The dragonlover's guide to Pern /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This book on the legal aspects of aerospace activities from government procurement to insurance, financing, communications, space transportation, intellectual property, trade, antitrust and technology transfer is comprehensive yet self-contained and practical. The rational distribution of materials among 11 chapters makes topics of specific interest easy to find. This guide is essential reading for executives of aerospace companies and their contractors as well as government agencies, lawyers and other professionals.

The specific materials contained in the book are introduced by a general description of the entities involved in aerospace activities and the main laws and regulations. Contracts relating to space activities are described and discussed in the second chapter which is complemented by a description of government and international agency procurement in the following chapter. The insurance needs of commercial space are discussed in chapter four. Satellite communications, a major component of commercial space, are dealt with in chapter five. The next chapter describes financing techniques for space ventures which, by their very nature, require enormous amounts of capital and are notoriously risky. Chapter seven and eight deal with launch services and space transportation both in terms of business aspects and regulatory issues. The trade issues involved in launch and other space activities are dealt with in chapter nine. Intellectual property is discussed in chapter ten. The last chapter deals with technology transfer and spinoffs. The topic is discussed in detail since it has enormous practical importance in the defense reduction environment of the nineties.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Sure to be a hit with the many fans of McCaffrey's mythical world of Pern. All sf collections will need it.-- MR (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Both seasoned Pernophiles and newcomers to McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series will delight in this lovingly crafted, helpful companion to the novels. Filled with fascinating bits of information gleaned from the books and from McCaffrey herself, the handsome, well-illustrated oversize guide is intended to help readers visualize the setting and background for the Pern saga; indeed, it succeeds beautifully. From the exploration and settling of the planet, the native flora and fauna (including the dragonets), and the appearance and behavior of the deadly Thread, to the genetic engineering, care, feeding, and training of the telepathic dragons and a rundown on each hold, weyr, and hall (structure, history, daily life, leisure activities, government), this volume captures and explicates the essence of Pern. A must for collections where the series has an audience. --Sally Estes

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Anne McCaffrey was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 1, 1926. She received a degree in Slavonic languages from Radcliffe College. She worked in advertising for Helena Rubenstein from 1947 to 1952.

Her first publication was a short story in Science Fiction Magazine, and her first novel, Restoree, was published in 1967. She is a well-known author of over 100 books, mostly science fiction, including the Dragonriders of Pern series, the Crystal Singer series, Acorna's Children series, The Twins of Petaybee series, and Barque Cats series. She won numerous awards including the Hugo Award for Best Novella for the short story Weyr Search in 1968 and the Nebula Award for Best Novella for Dragonrider in 1969. In 2006, she was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. She has also written books under the pseudonym Jody Lynn. She died of a stroke on November 21, 2011 at the age of 85.

(Bowker Author Biography)