Dragonsong
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Dragonsong is a novel written by Anne McCaffrey in 1976. It is the first in the Harper Hall Trilogy. The other two novels are Dragonsinger and Dragondrums.
Dragonsong is the story of Menolly, daughter of masterfisher Yanus, Sea Holder of Halfcircle Seahold on Pern. Menolly is a gifted musician who is punished for using her musical talents after Petiron, the Harper who encouraged her talent, dies. Finding life at the fishing community unbearable, she runs away from home. This is a very dangerous thing to do because of intermittent Thread incursions. Menolly takes refuge in a cave where she discovers some fire lizards, the precursors to the great dragons that are Pern's first defense against Thread. Isolated from civilization in her cave and forced to care for nine baby fire lizards that she impressed, Menolly quickly learns to be resourceful and independent. Freed from the restrictive role forced upon her by Pernese society, she also finds time to indulge in her passion for music. Menolly is out foraging one day when she is caught in Threadfall. She is rescued by a dragonrider who takes her to Benden Weyr. As she is adjusting to the liberal lifestyle of the Weyrfolk at Benden Weyr, she is discovered by Robinton, the Masterharper of Pern. He recognizes her vocation as a musician and offers her a place at the Harper Hall as his apprentice.