Editor: Todd McCaffrey
Smart Pop Publishing
Copyright Date: August 2013
978-1937856830
The amazon.com product description:
When Anne McCaffrey passed in November 2011, it was not only those closest to her who mourned her death; legions of readers also felt the loss deeply. The pioneering science fiction author behind the Dragonriders of Pern® series crafted intricate stories, enthralling worlds, and strong heroines that profoundly impacted the science fiction community and genre.From the time I first heard about this book - probably last August or September, I knew I wanted to read it. Probably not for quite the same reasons that other readers may have jumped on the book when it came out though. I wanted to read it mostly for the essays by Mercedes Lackey and Elizabeth Moon, two of my favorite authors.
In Dragonwriter, Anne’s son and Pern writer Todd McCaffrey collects memories and stories about the beloved author, along with insights into her writing and legacy, from those who knew her best. Nebula Award–winner Elizabeth Moon relates the lessons she learned from Pern’s Lessa (and from Lessa’s creator); Hugo Award–winner David Brin recalls Anne’s steadfast belief that the world to come will be better than the one before; legendary SFF artist Michael Whelan shares (and tells stories about) never-before-published Pern sketches from his archives; and more.
Join Anne’s co-writers, fellow science fiction authors, family, and friends in remembering her life, and exploring how her mind and pen shaped not only the Weyrs of Pern, but also the literary landscape as we know it.
Contributors include:
• Angelina Adams
• David Brin
• David Gerrold
• John Goodwin
• Janis Ian
• Alec Johnson
• Georgeanne Kennedy
• Mercedes Lackey
• Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
• Lois McMaster Bujold
• Elizabeth Moon
• Charlotte Moore
• Robert Neilson
• Jody Lynn Nye and Bill Fawcett
• Robin Roberts
• Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
• Wen Spencer
• Michael Whelan
• Richard J. Woods
• Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
However, on finishing my read of Dragonwriter, I have a new appreciation for Anne McCaffrey and her books - as well as a burning desire to do some re-reading, including those books I don't own, such as The Ship Who Sang, which a lot of the writers in this book were writing about (including the above-mentioned essay by Mercedes Lackey).
Dragonwriter includes essays from Anne McCaffrey's family, people who knew her from conventions such as Dragon*Con, Michael Whelan (who did the cover art for many of the Pern books), musicians who wrote music to go with the lyrics that Anne included in her books and other authors.
Every essay essay was beautiful, be it on Anne McCaffrey's life, her writing, or the impact that both her books and she herself had on the people who knew her. I was left with a lump in my throat on reading Dragonwriter, and a desire to go out and find some of the books by the other authors who wrote these essays - most of whom I've not read.
Honestly, I'm trying to pick out a favorite essay or two to give especial mention to, but I'm having a really hard time doing so. They're all favorites.
I think that all I can say is that if you were a fan of Anne McCaffrey and the Pern books, and you haven't taken the time to read Dragonwriter, you really should. I'm off to see if I can manage to find my copy of The Dragonriders of Pern omnibus edition, which I can't remember if I've seen since my move.
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