Between (Pern)
Encyclopedia
Between may refer to:
Between in Anne McCaffrey
's Dragonriders of Pern
series is a dimension through which dragons
, watch-whers
and fire lizards travel during the process of teleportation
, referred to as "going between". If the dragon does not have a clear picture of its destination in mind, it is possible for the dragon and its passengers to become permanently lost in this dimension. Deliberately going between without a destination in mind is how dragons commit suicide, usually occurring when the rider that they are soul-bonded to dies of illness or injury, or if the dragon itself is mortally injured. Many characters, fire lizards, and dragons have been lost between (i.e. "Moreta's Ride"). In Todd McCaffrey
's Dragonsblood
, several make it out of between after they are lost.
Between is universally described as a place of nothingness. Usually, for a dragon to teleport using its rider's directions, they stay in between for the time that it takes to cough three times. Fire lizards take eight seconds to teleport anywhere on the planet. Between frequently causes cystitis
and child-bearing problems in female dragonriders. Going between without proper coordinates is a frequent cause of death for inexperienced weyrlings. Dragons generally excrete in Between, except young dragons.
Between is characterized by extreme cold (far below zero yet not as cold as outer space) and induces near-total sensory deprivation
in humans who travel through it on dragonback. There appears to be no breathable air between, and riders who make exceptionally long journeys suffer the effects of oxygen deprivation. In later books, an expedition on dragonback to the Red Star wears spacesuits to alleviate this problem; dragons can hold their breath for much longer than humans without ill effects. Dragons and fire lizards deliberately go between to destroy any Thread which they come in contact with, as the extreme cold causes it to freeze almost instantly, whereupon it can be safely brushed off dragon or rider.
Dragons are also capable of travelling between times, but this can only be used when they have a point of reference for that time, such as star positions or a vivid memory. The White Dragon, Ruth, could travel between to any time without fail, including to the future. "Timing it" was known to many riders a long time ago, but, since Lessa and Ramoth brought the weyrs forward, it was kept a secret. Riders who "Time" to a very distant era without protective gear, or to a past location in close proximity of their past self can experience fatal fatigue and disorientation. Since its discovery, the knowledge of this ability has been restricted, and only Bronze dragons are permitted to make use of it under directions from the Weyrleaders. The ability was suppressed by the nature of the weyrling training in going between, as weyrlings were deliberately given reference points which would ensure they remained in their own time. It was only when Lessa jumped between on her own initiative when barely trained that she rediscovered the capability.
- A preposition (between two cities)
- The townTownA town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
BetweenBetween, GeorgiaBetween is a town in Walton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 148 at the 2000 census.-Meaning of the Name:The town is called Between because it is between two of Georgia's largest cities — Atlanta and Athens are exactly the same distance to Between...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - A fictional place invented by author Anne McCaffreyAnne McCaffreyAnne Inez McCaffrey was an American-born Irish writer, best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. Over the course of her 46 year career she won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award...
Between in Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey
Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American-born Irish writer, best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. Over the course of her 46 year career she won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award...
's Dragonriders of Pern
Dragonriders of Pern
Dragonriders of Pern is a science fiction series written primarily by the late American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey, who initiated it in 1967. Beginning 2003, her middle child Todd McCaffrey has written Pern novels, both solo and jointly with Anne. The series comprises 22 novels and several short...
series is a dimension through which dragons
Dragons (Pern)
The Dragons of Pern are a fictional race created by Anne McCaffrey as an integral part of the science fiction world depicted in her Dragonriders of Pern novels....
, watch-whers
Whers
Whers, or Watch-whers are dragon-like creatures in the fantasy series Dragonriders of Pern. In comparison to the majestic dragons that were the end result of Kitti Ping Yung's genetic experimentation, whers are deformed and stunted...
and fire lizards travel during the process of teleportation
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
, referred to as "going between". If the dragon does not have a clear picture of its destination in mind, it is possible for the dragon and its passengers to become permanently lost in this dimension. Deliberately going between without a destination in mind is how dragons commit suicide, usually occurring when the rider that they are soul-bonded to dies of illness or injury, or if the dragon itself is mortally injured. Many characters, fire lizards, and dragons have been lost between (i.e. "Moreta's Ride"). In Todd McCaffrey
Todd McCaffrey
Todd J. McCaffrey is an Irish American author of science fiction best known for continuing the Dragonriders of Pern series in collaboration with his mother Anne McCaffrey.-Life:...
's Dragonsblood
Dragonsblood
Dragonsblood is a science fiction novel by Todd McCaffrey in the Dragonriders of Pern series that his mother Anne McCaffrey initiated in 1967. Published in 2008, this was the first with Todd as sole author and the nineteenth in the series....
, several make it out of between after they are lost.
Between is universally described as a place of nothingness. Usually, for a dragon to teleport using its rider's directions, they stay in between for the time that it takes to cough three times. Fire lizards take eight seconds to teleport anywhere on the planet. Between frequently causes cystitis
Cystitis
Cystitis is a term that refers to urinary bladder inflammation that results from any one of a number of distinct syndromes. It is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection in which case it is referred to as a urinary tract infection.-Signs and symptoms:...
and child-bearing problems in female dragonriders. Going between without proper coordinates is a frequent cause of death for inexperienced weyrlings. Dragons generally excrete in Between, except young dragons.
Between is characterized by extreme cold (far below zero yet not as cold as outer space) and induces near-total sensory deprivation
Sensory deprivation
Sensory deprivation or perceptual isolation is the deliberate reduction or removal of stimuli from one or more of the senses. Simple devices such as blindfolds or hoods and earmuffs can cut off sight and hearing respectively, while more complex devices can also cut off the sense of smell, touch,...
in humans who travel through it on dragonback. There appears to be no breathable air between, and riders who make exceptionally long journeys suffer the effects of oxygen deprivation. In later books, an expedition on dragonback to the Red Star wears spacesuits to alleviate this problem; dragons can hold their breath for much longer than humans without ill effects. Dragons and fire lizards deliberately go between to destroy any Thread which they come in contact with, as the extreme cold causes it to freeze almost instantly, whereupon it can be safely brushed off dragon or rider.
Dragons are also capable of travelling between times, but this can only be used when they have a point of reference for that time, such as star positions or a vivid memory. The White Dragon, Ruth, could travel between to any time without fail, including to the future. "Timing it" was known to many riders a long time ago, but, since Lessa and Ramoth brought the weyrs forward, it was kept a secret. Riders who "Time" to a very distant era without protective gear, or to a past location in close proximity of their past self can experience fatal fatigue and disorientation. Since its discovery, the knowledge of this ability has been restricted, and only Bronze dragons are permitted to make use of it under directions from the Weyrleaders. The ability was suppressed by the nature of the weyrling training in going between, as weyrlings were deliberately given reference points which would ensure they remained in their own time. It was only when Lessa jumped between on her own initiative when barely trained that she rediscovered the capability.