Anne McCaffrey has always been one of my favorite authors. Her Dragon Riders of Pern were some of the first fantasy and science fiction I ever read, thanks to an aunt who has always had the uncanny ability to recommend books I enjoy. I remember reading Dragonflight when I was 12 or 13 and just the sensation of getting sucked so completely into a new and unexplored world was addicting.
I read everything I could get my hands on that had McCaffrey’s name on it. I joined online discussion groups and surfed the web for anything McCaffrey related. Few authors have been able to give me that sensation, the one of totally losing yourself to worlds so complete and detailed they rival our own. Anne McCaffrey is a truly great author and I still enjoy sitting down with her latest endeavor, though now the Pern novels are co-written with Todd J. McCaffrey.
This month sees the paperback release of Dragon’s Fire and December 26th marks the hardback release of Dragon Harper. And if you enjoy audio books, Skies of Pern read by Dick Hill is out this month, and you can read an available excerpt or check out Anne McCaffrey’s official website.
There are also two short story collections coming out that will be worth taking a look at. The Solaris Book of New Fantasy edited by George Mann will be out later this month, November 27th. Right now Fantasy Book Critic has a giveaway going on, so if you want to enter to win a copy click here. Then on December 18th we have The Fair Folk edited by Marvin Kaye which includes six tales of the fey from the likes of Tanith Lee, Megan Lidholm, Kim Newman, Craig Shaw, Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder, and Patricia A. McKillip (one of the best fantasy authors ever in my not so humble opinion). Read SFF World’s review.
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