Origins of "Ista"

[Shadhahvar]

I've been looking back through the forums, and so if this has already been answered, I most likely am a dunce and not particularly gifted in sifting through material. However!

In the books, we know (From "Dragonsdawn" and "Chronicles") that what is known by the 9th Pass as Ista was called around the time of Landing, "Big Island." (Which also had the Young Volcano, but hey, obvious names are nice and to the point.) Sometime after Sean Connell announces the three new Weyrs to be established, we learn "Big Island" is destined to be one of those sites. We know the site itself has been in use, much like the soon to be Telgar Weyr had been in use, but the most I remember being told about Ista's name change is a reference (in the Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, which I know is notoriously inconsistent) to the fact Ista was named for the four families which helped establish/inhabit the island, and is indeed an acronym of their names: I.S.T.A.

And for the life of me I can't figure out if we know all these family names, given what information has been told about Ista in the books, or if there had been another theory for the naming of Ista, or if it's all the equivalent of "Well, that may be so, and we simply don't know who all those people are."

Any thoughts?

[ElectricDragon]

Originally Posted by Shadhahvar

I've been looking back through the forums, and so if this has already been answered, I most likely am a dunce and not particularly gifted in sifting through material. However!

In the books, we know (From "Dragonsdawn" and "Chronicles") that what is known by the 9th Pass as Ista was called around the time of Landing, "Big Island." (Which also had the Young Volcano, but hey, obvious names are nice and to the point.) Sometime after Sean Connell announces the three new Weyrs to be established, we learn "Big Island" is destined to be one of those sites. We know the site itself has been in use, much like the soon to be Telgar Weyr had been in use, but the most I remember being told about Ista's name change is a reference (in the Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, which I know is notoriously inconsistent) to the fact Ista was named for the four families which helped establish/inhabit the island, and is indeed an acronym of their names: I.S.T.A.

And for the life of me I can't figure out if we know all these family names, given what information has been told about Ista in the books, or if there had been another theory for the naming of Ista, or if it's all the equivalent of "Well, that may be so, and we simply don't know who all those people are."

Any thoughts?

Unfortunately, we get the same story for Crom: C.R.O.M. Not sure if the intention was for Ista to be named in that way and confusion resulted and that origin story got used for Crom instead, or if both are supposed to have been named this way.

[Shadhahvar]

The acronyms of doom! Since the planet's name is an acronym, I suppose I should be glad people are at least not named in acronyms. "Why hello, I am Lord M.I.S.F.I.T. of Telgar Hold!"

"You're Lord Misfit?"

"Masterful In Some Fine, Interesting Topics, yes - that would be me!"

[Gidget2]

I think there's some confusion, as ED said. I can't recall any specific names being mentioned, no.

Ista gets more interesting as it was abandoned at one point, with the riders and weyrfolk being absorbed into Telgar. I don't know when it was resettled?

[Blue Rider 16]

I thought it was Igen Weyr that was abandoned and absorbed into Telgar Weyr because their queens died off in the Second Interval, before Dragon's Kin.

[Shadhahvar]

I'm agreeing with Blue Rider 16, I think it was Igen. Ista I'm fairly sure doesn't go away in what books we have, if at the very least because of the likelihood of sending riders to Ista for recovery time is higher than Igen. Besides, I'm fairly sure we lose the Weyrleader of Ista, and that Ista was most horribly affected by the dragon chest-cold. (And Telgar, but they all went Between under the bad judgment of their Weyrleader, and weren't all infected.)

It's interesting to think, and this does include Todd's works as canon, that issues with too few queens began on Pern as soon as the 3rd Pass. Going into the 2nd Pass, everyone was still ready, breeding, and remembering far more of the colonist history (even if the technology DK said was failing fast was partially mentioned in RSR/DE as just recently having breathed it's last breath).

[Hans]

As far as I know the fact of naming Ista is indeed only mentioned in DLG and the names of the founders are unknown.

I do have a list of all known colonist names and Ista isn't among them. I'll immediately have to add to that, that I have actually met and worked with a (Dutch) lady who'se family name was Ista
In addition to that I don't have a colonist name starting with I but there are names known with the others letters. Not that that says much as we only know a fraction of the colonist names.

Since the DLG is authorized I would go with the acronym explanation easily, especially since it is also valid for Crom.

[Shadhahvar]

Heh, I go with the acronym explanation as well, in part because of the authorized status of the DLG, but also because of the precedent of acronyms in the series.

Well! I suppose that means I could leave the names to either a fannish creation until further informed by an authorized source. =)

[Brenda]

I've thought that Big Island was the same as Ierne Island in DE/RSR.

[Eriflor]

Originally Posted by Brenda

I've thought that Big Island was the same as Ierne Island in DE/RSR.

Big Island (or Bitkim Camp) in DragonsDawn was later renamed Ista.

Ierne Island in DragonsDawn became Big Island in Toric's time.

Eriflor.

[GinnyStar]

Good Question!
I.S.T.A.

It could stand for Ierne Island.
Lockahatchee-Uppala Stakeholder families.

[GinnyStar]

Originally Posted by Blue Rider 16

I thought it was Igen Weyr that was abandoned and absorbed into Telgar Weyr because their queens died off in the Second Interval, before Dragon's Kin.

You are right. More infromation comes from Dragon's Fire and Dragon Harper along with Dragonsblood.

[Greenrider Tresa]

Originally Posted by GinnyStar

Good Question!
I.S.T.A.

It could stand for Ierne Island.
Lockahatchee-Uppala Stakeholder families.

But that would be IILUSF, not Ista.

[Hans]

Aha, the Illusive island...

[Greenrider Tresa]

LOL, Hans!

[GinnyStar]

Originally Posted by Greenrider Tresa

But that would be IILUSF, not Ista.

I did not find any stakeholder names but that is just the stakehold, maybe one of them or other came up with it.

[GinnyStar]

Originally Posted by Hans

Aha, the Illusive island...

Nice one Hans. I enjoy reading background on your site. Also the names of Sean and Sorka Change somewhat in Dragonsblood.

What about the Store Master did he "retire" there after the mangement of Fort?