The Masterharper is gone
It’s been forever since I’ve written in here. I’ll come back with an update on me later. What brings me here tonight is that I just found out that Anne McCaffrey has died at the age of 85.
I’m heartbroken. About a week or maybe a little more ago, I picked up a hard cover version of one of the Pern books "The Skies of Pern". Reading that one rekindled my desire to move to Pern, and since all my Pern books are packed away at my house, I hit the second hand bookstore near here and picked up five or six more in the series, on the theory that you can’t have too many copies of some books because then you can give them away and still have a copy to read and reread and rererereread.
We moved to Ireland in 1970 from Montreal. Once again I was a new kid, not only in a new school in a new town but in a totally new country. Culture shock. Loneliness. But books have always been my most loyal companions. The house we rented had books in it, including a collection of science fiction stories. In that book was the novella "Weyr Search", about Lessa. I was instantly captivated. Some years later, after returning to Canada, I found "Dragonflight" and "Dragonquest", followed by "The White Dragon". I never looked back and welcomed every chance to escape to Pern.
I’ve also read many of her other books, and my subconscious must have been at work when I named Daffyd, because she has a hero of the same name. In my conscious mind, I named him after the actor whose face inspired me, and Owens is my paternal grandmother’s maiden name. So Anne and I have a hero of the same name. Very different men in very different circumstances, but still…and it truly wasn’t deliberate on my part.
One of her best beloved characters was Robinton, Masterharper of Pern. He was in charge of the stories and the history and the language. He’s a wonderful, wonderful character and you wish you could have known him. Anne McCaffrey had a wonderful mind for world-building, and character development and relationships of all kinds, and the complexities of human nature. I envy my friend the literary agent who got to meet Anne on a few occasions, and who told me that Anne had dyed her hair bright pink to celebrate her 60th birthday. Hard to believe that was so long ago.
Her son has picked up some of the reins of the books. I’ve read one with his name attached to it, and I don’t remember if it was a collaborative effort with his mum or one of his own. In either case, he has inherited her talent and honed his skills and I am happy to read his books as well. I must look for more of them.
On Pern, when a rider dies, his or her dragon goes between: the space they occupy for 8 seconds during a teleportation–a place of utter dark and cold. I always hoped that the dragons didn’t stay there but spent their 8 seconds there before moving on to whatever plane comes next. I hope that Anne isn’t simply between, but has perhaps gone to Pern. She will be most welcome there. I can almost hear the dragons bugling a welcome, and see the fairs of fire lizards swirling around her while the Lords Holder, the Weyr Leaders and the Craftmasters welcome her home with open arms and loving smiles.
Goodbye, Anne. And thank you for everything.
Just woke up to this news after a nap after a long day. This is a beautiful tribute.The first McCaffrey book I read was The Ship Who Sang.
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I’ve never read anything by her but I’m sorry for your loss.
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Thanks for this lovely eulogy, and thanks to the person who made it Reader’s Choice.
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I haven’t read much of her work, but I know how you feel. I recently lost one of my favorite writers (David Eddings) and it sucks know that you’ll never read a new work by that author again. Sorry to hear about that… Later,
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I had not heard that she had died. What a loss to those of us left behind! Todd’s books on Pern supply more action, but he did not inherit that master ability to relate relationships that his mother had. In late years she often collaberated with other authors to continue “sets”. I was disappointed more than once when the assistance of another author left me not caring about a character that Anne had made me love. May her Pern novels (and others) live forever – how could they not?
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I didn’t realze she had died. I have all her dragon books and reread when I need to get away from this world for awhile. Thank you for this
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That makes me sad too. I’ve read every book she’s every written including the ones she did in collaboration with others. Wilma of
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I loved her work so much. It really had an impact on my childhood, my imagination. I read somewhere that her past 15 or so years had rendered her too arthritic to do cons or signings anymore, so I can only hope that wherever she ends, it will be in a good place where her body is young again, her mind free to roam.
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She was the only author that made me terrified of “The Thread”. No other person could have described something so perfectly and set in a fear, and yet at the same time make you want to be a dragon rider and face it to keep everyone safe. I’ll miss this author a lot!
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I saw this entry on the Home page. Anne was the first Author to captivate my imagination and set the stage for my interest in reading and writing. It’s funny that just four days ago I was thinking about her and the world of Pern, of which I visited so many years ago, as I introduced her books to my 13 yr. old daughter. May her last Dragon-flight bring her to peace and rest.
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what a deep real tribute how beautifully you have honored her and I am sure she would reciprocate generously too xxx
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A lovely tribute. Though I have never read any of her books your entry and the notes have perked my interest. Glad to see you post. Would have thought you had gone missing if I weren’t seeing you at that other place! 😉
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I loved her books, a LOT too. I read and reread them over and over when I was younger. I too am so sad that she is gone. However, I don’t think her son has the same gift, IMO many of the more recent books aren’t nearly as good:( p.s. I hate the pop up ads here AND nice to see you post something.
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Thanks for the note. I have often thought the MT we have talked to were idiots. Have considered asking you for ideas, but figure this may be a hands on learning. Still, if there is a way, I am certainly willing!
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I know this is a tribute to someone, but hey I got here, I am in the site, I arrived, the door open, here I am, look at me, look at me, I made it. (Jumps up and down…oh,sorry, slinks out…)
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Okay, so I am entirely freaked out. I thought it would be fun to sign your new guest book. I started to type in my first name & my full legal name, which I have never gone by in my ENTIRE life, popped up. WTF? Only the US gov’t. Social Security system has that name on me. Who the hell are you? What country are you a spy for? I didn’t do it! Who gave you this info? Who are your “friends”? @@
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I see you dropped the Bravemap. It is scary ****, mostly so because I know without a DOUBT that info is not on my pc. I never give that info, even to the law. My parents, hubby and sibs are the only living people who know my name. I’ve cleared cookies none the less, but still that is NOT COOL.
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