DRAGONFLIGHT
For the first book in Anne McCaffrey's now legendary Dragonriders of Pern series, Michael wanted to create a literal visualization of the title. He selected an aerial point-of-view and tilted the horizon to simulate the dizzying sensation of flight.
Anne's dragons aren't really dragons per se, but an alien life form with similar attributes. They had been portrayed by other artists, but he was determined to create the dragons more faithfully to her description. He studied crocodiles and bat wings and wrote to Anne with many questions. After all that, it was somewhat of a letdown to have the editor Judy Lynn del Rey tell him that based on their descriptions, it would be physically impossible for the dragons to fly. It's because they "think" they can, that they do.
Dragonflight
Anne McCaffrey (Del Rey)
To the nobles who live in Benden Weyr, Lessa is nothing but a ragged kitchen girl. For most of her life she has survived by serving those who betrayed her father and took over his lands. Now the time has come for Lessa to shed her disguise—and take back her stolen birthright.
But everything changes when she meets a queen dragon. The bond they share will be deep and last forever. It will protect them when, for the first time in centuries, Lessa’s world is threatened by Thread, an evil substance that falls like rain and destroys everything it touches. Dragons and their Riders once protected the planet from Thread, but there are very few of them left these days. Now brave Lessa must risk her life, and the life of her beloved dragon, to save her beautiful world. . . .
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