It is the thirteenth book published in the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne or her son Todd McCaffrey.

The cover painting by Rowena Morrill was used again for the biography Anne McCaffrey: A life with dragons (Roberts 2007).

This novel follows Dragonsdawn and the short story The Dolphin's Bell (short story contained in The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall) by discussing the present state (Ninth Pass) of the dolphins that were brought to Pern by the colonists.

T'lion, the young Eastern Weyr dragonrider of Bronze Gadareth, also develops an interest after being involved in an early dolphin encounter.

Well-known characters from previous Pern novels are also involved in the plot, including Benden Weyrleaders Lessa and F'lar, and Masterharpers Robinton and Menolly.