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RIP, Anne McCaffrey, 1926-2011
Various reports from around the internet and Twitter are confirming that Anne McCaffrey died yesterday at the age of 85; her son is requesting that those who wish to offer a memorial donate to an animal charity, specifically those focused on cats and horses.
The first Anne McCaffrey book I encountered was Dragonsinger, when I was back in the U.S., feeling that I would never fit into school or indeed anywhere. I found some of its references to the other books in the series bewildering, but I was enthralled enough to hunt down all of the other dragon books then in print, adoring all of them except for The White Dragon. Moreta came out a few years later, and I snatched up that one too. I stopped reading the series shortly after that (I think after Dragonsdawn) but I kept the books: I wanted to dream of riding dragons. And maybe owning one of those little fire lizards.
Oddly enough, though, these dragon books, however much they resonated with me, and however popular they became, were not McCaffrey's best books: that distinction more probably belongs to Crystal Singer, with its harsh depiction of a universe focused on privacy and exploitation, or one of the other books in which she tried to leave the dragons behind.
But, as she told us, once you impress a dragon, that is a lifetime bond.
Ms. McCaffrey, thank you for bringing us dragons.
The first Anne McCaffrey book I encountered was Dragonsinger, when I was back in the U.S., feeling that I would never fit into school or indeed anywhere. I found some of its references to the other books in the series bewildering, but I was enthralled enough to hunt down all of the other dragon books then in print, adoring all of them except for The White Dragon. Moreta came out a few years later, and I snatched up that one too. I stopped reading the series shortly after that (I think after Dragonsdawn) but I kept the books: I wanted to dream of riding dragons. And maybe owning one of those little fire lizards.
Oddly enough, though, these dragon books, however much they resonated with me, and however popular they became, were not McCaffrey's best books: that distinction more probably belongs to Crystal Singer, with its harsh depiction of a universe focused on privacy and exploitation, or one of the other books in which she tried to leave the dragons behind.
But, as she told us, once you impress a dragon, that is a lifetime bond.
Ms. McCaffrey, thank you for bringing us dragons.