Nerilka’s Story, By Anne McCaffrey
Nerilka’s Story is almost an aberration in the world of Pern. It is the only book who’s sole purpose is to retell another story from a different perspective. So it’s not really a story in its own right, in a manner of speaking. It follows most of the same story as Moreta, only from Nerilka’s pov. So some things are different, but many conversations and events are just retold word for word the same.
Following tradition, however, I will give a short summary to pique your interest. Nerilka is one of the eldest daughters of the ‘Fort Hold Horde.’ Her younger sisters and her parents go to the Ruatha Gather, leaving Nerilka behind. Nerilka longs to see Ruatha and its new Lord Holder Alessan. Years ago Nerilka was fostered in another family who had a daughter named Suriana. For years they were the best of friends, and eventually Suriana married the young Alessan who was not yet Lord Holder. But there was a tragic accident and Suriana died, leaving both Nerilka and Alessan desolate. Ever since then Nerilka has felt drawn to Ruatha, and when her parents balk her wishes to go to the Gather she is terribly unhappy. But in a way it is all for the best that she did not go to the Gather, as she would likely have died there with her mother and sisters. But Nerilka will not sit idly by while people are sick and dying within her reach. Rebelling against her father’s unjust commands, Lady Nerilka leaves Fort Hold and becomes Rill, an ordinary person. As Rill she can nurse the sick, help the healers, and maybe even find her way to Ruatha.
So, we have Nerilka’s side of the story about the Great Plague. It’s interesting as far as it goes, and we get to see a little ways beyond the end of Moreta. But all in all it’s really not as interesting, as most will have already read the original story in Moreta. A lot of it repeats that book, as I said before, with little new information. You can give it a miss if you like, or if you just love to read about Pern, you don’t have to. But many other books in the series are more worthwhile to read if you can only read a few.
Following tradition, however, I will give a short summary to pique your interest. Nerilka is one of the eldest daughters of the ‘Fort Hold Horde.’ Her younger sisters and her parents go to the Ruatha Gather, leaving Nerilka behind. Nerilka longs to see Ruatha and its new Lord Holder Alessan. Years ago Nerilka was fostered in another family who had a daughter named Suriana. For years they were the best of friends, and eventually Suriana married the young Alessan who was not yet Lord Holder. But there was a tragic accident and Suriana died, leaving both Nerilka and Alessan desolate. Ever since then Nerilka has felt drawn to Ruatha, and when her parents balk her wishes to go to the Gather she is terribly unhappy. But in a way it is all for the best that she did not go to the Gather, as she would likely have died there with her mother and sisters. But Nerilka will not sit idly by while people are sick and dying within her reach. Rebelling against her father’s unjust commands, Lady Nerilka leaves Fort Hold and becomes Rill, an ordinary person. As Rill she can nurse the sick, help the healers, and maybe even find her way to Ruatha.
So, we have Nerilka’s side of the story about the Great Plague. It’s interesting as far as it goes, and we get to see a little ways beyond the end of Moreta. But all in all it’s really not as interesting, as most will have already read the original story in Moreta. A lot of it repeats that book, as I said before, with little new information. You can give it a miss if you like, or if you just love to read about Pern, you don’t have to. But many other books in the series are more worthwhile to read if you can only read a few.
posted by Tai Schutz | Saturday, April 07, 2007
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