RIP: Anne McCaffrey

As I write this, I am moved to tears at the death of someone I never met, yet who was a constant in my life longer than many friends. Science Fiction/Fantasy author Anne McCaffrey has died.

“Her first novel, ‘Restoree,’ was written as a protest against the absurd and unrealistic portrayals of women in s-f novels in the ‘50s and early ‘60s. It is, however, in the handling of broader themes and the worlds of her imagination, particularly the two series ‘The Ship Who Sang’ and the fourteen novels about the ‘Dragonriders of Pern,’ that Ms. McCaffrey’s talents as a story-teller are best displayed.” [source]

Once upon a time, back in my junior year of high school, I was at church on a Sunday evening, lamenting the fact that later that evening I would be flying to Las Vegas for a leadership conference for a school club, and that I had nothing to read on the flight. My friend Danny, who always brought a book to read during the service, was currently reading “The Ship Who Sang” by Anne McCaffrey. Without hesitation he handed me his book to take with me. (If you read my previous post about how obsessively I read, you’ll realise what a sacrifice I consider him to have made).

What a gift he gave me in that moment, by loaning me that book! I was immediately hooked and as soon as I got home I started scouring the library, used book stores, and garage sales for everything Anne McCaffrey had ever written. For years after, in better financial times, I bought her books the minute they were released, and proceeded to hide myself from the world for the next 24-48 hours so I could immerse myself in whatever world she was writing in.

Her books transported me. They made me believe in a future of possibilities. They are probably directly responsible for the fact that, of all genres I could write in, my heart lies in fantasy. I want to write stories that will do for readers what hers did for me. Her books were old friends – I would turn to them for comfort, for escape, when I was lonely. They were constants in my life.

Her Dragonriders of Pern series was so vivid to me as I read it, it was like watching a movie. After moving 5 times in 2.5 years, twice between countries, we have very few tchotchkes, but we do have our Windstone dragons. Coincidence? Nope. After reading the Dragonriders series, I always wanted a firelizard and  our dragons are just firelizard-size.

I loved, not only her books, but also the collaborations she created with other writers, and I discovered and started reading other writers, because of those collaborative creative efforts.

One of the things I loved about her stories is that she incorporated her love of music into them. The husband and I were recently discussing the Dragonriders series, and why I haven’t read on since [spoiler alert] the death of Masterharper Robinton. I told him it was because the heart of the series for me, as much as the dragons, was the music. Ms. McCaffrey seamlessly wove her love of music into other series as well, including the Brain & Brawn series, and the Crystal Universe series.

But I think, if I was forced to choose (and a hard choice it would be!) my favorite of her books, it would be To Ride Pegasus. I felt so out of place as a teenager, so out of step with the other teenagers around me. This book, which I have read countless times, was such a comfort to me. It gave me hope that eventually I would find other people like me, who understood me. And as an adult, I have.

So thank you Ms. McCaffrey, for giving me, as a teenager and young adult, the greatest gift one can give: hope. It was a long time getting here but I couldn’t be happier. Your words and stories helped me believe that I wasn’t alone, and so I kept looking, and now I am blessed with wonderful, like-minded friends in my life.

Write a book. Send it out into the world, knowing that there is no way you can ever know what lives you’ll touch. And write another. This is what I want to do, and Anne McCaffrey is a big part of why I want to do it.

rest in peace

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