09 May 2012

Author: Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey is the second author that influenced my pen name. She is a more recent arrival on my author list than Andre Norton; think I was in my very late teens and at college. Dragonflight was the first of her books that I read, it is also the first in the Dragonriders of Pern series. The living quarters for the dragons is called a weyr and picked that for my pen name's last name. I have over a dozen 'dragons' living with me, so seemed an appropriate name to pick. Also like that the initial are AW.

I like things that fly - butterflies, dragonflyis, birds, planes, spaceships, dragons. I like stories where there is a link between animal and human companions. The Pern dragons imprint on a human companion right out of the shell, they have a telepathic link and they fly. What more could I ask for in a story. Story captured me immediately.

Another series is the Crystal Singer. This one is my favorite. I'm not sure exactly why. It does not have the things I generally like in stories, but it is the series I have reread the most. I'm not at all musically inclined so have no connection to that aspect.

She has several other series of books and some stand alone books.  Most are science fiction / fantasy.  I've probably read about half. All the ones that I've read are clean, fade to black suggestion of intimacy. That may or maynot hold true for her romance books which I have not read. Her son, Todd McCaffrey has taken up writing in the Pern universe, I've not read any of those books yet.

I met her once at a book signing for the White Dragon in 1978 and seen her at two WorldCons. Similar to Andre Norton as she got older she collaborated with different authors. I've read some of those authors books too. Nice way to be introduced to another author.  A couple of links for more information:

http://pernhome.com/aim/
http://www.annemccaffrey.org/books/index.html

4 comments:

  1. Okay I was older than you when I found the Anne McCaffery, I was in my early twenties when I found the dragon riders I started with White Dragon and expanded from there. I think I have read most of the Pern books.

    I also LOVE Crystal Singer series, I think I love them because of the main character is a strong single and over came a major failure in her life. I was just getting over a divorce when I read it the first time.

    I have read a few of her joint written books and I am glad she shared her talent to encourage others; especially now we have lost her.

    Thank you for sharing!
    CJ

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    1. Her son, Todd, was at BayCon recently and mentioned that Crystal Singer was written as way for Anne to deal with not singing well enough to be an opera singer.

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  2. Thanks for sharing info on this writer...I've never read her books b4 but I hope to one day but this helps with knowing which book I would like to read by her.

    Thanks
    AM

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    1. There are lots of other series she has written. If you see a title and want to know more that back cover, send me a message and I'll give you my opinion. Thanks for the comment.

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