This novel is the first full novel of the second generation of Pern, the Transition Phase. Because of the discovery of the Ancient's settlements on the Southern Continent, and more importantly, because of their discovery of Aivas (Artificial Intelligence VoiceActivated System) and this mega-computer's knowledge of Pern's history and lost technologies, the foundation of Pern is challenged. This challenge will be the basis of future "contemporary" Pern novels.

This novel raises a question that contemporary society is wrestling with, a question popularized by Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park (1990): Is knowledge always good? What kinds of disciplines or controls are needed on scientific research? Because we can do a thing, are we required to do it — do we acquire knowledge for knowledge's sake? What are our responsibilities as leaders and teachers and scientists to the following generations? For the people of Pern, whose colonial charter emphasized minimal...