A number of reference books have been written about Pern. The Atlas gives the geography, the Dragonlover's Guide the background, while the People of Pern allows insight into how these people looked.

THE ATLAS OF PERN
Karen Wynn Fonstad
Published 1984
Out of Print. (Note: Science Fiction Bookclub occasionally do reprints, and you can find them secondhand)

The Atlas of Pern is a companion and guide for the books. It contains maps of the continents, schematic diagrams of the main Weyrs, Holds and Crafts, a discussion on dragonwing anatomy and mechanics

THE DRAGONLOVER'S GUIDE TO PERN
Jody Lynn Nye and Anne McCaffrey
1st Ed.
Published 1989
Kynn's Index to the 1st edition of the DLG
2nd Ed.
ISBN: 0345412745
Published: March 1997

An indispensable companion guide to the wonderful world of Anne McCaffrey and her dragons

Guaranteed to enrich every armchair traveler's journey into McCaffrey's legendary world, this illuminating guide leaves no stone in Pern unturned! Both faithful fans and newcomers will relish the fascinating history and lore of . . .

The Dragons: How they developed from little Firelizards into the huge telepathic creatures that carry human riders and fight Thread
The People: How they live, the clothes they wear, the food they eat
The Places: What to see and do in individual Holds and Weyrs
Thread: Its appearance and behavior, the threat it poses, and ways to combat it

Updated to include The Renegades of Pern, All the Weyrs of Pern, The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall, and The Dolphins of Pern.

THE PEOPLE OF PERN
Robin Wood and Anne McCaffrey
Science Fiction Bookclub

F'lar, Lessa, Menolly, Robinton, Jaxom and countless other Pernese: this remarkable collaboration between artist and author features 64 portraits of the most famous and infamous Dragonriders, Holders, Weyr dwellers, Crafthall apprentices, journeymen and masters-beautiful full-color works and detailed color sketches.