It is with great sadness that Del Rey Books and Random House report the passing of beloved author Anne McCaffrey. Anne McCaffrey was best known for her award-winning and immensely popular Dragonriders of Pern® novels. McCaffrey died at her home in Ireland on November 21st shortly after suffering a stroke. She was 85 years old. She is survived by her two sons and daughter. We will provide more information as we receive it from Anne’s family.
Ms. McCaffrey,
You will be greatly missed and the world has lost a wonderful and talented person.
To the McCaffrey family,
The world mourns with you. You have our deepest sympathy for your loss. Losing a mother is never easy and I know she loved you all dearly.
Jeff and Dianne Tabor
Anne, you will be missed. I am sad, so sad you are gone. Soar high on the wings of a Golden Queen Dragon like the Queen of writing you were. Find rest and peace in your beloved PERN.
Many books and stories you penned but for me I lived and loved your DragonRiders all. I read and reread the books so many times. The books gave me a world to retreat to when times were rough. I looked forward to each new book Anne wrote. Anne, thank you for your wonderful stories. Todd, please continue the dragon stories. I’m so glad to know Dragonflight will soon be a movie. Sad that Anne didn’t live to see the movie released.
My prayers to your family.
God bless you all and give you peace during your sorrow.
Thank you Anne.
Rest In Peace.
Janis
I did not know about Anne and her dragons until I was in my 30’s. But, once I found the books I have loved every one and had to replace a couple several times over, though I still have the original White Dragon book. I wish I had gotten to meet her in person, but from what I know of what others have said and what I have read on her web pages and blog she was a wonderful person. My condolences to her family. I am sure she is soaring with her dragons.
My sincere condolences to Mrs. McCaffrey’s family for their loss. My dad passed away earlier this year but he left me with a love for sci-fi and Anne McCaffrey was one of his favorites. Her books were a way my father and I could bond. So her books meant a lot to my life. I loved her Talented Rowan series as well as the all famous Pern series. She was and always will be my favorite author. I realized something a few months ago about other books I’ve been reading and (this is just speculation) but it seems that these other romance sci-fi authors got some inspiration from Mrs. McCaffrey. I wish I could’ve met her.
What a legacy she leaves behind her. Some of the best books I have ever read!
My condolences to the family, and sincere appreciation for all she gave us.
The Dragonriders of Pern was the first “grown up” book that I read when I got my first public library card.
I looked forward to each new book that came out and read it from cover to cover, dreaming of flying against thread myself.
Anne McCaffrey was among the greatest Science Fiction authors. She’ll be missed greatly and dearly.
With Heart Felt Sympathy
James
My thoughts and prayers are with Anne’s family at this time. I will miss Anne’s stories immensely, having always looked forward to her next book almost immediately after reading the newest one. Blessings to all she loved and touched with her talents.
A friend first shared the Harper Hall series with me in the late 70’s and Anne’s stories have kept me company over 30 years now. They have been shared with family and friends and I have read most of them over a dozen times each. They have kept me company through my husband’s sea duty and quiet long snowy winter nights together once he’d return home again.
And now, you are home in my heart and on Pern. We were glad to see you and Todd at DragonCon ‘08. It was a dream come true. I can’t thank you enough for sharing your gift and hard work with us. Wishing peace to family and friends, our thought are with you.
Oh my… I just found out reading a post in the Fantasy section of Amazon. I am a writer, and have just published Mortal Conquests of the Dark Ages – The Wayfarers the first novel in this series. I must say Anne McCaffrey was one of the writers who inspired me to write fantasy. My condolences to her family.
The Master Harper ,Fire Lizards and Golden Dragons will sing you to your rest , Killashandra will find black crystal to guide you Brawn, Talent and Brianships travel with you now. We will miss you & your words will live on. Your genius survives you. Thank you for the hours of great enjoyment you have given all of us. I will treasure forever my card you sent me that shows the dragon addressing a conference “Anne McCaffrey fact or fiction”. Anne your words have enriched my whole family my children have grown up with your work and my grandchildren have been told the Pern stories. You are right up there with the great SF writers, including Austin Tappen Wright. Thank you for nearly 50 decades of wonderful worlds and words – Vale Anne McCaffrey
My sister and I discovered Anne just after Dragonflight came out in paperback. We were hooked! I have read everything she has ever written that I could find and enjoyed it all immensely. My deepest sympathy to all of her family. She has been and will ever be the best storyteller. Thank you for sharing all your worlds with us, you will never be forgotten.
The greatest “DragonWriter” has gone Between.