Anne McCaffrey, Pern , and the 11th Annual Pern Feast

The first DVM Pern Feast occurred during 1992, the year before my migration from NNJMensa to DVMensa. Jere Lull (now my husband ) and I went to Pern Feast that year and have attended every year since. It is my annual task and honor to brew and bring the klah (see below).

This year, the 11th Annual, a newly active and proud octogenarian DVMer named Ivan showed up, saying "I didn't understand a word of the description, and that intrigued me, so I thought I'd come and see what it is all about." The merry Pern Feasters sat him down and served up some roast herdbeast (beef) and other delicious munchables, which he enjoyed, and then he asked "What is Pern?"

"Well," I began, "Pern is a planet and society found in novels of Anne McCaffrey..." And then other Feasters began to chime in about Pern and McCaffrey. "And," we continued, "that's why there are dragons decorating tables, t-shirts, and the lawn, why some of us are in vaguely medieval and hand-crafted costumes, and why all the food for Pern Feast is made fresh. Klah is the traditional chocolatey drink which we have every year. We do our best to recreate the foods and spirit of Pern." I referred him (and you, too) to the 40 plus McCaffrey novels and/or to a compendium called The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern by Jody Lynn Nye with Anne McCaffrey.

I am not a true sci-fi fan, but I have read several of the McCaffreys, and became a fan after reading the first three of the Pern series in 1992: Dragonflight (1968), Dragonquest (1971), and The White Dragon (1978). I also liked what I read about the author. I re-read those three novels several times and still like them. Her other series, especially the Pegasus novels about people with unusual gifts, are also good.

The Pern stories fall loosely into the Utopian/Dystopian tradition and hearken a bit to Plato on the ideal society and even more to Arthurian legends. They are also fun to read. They are less classic sci-fi than fantasy realistically created and the Pern spirit is clearer after you've read two or three. Consider transplanted interplanetary colonists who have lost their former technology and who have adapted over several generations to a strange eco-system in ways we imagine are reminiscent of our own Middle Ages, the courage of knights (the dragonriders), respect for craftsmanship (the Craft Halls and MasterCrafters), and feudal exchange of work for protection and shared resources (the Holds). But McCaffrey is not naive. The usual natural human struggles create conflict. Her characters are emotionally and intellectually real enough to interest us.

But to return to DVM's Pern Feast. Back in 1992, Lori Ratajczak and Nancy Rauch concocted a plan for friends who were fans of Pern to get together, which became an annual event, held at Lori's house. After several feasts, the Farrows, Joy and Dan, offered the space of their big house and yard to accommodate the growing RSVP list.

These days, tables with tablecloths are set up in the yard. There are punch cups for the klah, to which a liqueur may be added to preference, along with lemonade, juices, wine, and beer. Attendees bring wonderful dishes: salads, tasty grain dishes, fresh breads and homemade butter, home-baked bubbly pies (blueberry), mixed fruit salads, and mixed nuts, fruit and ice cream. Lori oversees the roasting of herdbeast (beef) or wherry (turkey). So, she reminds me, if you attend next year, be sure to RSVP, so she knows how many platters of roasted meats to prepare!!

Whether a Pern fan or not, you're welcome, but if you've read some of the stories, or at least the Dragonlover's Guide, you'll recognize the white dragon on a t-shirt and know why people have toy dragons on their shoulders. Even if, like friend Ivan, you ask "What is Pern?", you'll enjoy the company and the food and your fellow feasters will have fun filling you in.

This year 31 people attended, 23 adults and 8 children. There's room for the children to play outdoors and in, and friendly playmates. Games were available for kids and adults, including the Dragonriders of Pern game and croquet. After feasting some played a new board game called "Puerto Rico". All the food was excellent. People visited, played games, and talked all day. As Lori said that evening, "We ate, we drank, we were merry, we vegged."

The following people were this year's happy Pern Feasters: Lori & son Cyrus, Nancy Rauch & her sister Janet, Dan & Joy Gomez-Farrow & son Woolly, Arlyn Bell, Pat Horsley & Jere Lull, Carol Zimmel, Bob Mazzi & daughters Samantha & Celine, Mike Fisher, Keith & Nancy Loescher, Tom Epp & Karen Leppel & son Russ, Ivan Weiss, Adam Hoary & children Samantha, Seth, & Scott, Ellen & Marian Bauer, Dave & Dorthea Brown, and briefly, Susan Mazzi and Jackie Binstead graced the group.

Join us next year. It's a terrific time. Meantime, there are all those great McCaffrey stories to read ...