TinyTIM (control.spies.com or 130.43.9.4) port 5440

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

        TinyCWRU (caisr2.caisr.cwru.edu or 129.22.24.22) port 4201
    SpellBoundMUSH (notrees.cs.utexas.edu or 128.83.186.13) port 4201
    AmberMUSH (hawkwind.utcs.toronto.edu or 128.100.102.51) port 4201

  Pern-themed MUSE:
    DragonsFireMUSE (snake.ssc.gov or 134.3.33.43) port 4444

        [Set before the 11th pass.]

[1] Will eventually move to pern.pc.cs.cmu.edu.  Please read 'news db'
on PernMUSH for more details.


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.)


7) "You know, I'm getting tired of all the discussion about PernMUSH
     and its ilk!  Why doesn't it go away?"

To put it bluntly, 'Put up or shut up.'

In less rude terms, if you wish to discuss something about Pern which
currently isn't being addressed, please start the thread and see if
anybody wants to respond.  There is nothing preventing you from
posting/discussing what you like on this newsgroup except what you
anticipate the response to be.


8) Ok.  So the MU*s have a pretty large concentration of Pern fans.
How about in the 'real world'?

[ Note: I am not a member of any of the below, so I have no idea as to
activities/policy/quality. ]

[ Also, many thanks to [e-mail] (Joshua Sean Bell) for
sending me the following. ]

From: Bob Snyder, [e-mail]

                           Pern Fandom Organizations

This is a listing of all known Pern fandom groups which publish
newsletters or fanzines, current as of July 1991. Weyrs are listed
first; alphebetically and in order of when they are in Pern's
timeline. Since dues are subject to change, I did not include the cost
of membership. Location on Pern and contact person's persona are in
parenthesis. Please include a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope)
with any inquiry.

                                  Fandom Weyrs

                                Early Ninth Pass

High Reaches - Early 9th (Northern)     Lakeview Weyr (Southern)
Weyrwoman Kyleen, gold Alynth           Weyrwoman Aeron, gold Kryseth
Beth Baldwin (Weyrleader D'bas)         Missy Good (Weyrleader R'gan)
9366 Jamaica Dr.                        1160 NE 176th St.
Miami, FL 33189                         N. Miami Beach, FL 33126


                                Late Ninth Pass

Cambray Weyr (Southern)                 Fort Weyr (Northern)
Weyrwoman Randella, gold Corinth        Weyrwoman Jana, gold Kanarith
Steve Herrick (Wingsecond T'ran)        Andi Bennett-Banks (Drgnhealer Deleyan)
6681 Highland Greens Dr. #203-F         P.O. Box 15440
West Chester, OH 45069                  Ann Arbor, MI 48106

High Reaches (Northern)                 Thalos Weyr (Southern)
Weyrwoman Gessika, gold Elyseth         Weyrwoman Ehtele, gold Selyth
Laurie McCurry (Weyrwoman Gessika)      Veronica Yarwoski (Weyrwoman Ehtele)
717 1/2 W. Connell                      1457 McDermot Ave.
Stillwater, OK 74075                    Winnipeg, MB R3E OJ5 Canada

                       Ista Weyr (Northern)
                       Weyrwoman Merelan, gold Lyrath
                       Marilyn Alm (Weyrwoman Merelan)
                       2911 Eton Street
                       New Orleans, LA 70131

[I have received a note from Judith Tabron ([e-mail])
about a fanzine generated by the 9th pass Ista Weyr organization: _Weyr Words_

For more information, snail-mail:

Judith Tabron / Holly Hutchison
4 Walnut St. 3-R
Waltham, MA 02154
(Subscriptions, questions, requests for more info)

or e-mail the above address.

Prices listed were U$15.00 for 4 issues (1 year), or U$3.75 for a
trial issue.

Also mentioned was the fact that they were looking for submissions of
fan fiction and/or artwork.

The compiler of this article has no connection to the above, and
includes this information by request.]


                                   Tenth Pass

Argon of Cantee (Cantee)                Clune Weyr (Far Eastern Continent)
Weyrwoman Shelana, silver Tellath       Weyrleader K'lax, bronze Kilanth
Pat Munson-Siter (Weyrwoman Shelana)    Jason Jacobs (Weyrleader K'lax)
P.O. Box 455                            1916 Glenwood Dr.
Box Elder, SD 57719                     San Angelo, TX 76901

Crystal Weyr (Southern)                 ForTen (Northern; Fort Weyr)
Weyrwoman Kirylyn, gold Kith            Weyrwoman Liarra, gold Glowenth
Lisa Bohni (Weyrwoman Kirylyn)          Judy Carter (Weyrwoman Liarra)
26135 Delos Drive                       2116 Margery
Torrance, CA 90505-7303                 Ypsilanti, MI 48198-7003

Haven Weyr (Southern)                   High Reaches 10 (Northern)
Weyrwoman Celina, gold Candith          Weyrwoman Niniane, gold Danuth
Debbie Bryan (Weyrwoman Celina)         Heather Moore (Weyrwoman Niniane)
1619 Eufaula Hgts.                      3428 Lariat Lane, Apt. 56
Longview, WA 98632                      Orlando, FL 32826

Igen Weyr (Northern)                    Ista-Ten (Northern)
Weyrwoman Politra, gold Iliath          Weyrleader L'dan, bronze Cirth
Kim Farr (Weyrwoman Politra)            Dale Staley (Weyrleader L'dan)
P.O. Box 26845                          1074 Shoreview Ct.
Tempe, AZ 85285-6845                    W. Pittsburg, CA 94565

Janus Weyr (Southern)                   Northwind Weyr (Far Eastern Continent)
Weyrwoman Nimaleah, gold Cameleonth     Weyrwoman Elyssa, gold Elaygith
Tinker Strother (Wingsecond Gemma)      Jennifer Gower (Weyrwoman Elyssa)
Rt. 3, Box 190                          205 - A Richards
Fairfield, TX 75840-9800                College Station, TX 77840

Sable Weyr (Southern)                   Segel Weyr (Far Eastern Continent)
Weyrwoman Perra, gold Floranth          Weyrwoman Elitha
Perri Scott (Weyrwoman Perra)           Chanatl Guadiano (JnmArchvst Kendori)
1236 Glen Avenue                        3333 Cummins # 21
Florence, AL 35603                      Houston, TX 77027

Southern Weyr (Southern)                StarRise Weyr (Eastern Ring Islands)
Weyrwoman Lerai, gold Zanolith          Weyrwoman Kishandra, gold Rhysendith
Dina Grozev (Weyrwoman Lerai)           April Masters (Weyrwoman Kishandra)
144 S. Linden                           P.O. Box 81338
Palatine, IL 60067                      Smyrna, GA 30081

Talkon Weyr (Far Eastern Continent)     Telgar Weyr (Northern)
Weyrwoman Deveera, gold Asfaloth        Weyrwoman Ynora, gold Novath
Deborah Fredericks (Weyrwoman Deveera)  James Smith
4403 N. Monroe                          603 S. Blackburn
Spokane, WA 99205                       Brady, TX 76825-5606

                    Visia Weyr (Far Eastern Continent)
                    Weyrwoman Maeve, gold Dargenth
                    Robin Watson (Weyrwoman Maeve)
                    2123 Industrial Blvd.
                    San Angelo, TX 76409-5570


                                Other Pern Clubs

Caravan Fatis (10th Pass-Northern)          Gar Hold/Darriel Council (Northern)
High Reaches and Fort Territories           9th Pass Ista Territory/Darkover
Heather Moore (Wagonsmaster Jason Fatis)    Victoria A. Smith
3428 Lariat Lane, Apt. #56                  12627 Harbor Drive
Orlando, FL 32826                           Woodbridge, VA 22192

Healercraft Hall 9 & 10 (Northern & Southern)     Pern Jockey Club (10th Pass)
Healermaster Jillian                              For Runnerbeast Racing Fans
Scotty Matthews (Master Jillian)                  Debbie Bryan
310 Barnett Shoals Rd. #20                        1619 Eufaula Hgts.
Athens, GA 30605                                  Longview, WA 98632

[I've also received word of a BBS in Denver CO: [phone].
However, no connect info was provided and I'm not set up to check for
myself.]


9) "Is it ok if I posted some of my own fan fiction here?"

NOTE: The following applies to fan fiction posted to the net.  I do
not have (nor do I desire) the authority to prevent any quasi/illegal
acts on this newsgroup.  The following is presented for informational
purposes.  You may heed or ignore as you wish, but I deny all
responsibility for any legal problems you may encounter.

(Also note that PernMUSH, SouConMUSH, Spellbound MUSH, and DragonsFire
MUSE have Anne McCaffrey's blessing to exist.  I am uncertain about the
status of the other MU*s.)

[Thanks to "Chris Croughton" <[e-mail]> for getting the
following.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    08-Oct-92 11:39 BST
Sb: InterNet Pern rules
Fm: Anne McCaffrey [72007,45]

The rules are that my characters may be referred to but not used.  BUT
there can be no adventure/stories set on Pern at all!!!!!  That's
infringing on my copyright and can bear heavy penalities - particularly
right now when there's a film deal (yet another) which has bought and paid
for the right to use the material - which, I fear, e-mail users have not.

On CIS, I have asked people to limit Pern material to a discussion of
their persona and dragons, fire-lizards, etc., in a diarist form.
Fanzines have slightly more latitude as the zine is usually mailed only to
members so that's limited publication, and a due copyright notice is
included.  As there is no such protection on electronic mail, we authors
have to be insistent on these safeguards.

I know this can be confusing since Paramount and Star Trek are handled
differently, but that's the point:  they are, and have been.  Individual
themes and characters of s-f & fantasy novels are not.  And such
indiscriminate usage of our characters, worlds, and concepts on a *public*
media like electronic mail constitute copyright infringement AND, which
many fans disregard, is ACTIONABLE!  Both the e-mail company AND the
person.  My publishers are most insistent on that point!  So it's to
safeguard the interested e-mail user that I make these very strong, and
perhaps unpalatable points.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Chris' commentary:]
To repeat - it's *not* Anne who forbids this:  it's her publishers - and
they are NOT required to tell her of any such actions which they may be
undertaking.  The first she will probably know of it is when someone
tells her, having heard over the net...
[End commentary.]


---
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. ]
--
Capt. Gym Z. Quirk  (Known to some as Taki Kogoma)  [e-mail]
 I'll get a life when someone demonstrates that it would be superior to
                          what I have now...