This quite surprises me. Pern, the world McCaffrey created, has always been a place where sexuality isn't an issue. In fact, one of the storylines in Dragonseye, my favorite of her books, involves two male dragon riders who are lovers. I would never have expected her to speak so ignorantly about homosexuality. Perhaps old age has addled her brain. She has turned the reins of Pern over to her son, Todd, who after several collaborations with his mother, is now writing the world on his own. Maybe that's a good thing.