In a futuristic military adventure a recruit goes through the roughest boot camp in the universe and into battle with the Terran Mobile Infantry in what historians would come to call the First Interstellar War

"Discusses the works of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Lucian, H.G. Wells, John W. Campbell, and others from Victorian times to the present."--

Menolly has only one dream. She wishes to become a Harper so that she can sing, play, and weave the music that comes to her so easily. In the world of Pern, women are seen as unworthy of such a respected position. So despite her great talents, Menolly's father forbids her to pursue her dreams. Unable to live without music, Menolly runs away, taking shelter in a cave by the sea. Miraculously, she happens upon a hatch of fire lizards, a species of miniature...

Ulysses Paxton tells the tale of Tan Hadron of Hastor, a lowly, poor padwar (a low-ranking officer) who is in love with the beautiful, haughty Sanoma Tora, daughter of Tor Hatan, a minor but rich noble. As he is only a padwar, Sanoma spurns him. Then Sanoma Tora is kidnapped, and Tan Hadron sets out to rescue her.

Rudi Mackenzie must return to Montival in the post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest and forge an alliance with old enemies if he is ever going to defeat the minions of the Prophet and assume his rightful place as Artos, King of Montival.