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.
So sorry to read this, I can’t really say more than has already been said a hundred times.
I hope you find your Dragons Anne, fly free.
Niki x
I began reading Anne McCaffrey books with the Dragon Riders of Pern. I never put down her books after that. This is a woman that captured your Imagination and carried you away to new and wonderful places. You will be greatly missed Anne. May the winds of Pern carry you ever higher.
You left big footsteps to fill.
Rob
Anne, I have counted you as one of my favourite authors for over 30 years, the magical stories you wove made you our planets Master Harper.
I am deeply saddened by this news, and my deepest condolences go out to family and friends alike.
My life was forever changed by her Dragon Riders of Pern novels, most specifically the Harper Hall Trilogy. My mother was so taken by the series, and the characters that I have had the honor to be named after two. I am Menolly Robin, named after my mother’s two favorite characters. I started with the Harper Hall and branched out all over her works. I feel like I have lost a lifelong friend, she was a part of my life and my home for my entire life.
I started by reading Dragonflight over 30 years ago. I still have that original book – and the rest of the series plus many more of Anne’s books. I loved Pern best of all – it seemed Anne wrote about it as if she’d been there, and met all those wonderful characters. Fitting that I’m re-reading the Dragon series at the moment.
Thanks for all the pleasure you’ve given me over the years, Anne. They are priceless.
Did the dragons of Pern keen at your passing? I’m sure they did.
What a writer. What an imagination. What a loss.
God bless
I have loved Anne’s books since I was around 10…that’s over 30 years, ya’ll! My first exposure to her world building books was “The White Dragon”…one of the many Dragon Riders of P.E.R.N. books. I later began to collect and devour every P.E.R.N. book I could get my hands on. I later did the same with the “Talented” series, “The Crystal Singer” trilogy, “The Ship Who…” series, and some of the books she co wrote with other sci-fi/fantasy writers.
I feel like a life long, beloved friend has left my life. I will miss her, but will continue to love re-reading her books for the rest of my life, and sharing them with my children (and grandchildren when I have them).
The queen’s den at Dragon-Under-Hill is empty now. The rider lies in state. Her family, friends and fans will miss and mourn her as deeply as keening dragons. Fly high, fair rider! You have finally, forever, passed “between”.
Blessed Be, Blessed Be!
As I sit in front of computer typing this I have just to glance to my right to see that my Anne McCaffrey collection is the largest of all. She was an incredible writer who captured my imagination as well. I turned 50 this year and enjoy all her books but I still love to get lost in the world of Pern. I was talking to my daughter just the other day about reading The White Dragon. I’m sure she has gone ‘between’ to a world of dragons.
As with thousands of other I grew up with her books. They were the only books I mainly read as I grew up.
I considered it an honor when I got to work for Anne as one of her webmasters, then after I got to know her personally I considered it something I did for Annie, a good friend that helped me out.
I will miss Anne. I hope her books continue to inspire many people years from now as they did for everyone here and now. And you who never met her can get to know Anne personally even now. She is there in her books.
Her soul and spirit have gone between borne on the back of a golden queen. I’ll cherish her stories forever. She was a most amazing female storyteller.
Will miss you greatly.
Grew up reading your books and encouraged my children to read them as well.
Will continue to escape into your worlds forevermore.
My condolances the her family
Anne McCaffrey was the author that helped me make the jump from Science Fiction to Fantasy and so has always had a special place in my heart. I hope that the love of her fans can help with her families grief. I doubt it, but I still hope. Thank you for sharing your mother with us.
I love her books and always will. She will be greatly missed by those of us who have learned to write SF/R by studying, and loving Anne’s wonderful books.
Kaye Manro
I will always be grateful for having discovered Ms McCaffrey’s books. They have provided me with many hours of enjoyment, from Pern, to Crystal Singer, to Helva, and more. To be taken to other worlds through stories and books is a marvelous thing and Ms McCaffrey told those wonderful stories magnificently.
God bless and condolances to her family and to her readers everywhere.
M.E.
Our cousins gave us a copy of Drafonflight and Dragonquest for our birthday and thus our love for fantasy was born. Condolences to the family on such a great loss.
Anne is the person that got me to write. I met her the first time at a small convention call RovaCon in Salem Va at one of her many writers workshops. She was nice enough to look at some of my work and tell me if I didnt finish the stories and have them publish it would be a waste. I listend and did.
I and most of the worl will miss the smile and hours of rapt attention this lady gave each of us.
This one is for you my dear friend and mentor.
DREAM TIME
In a dream time of long past.
I remember a world of beauty.
Crystal blue oceans.
Blue skies laced with streamers of purplish clouds.
Sandy beaches of golden grains.
Rock piled high like castles in the land of the fae.
Creatures playing games, laughter skipping across cool waters like flat stones.
No anger, no pain. Just joy as the people dances under the fall of pink rain.
No person wanted.
No person cried.
Children danced under that pristine sky.
Knowledge was gifted.
Differences embraced.
Then I knew that soon I would have to leave this place.
I felt no sadness.
I felt no tears.
For in this knowledge I need not fear.
I created this wondrous world.
A place to which I could escape.
A world without sadness.
A world filled with grace.
So during my long labored days.
I think of my hearts home.
I smile to myself as I sing a soft voiced song.
I see the confused looks of those I am with.
They wonder at what I find this mirth.
For never have they seen me pained or depressed.
For my world awaits me when its time for me to rest.
I offer you my world.
I wish your presence there.
Use it if you will.
And escape for a little while.
But remember one thing.
The words others have spoke.
It is but a dream sir.
So there is no hope.
But I smile and thank them.
Leaving them to guess.
And in the night when I close my eyes.
Between waking and sleep.
I travel to that world I made.
And I sleep in blissful peace.
Was so sad to hear of Anne’s passing. I owe my love of reading to her and all those wonderful books she wrote. Ane made me laugh, cry, hope and dream, and gave me something special I carry within myself every day.
To a great lady, who has inspired so many wonderful dreams, I salute you. May you forever be lifted upon the wings of your dragons
My condolences to to her family. I discovered her books when I was in University and couldn’t wait to read each new novel. I still have copies of the Ship Who Sang and the Pern novels. They fired this Engineer’s imagination and provided a welcome diversion from my professional work.
I just reread “The Skies of Pern” last week; after a rereading of other books in the Pern series, I’ve read all of the Pern books over the years as well, They have been a favorite of mine fore over 30+ years now, I even read the first novel when it was published as a novella in a used copy of Analog too. So RIP Anne, and rdie on with the dragons now gra, diCisund lady.
?!?!?!?!!? (words fail)… wimper… wail… *tears flow slowly down face, creating rivulets of wetness; leaving behind, a memory of passage… of, ageless time… and sentiment… of this moment… in time; never to be repeated… never, to be forgot… through… eternity… on wings of dragons, and like “stardust”… in the eyes… of travelers… ridin’ the ageless solar wind!*
I first met Anne, waaaaaay back; in the late 60’s or early 70’s, when she STILL lived in the San Fernando Valley… and, hardly anybody “knew”… the “lady with the cats”… that “liked to write about dragons”, and, “if she LIKED you… would “use you and your name”… in “one of her stories”… (you, can “find me”… in “one of the chapters” of “The Ship That Sang”… giggle!)… and, the “apple, and orange, and lemon trees” in the backyard… (avocado, too… but not so much)… that she’d “make pies from”… and, “just give away”… to, “whomever” would “happen along”… at the “right moment”… As I “slowly close mine eyes… it all comes back now; as if, it were yesterday)… “Good bye, Anne”… and, “may you be carried, to the land; where the dragons be… they’ve prepared a place… special.. as they knew… you would want… for eternity, and beyond” ~ “The Ship, That Wails and Moans… as its ion drive, powers it through; the gossamer gusts, of the Cosmic wind… on an endless, uncharted journey… to the great beyond… forevermore!!!
Anne was one of the first authors that I read and introduced me to fantasy style. I will be reading her books to my kids.
The world is a poorer place today.
The world has lost one of the greatest writers of both SF and Fantasy. I had at first started with SF, Isaac Asimov, then it was Fritz Leiber that drew me into Fantasy; but it was Anne that wrote great stories on both sides that I devoured. The whole crystal singer series was something that I packed in my backpack when I was walking in Scotland, and I finished the books before the walk.
I shall cherish the books I have that you wrote, and you will be in my memory forever.
I am deeply saddened to hear of Anne MacCaffrey’s death. My condolences to all her family, friends and other fans. In a world where representation of the female becomes ‘lesser’ everyday, she was one of the last stalwarts. I will miss her and the small security her presence offered me, both as a child and now, that female emancipation would last. The effect of her existence on my life is unknowable by anyone but me, but I know it to have been enormous and whether male or female my life and my opinion count. Anne MacCaffrey is one who gave me that awareness, against all odds, just by her example. Which woman will give such an example to a younger generation?
As a youngster, I read every book of Anne McCaffrey I could lay my hands on in public library’s. She wrote books I could relate to as a girl. Today I am a writer, published by a SF and Fantasy smallpress publisher in Holland.
Anne McCaffrey had a significent influence on my writing. I am sorry to hear the world lost one of it’s prominent fantasy en SF writing lady’s, but I am confident her books will appeal to new generations of readers. And in that way, new generations of writers shall taste her work and be influenced as well…
In distant space you go on Pegasus wings. The world has lost a great spirit.
Her soul and spirit have gone between borne on the back of a golden queen. I’ll cherish her stories forever. She was a most amazing female storyteller.
I always wanted to meet her in person, and just missed my chance at DragonCon, as I went in 2010, and she was there in 2009. I grew up with her books, including Pern, Talents, and all the other works. If it had her name on it, I knew it would be a good book. She has always been catagorized as one of my favorite Authors, and I shall miss her work.
My condolences to the entire Family, both blood relatives and fan based. She will be remembered forever by everyone who might pick up one of her books.
Thank you for blessing us with your wonderful books. All members of my family were touched by your words. Fly high and god speed on your next journey
So sorry to hear the sad news. The great Dragon Lady will be sorely missed. Sincere condolences to her family. RIP
So sad to hear this news. A great writer who appealed across the generations. It’s good to know that Todd will carry the baton forward and continue his mothers work. RIP
Well she has joined one of her many creations- The Master Harper of Pern, may she enjoy many tall tales and glasses of wine with him.
I grew from a sullen teenager to a man with Jaxom and Ruth, once wrote to her over the death of the MasterHarper and got a card in reply, I sadly, have lost the card to my chagrin.
May I wish all of her family my best wishes in this moment of rememberence.
Karl W
She taught me that genre was a framework not a set of boundaries.
The seemingly smallest space is still big enough to do something
incredibly cool.
Bye Anne
tc
O.o … I am bereft …. :’(
I read the Harper Crafthall series around 1983 when I was in Jr. High. Since then I have read every book Anne McCaffrey wrote and she is one of the reasons I write. As a young girl I was entranced by the strong, adventurous women in her books. To this day Crystal Singer is among my favorite books and I re-read it at least once a year. Anne will be truly missed by me and so many others.
I first read THE SHIP WHO SANG in Analog. (A magazine, at that time, known for its somewhat conservative editorials but with a publishing range and taste I don’t think has been equaled. Hence Ms. McCaffrey. She also benefited from a period of stunning artwork. It is difficult to imagine such creative editorial expansiveness in the heavily politicized present.) Although I drifted away from science fiction and never took to fantasy, the story left a strong impression as did the magazine in which it appeared. The idea of not throwing people away because they are imperfect has also stuck with this Catholic convert. Why no movie? Well Hollywood’s science fiction bench is not deep. For those invested in her Pern series, I offer my condolences. It is a rare writer who creates a world. And the passing of its creator is like a death in the family.
Anne Mccaffrey has meant so much to my wife over the years since I met her. The passion and love with which my wife has talked about her books, world and characters has been a joy and wonder to listen to. Myself I find I have now just recently started reading the Pern books and have realised what wonders I have been missing, and now Anne is gone. I truely hope she knows how many hearts she has touched and what she has given the world that will endure forever as we all read and re-read her wonderfull works. My sincere condolances to Anne’s family, and my sincere thanks to her for what she has given to the world. Be at peace.
Alex Moisan
Today I cried for the Death of my favourite author Anne McCaffrey. Although I never met her, her books, her words had a profound effect on my life, and got me through some of the worst times I have ever experienced. Rest in peace Anne, I will think of you often. Condolences to the family you leave behind I am sure they will miss you much more than I.
The best leave, while the worse still roam the world
But as Gandalf said in another popular fantasy world: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”. Anne definitely did the best of it. And because of that, she will be immortal for us through her wonderful books.
Thank you Anne. Thank you SO much.
The tears I feel today
I’ll wait to shed tomorrow,
Though I’ll not sleep this night
Nor find surcease from sorrow.
My eyes must keep their sight;
I dare not be tear-blinded.
I must be free to speak
Not choked with grief, clear-minded.
My tongue cannot betray
The anguish that I know.
I’ll keep my tears till later;
But my grief will never go.
Anne McCaffrey was my favorite author of all time. I loved that she had strong, adventurous women portrayed within her book. To this day, I still read Crystal Singer at least once per year. I read the Harper Crafthall series when I was in Jr. High and she is the reason I am a writer today. Ms. McCaffrey will be missed by me and so many others that I cannot begin to count their numbers. Long live the dragons of Pern….they were her ultimate legacy.
Anne McCaffrey was a great lady as well as a very talented author and will be much missed. Rest well and know that you made a great difference in the lives of many. My thoughts are with her family in this difficult time.
I first met Anne’s Dragons, and Lessa from Ruatha when I was 11… Many many years later, I ‘met’ Lady Anne via email. She was kind enough to give me a few moments of her time, and reply to what was merely a fan girl message. I simply told her that I never ceased to be amazed by her books, and appreciated HER for introducing US to that whole world.
Rest well great lady, and share a flagon of the Benden with the Harper.
Ms. McCaffrey’s Pern gave flight to my own fancies, and I am forever grateful to her for that. My thoughts are with her family, knowing how hard it is to lose a beloved parent. My thanks for sharing her with us. She will be greatly missed.
The Pern books were my first introduction to the realm of fantasy reading when I was just hitting my teen years, and I’ve loved keeping up with the world and the various characters ever since. I’ll be forever grateful to her for her wonderful books and I will be certain to pass them on to my own children. Rest in Peace, Anne.
I spent many hours wrapped in the world of Pern. She will be missed.
My Mother introduced me to the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey when I was very young. I have had some hard times and it has been books of PERN that got me through my own Mother’s stroke and lingering passing. They have also gotten me through some very hard times and given me a comfortable place to escape to when I have needed it most. Thank You for everything, I will miss you!
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I have almost all the dragon books. They have all been shared with friends and family. Anne McCaffrey was the best. I believe she is with her dragons and exploring other worlds. She will always be with me, through her books, I will miss her. Thank you for all the hours of reading and enjoyment, miss you.
When asked who my facorite authors are I always say Anne McCaffrey and Robert Heinlein, they have both helped me through rough times with their ever uplifting view of people and the world and thier quirky senses of humor. the world is a poorer place without them
Anne has left the world a better place than it ever would have been without her wonderful books starting from her first, wonderful Restoree. I have loved her novels and short stories since I read my first dragonrider book decades ago when I was 13 years old. I have read every one of her books I could find multiple times over the years. She was the one who solidified Sci Fi and Fantasy as my two favorite genres. Hers was a soaring imagination and she took us flying over the world of Pern with her. She made us want to live in her various worlds, but Pern most of all. I will miss her storytelling genius sorely – sad I am, very sad.
I’m over 60yrs old, and if It wasn’t for Anne I probably wouldn’t be as sane as I am now. She gave me a safe place to go to releave the mountainous stress I had to face in my life. I started reading her when my son brought home the first Pern book over 25years ago. I have purchased every book I could find and afford. And l look forward to re-reading them over and over again. I always wished she would have created a Pern Movie or series. I know there were attempts toward it but she never approved how they would have butchered her story line. I also wanted to see the many Dragons of Pern created in statues. But never transpired as far as I know. She will always be in my heart. Anita Vancouver Wa.
Anne introduced me to Pern and my love of Fantasy stories was born. Her wit and talent will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to her family – celebrate her life as you mourn her passing. She has touched so many with her work and her legacy will live in the hearts and minds of so many for generations to come.
Melanie Alderson