Writing in Pern

[AmajoS]

How prevalent would fiction writing be in Pern? I mean, I know that songs and ballads were used for teaching and keeping histories alive and all, but what about storytelling? On Earth, fiction writing has been a staple pretty much since people first figured out how to write, though often only religious sects and the very rich had the education to do it.

On Pern, I imagine it would be a bit better than that, as far as the literacy aspect goes, so it might be more of a 'who has access to materials' thing. But, the harpers and higher ranked holders and so forth shouldn't have any problems writing stories if they wanted to, especially once paper-making and typesetting became a thing.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is how normal a thing should I consider fictional stories in Pern and assuming that it's something fairly normal, where would collections of said stories be usually? Would each Hold have a library that would have different rules about usage depending on the Hold, or would the local Harper keep any stories/poems/songs in their private area and you'd have to go through them? What about in Weyrs? I'd assume Harper Hall would have a large collection of books and scrolls but would it be considered a private collection or would it be made public (within reason).

What about non-fiction writing?

[Heather]

Fiction and non-fiction writing would both fall under the Harper category. You would have writings for both, and since we're 10th Pass, there's printing involved as well, so some things would be published that way as well.

[AmajoS]

So, like would there be libraries? Or something like libraries?

[Heather]

So, like would there be libraries? Or something like libraries?

Hmm, my personal thoughts would be no, because I would assume, while there is printing of books, it's probably not in the mass quantities that we experience and so they'd probably be costly? ((Triad Veterans, feel free to correct that  )) I think most people would get books by purchasing from traders/caravans, or sharing between themselves. Books are probably something sold at a vendor's stall at Gathers as well, but I don't know that there would be a collection of them anywhere to check out.... **Maybe** at the Harper's Hall?

That's just my musings on the matter.

[Paula]

Corowal likes to read, so he has his own collection of books, a private library, if you want to say so. I say there are no public libraries per rule but people do pass around books. They would be considered luxuries, so not every cotholder has ones. Halls/Holds/Weyrs may also store books in their archieves. If you can borrow them, that would be up to the harper responsible for that archieve (or the Hold's general policy).

[AmajoS]

That's kind of what I was thinking Paula, something like that. 

[Suzee]

Part of the stories I've put together for one of my characters (Sophque) is that she loves books and one of the things that contributed to her life was her access to Lord Morin's library.

She's also struggled with being able to borrow them from the Harpers in the past because they wanted her husband's permission first.

So I've kind of written around this subject for a while.  I believe and have discussed this much with Eimi, that there are a sort of lending library overseen by harpers but that sometimes Traders have them as well.

A gift of a book would be a big deal, but as we're RP'ing this in the time frame of 1800's technology, there would be books, they would be available. Though not in the easy way they are today.

[emma]

Teseada likes the Pernese equivalent of chick-lit, but as the Weyrwoman's 2nd, she's going to have more access to get at books than some. She would lend the trashier ones to friends at DFW for a giggle

[Eimi]

There have been posts were U'kaiah has taken different people on tours of the archives and finding them fiction and non-fiction books to read (since he's an archivist).  I think in Major Holds and Weyrs they would have extensive libraries and probably even store rooms of documents and books not being circulated.  Smaller Holders would probably not have quite as much of a selection, but would have their own records and local stories.  And probably some Holds and Holders dedicate more of their time and funds to others, so collections might come in fits and starts.

That's my image at least!

[Estelle]

I have a follow-up question. Who would be the authors of fiction on Pern? Would it mainly be harpers, or could anyone write a book...I suppose they could with enough spare time and access to materials, but how would they get it "published"?

So if you've written your romance novel, would you submit to the harpers in the hope of getting it printed? And does some poor harper have the job of reading them all?

[Paula]

Pretty much the harpers, since the printer's hall is the only way to get them printed and published.

[Heather]

I have a follow-up question. Who would be the authors of fiction on Pern? Would it mainly be harpers, or could anyone write a book...I suppose they could with enough spare time and access to materials, but how would they get it "published"?

So if you've written your romance novel, would you submit to the harpers in the hope of getting it printed? And does some poor harper have the job of reading them all?

I'm imagining mainly just harpers because other folks wouldn't have the time to write a novel with their "real life" duties. I imagine some of the women who are just "Hold residents" might have more time but in the South female authors probably would not have been given a chance with the way females are not allowed to craft (unless they are a harper.)

[AmajoS]

Now I want to make a female hold resident who writes serial short stories under a pseudonym with the clandestine help of a young harper journeyman. lol

[Eimi]

I would say that it would be very possible that there might be those on Pern who write as a hobby in their free time, in their retirement, on those cold winter nights.  There is a chance that some of that writing could find it's way into the hands of their local Harper who finds it worthy of passing it along to someone who might print it.

I could also see some rich man's son (or daughter) getting the printers to print out copies on their own dime, so to speak.

But I think that these would be rare cases and the chances of that person becoming famous in their own lifetime would be slim.  Just my two cents.

[Estelle]

Now I want to make a female hold resident who writes serial short stories under a pseudonym with the clandestine help of a young harper journeyman. lol

Oh wow, what a great idea! I'd love to read that storyline.

Another thing I wondered, would there just be one main, large printing press in the printer hall, or would large Holds have their own smaller ones, run by printers assigned to that location?