A Del Rey Book

Published by Ballantine Books

Copyright © 1989 by Anne McCaffrey

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States of America by Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.

THE DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN is a trademark of Anne McCaffrey. Reg. U.S. TM & Pat. Off.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 89-6694

ISBN 0-345-36933-5

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Hardcover Edition: November 1989 First Mass Market Edition: September 1990

Cover Art by Michael Whelan