The White Dragon was published by Ballantine/Del Rey in 1978 and became the first science fiction novel by a woman to appear on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list — a milestone that reflected both McCaffrey’s growing audience and the expanding readership for science fiction generally.
The novel follows Jaxom, a young Lord Holder who has bonded with Ruth — an undersized white dragon that every expert predicted would not survive. Ruth is unique: he has no mating urge (making him neither bronze nor green but something unprecedented), he can determine exactly when and where in time he is (a skill no other dragon possesses), and he is deeply intelligent. Jaxom’s dual identity — as both a Lord Holder (with political responsibilities) and a dragon rider (with loyalty to the Weyrs) — places him at the intersection of Pern’s two power structures.
When Jaxom and Ruth begin exploring the Southern Continent, they discover the ruins of the original colonial Landing, including the computer AIVAS (Artificial Intelligence Voice Address System) — though AIVAS itself would not be activated until a later novel. The discovery of colonial artifacts begins the process that will eventually transform Pern from a pre-technological society back toward its spacefaring origins.
McCaffrey’s writing here is more confident and expansive than in the earlier novels: the world-building is richer, the characters more fully developed, and the plot balances personal growth (Jaxom’s maturation, his relationships with Sharra and with the other riders) against planetary-scale revelations about Pern’s nature and history.
Collecting The White Dragon
First edition (Ballantine/Del Rey, New York, 1978): Hardcover with dust jacket, Michael Whelan cover art.
Market values:
- First edition, fine/fine: $75–$200
- Very good: $30–$75
- Signed: $150–$400