original question: What written work is previous in series [The Skies of Pern]
answer: a gift of dragons
answer type: Written Work.
auxiliary information: The Skies of Pern is a science fiction novel by the American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey. It was the sixteenth book published in the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne or her son Todd McCaffrey. The Skies of Pern was first published in 2001. It was the first Pern book using the same painting to illustrate the UK and US covers. This novel follows soon after The Dolphins of Pern, and, in contrast to the previous several Pern novels, takes place in a very short period of time within the same year. To ensure accuracy Anne consulted with a number of astronomers who planned and modelled the comet impact and subsequent consequences, this group included author Bill Napier and minor YouTube celebrity Scott Manley.
In the series [The Skies of Pern], what was the book that came directly before it?