Anne McCaffrey, 1926-2011

Prolific science fiction author Anne McCaffrey, "Annie" to friends and fans, died at home in Ireland last Monday, November 21, 2011.  She is survived by her one daughter and two sons, one of whom is Todd McCaffrey, her collaborator on the most recent Pern books.

Anne McCaffrey published nearly 100 books in her lifetime, starting with Restoree in 1967, which she described as a "jab" at the way women were portrayed in science fiction.  The Dragonriders of Pern series, for which she is best known, was conceived one day in the same year, starting with the idea "what if dragons were the good guys?".  By the time her children got home from school that day, she knew the first line of the first Pern story: "Lessa woke cold".  (That story was originally published in Analog magazine and later became part of Dragonflight, the first full Pern novel.)

To close, I will quote two others who wrote of her death, author Neil Gaiman and BlogCritics blogger Anna Meade.  Tweeted Gaiman, "She was a wonderful goodhearted funny lady. Goodbye Annie. I'm glad I knew you."

Meade wrote one the most beautiful lines I've ever read of an obituary post, and  the lines I will leave you with:

"She allowed us to fly. So ride the dragon's wings to your well-deserved rest, Anne. Pern awaits."

Anne McCaffrey's awards include:
Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award (2005)
Gandalf Award (1979)
Golden Pen Award (1982)
Hugo Award (1968)
L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Lifetime Achievement Award (2004)
Margaret A. Edwards Award, awarded by the Young Adult Library Services Association (a division of the American Library Association) for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults. (1999)
Nebula Award (1969)

Publisher Del Rey's announcement of Anne's death 

New York Times obituary (published November 24, 2011)

Our collection of Anne McCaffrey's works

Top Ten Science Fiction/Fantasy books

Booklist recently compiled a listing of "particularly tantalizing" Science Fiction and Fantasy Fiction books which were published during the last twelve months. "The ninth Rachel Morgan novel finds our tough and feisty witch on a mission to get her shunning rescinded; this is an excellent series entry that is guaranteed to satisfy the author’s following." The Spirit Thief. By Rachel Aaron. "Aaron’s outstanding fantasy debut is the first in a trilogy about unrepentant thief Eli Monpress, whose goal is to amass $1 million in gold." Thirteen Years Later. By Jasper Kent. "Kent has magically blended history, folklore, and storytelling to produce a superb account of the Dekabrist revolt in 1825 Russia." What the Night Knows. By Dean Koontz. "This novel is deliberate, highly supernatural, somber throughout, and motivated by religious dread—one of Koontz’s weightiest performances." All the Lives He Led. By Frederick Pohl. "It’s 2079 and Pompeii has become a theme park. Pohl is a master of everything that goes into a cracking good novel, and for this one, he has clearly boned up on vulcanology to boot." The Best of Larry Niven. By Larry Niven. Ed. by Jonathan Strahan. "Niven excels at creating possible futures that are the outcome of current ideas stretched to the extreme. This is a collection to love." A Discovery of Witches. By Deborah Harkness. "Diana Bishop is the last of the Bishops, a powerful family of witches, but she has refused her magic ever since her parents died. Essential reading across literary mystery and epic and fantastic romance genres." Dragon Haven. By Robin Hobb. "The second volume of the Rain Wilds Chronicles shows Hobb again working at the highest level of contemporary fantasy, to which her creativity with dragons adds majesty." Hellhole. By Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson."This is a militaristic sf story of galactic proportions that also offers characters easy for the reader to believe in." Midsummer Night. By Freda Warrington. "Set after the end of the Great War, this novel should please classic- and urban-fantasy fans, romance readers, and anyone looking for a good, fey story." Pale Demon. By Kim Harrison.