It saddened me the day McCaffrey died to realize I hadn't read any of these yet. It saddens me now that I have finished it, too. This was a great book, and I can see it's influences in much of modern fantasy, especially once I got to the appendices. Those are exhaustive enough to satisfy Jordan or Martin. I really enjoyed the interplay between sci-fi and fantasy conventions. The threat from outer space tied with a very real understanding of astronomy and planetary motion was perfectly juxtaposed against the presence of dragons, telepathy, and a seemingly ancient lifestyle. The rustic surroundings served a similar accompaniment to the high degree of skill held by the crafting guilds. The magic system wasn't deeply explained, but the rules and usage were consistent with the world and logically constructed. While there was not the depth of major modern fantasies, I am reminded that this was groundbreaking for its time, and it shows that a good tale stands on its own and against the test of time.