The Masterharper of Pern was published by Ballantine/Del Rey in 1998. Robinton — the Masterharper who appeared throughout the main Pern series as a wise, charismatic, wine-loving mentor figure — finally receives his own novel. McCaffrey traces his life from childhood: born to a Harper father (Petiron) who is brilliant but emotionally cold and a mother (Merelan) who is one of Pern’s finest singers, young Robinton displays extraordinary musical talent from infancy — he can carry a tune before he can walk.
The novel follows Robinton’s education at the Harper Hall, his early assignments to various Holds (where he sees firsthand the political corruption and social rigidity that the Harpers must navigate), his unhappy marriage (to Kasia, whose early death devastates him), and his gradual rise to the position of Masterharper — the most politically powerful non-Lord, non-Weyrleader on Pern. Along the way, McCaffrey fills in the backstory of the main series: we see the political situation that produced the complacency of the Holds, the decline of the Weyrs during the long Interval between Passes, and the events that set the stage for Lessa’s Search and the return of Thread.
The novel works as both a standalone biography and as a companion to the entire series: readers who already know the Pern books find new depth in every scene (Robinton’s relationships with characters from the main series are given history and context), while new readers can approach it as the story of a remarkable man navigating a complex society. McCaffrey’s affection for Robinton is evident on every page, and the novel is the warmest and most emotionally generous of the Pern books.
Collecting The Masterharper of Pern
First edition (Ballantine/Del Rey, New York, 1998): Hardcover with dust jacket.
Market values:
- First edition, fine/fine: $15–$35
- Very good: $8–$20