June's Novel: Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

Dragonflight is a fantasy novel by Anne McCaffrey, first published in July 1968. It is the inaugural book in the Dragonriders of Pern series. Set on the planet Pern, where humans ride telepathic dragons to combat a deadly threat known as Thread. The story follows Lessa, the last survivor of her noble family, who disguises herself as a servant.

Dragonflight received particular attention for its female protagonist and proto-feminist themes at a time when genre fiction was dominated by male authors and widespread misogyny. Dragonflight explores themes of faith and belief, the interplay between science and religion, and the moral codes of its characters. It also addresses gender norms and the consequences of excess in both men and women.

Dragonflight is notable for being the first work by a woman to win both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. It has been recognized as one of the all-time best fantasy novels, ranking ninth in a 1987 poll by Locus.