Anne McCaffrey was an American science fiction writer who was born on April 1. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award, and her novel “The White Dragon” was one of the first science fiction books to appear on the New York Times bestseller list. McCaffrey passed away in 2011 at her home in Ireland at the age of 85.
McCaffrey was given awards for lifetime achievement by the American Library Association in 1999 and the Nebula committee in 2004 and is credited with over 50 novels, both standalone and series titles. Many of her books contained groundbreaking ideas that are now fairly common themes in science fiction and fantasy: dragons, of course, as well as ESP, genetic engineering, and human/mechanical hybrids, to name a few. Below you’ll find descriptions of several of McCaffrey’s series, with the first title listed in each, along with readalike books of similar themes from other authors.
Dragonriders of Pern series
This series takes place on the planet of Pern, an agrarian society which is plagued by organisms called Thread, which destroy all organic matter. Dragons can fight thread, and they choose their rider-humans, with whom they form telepathic bonds. The first book is “Dragonflight” (orig. pub. 1968); 24 books in the series, the last 8 written by/with McCaffrey’s son Todd.
Readalikes (dragon/human bonds)
Brain & Brawn Ship series
The first book in this series was written solely by McCaffrey; the next 6 were collaborations and the eighth by Mercedes Lackey. The Brains in this series are humans who are hardwired into life support systems as a result of illness or injury; as computer-enhanced entities they pilot starships or administer colonies. Brawns are humans partnered with Brains to help compensate for their lack of mobility. The first book is “The Ship Who Sang" (orig. pub. 1969); 8 total.
Readalikes (human/computer symbiosis)
Crystal Singer series
Killashandra Ree, the protagonist in this trilogy, has trained for years to be an opera singer, only to find she does not have the voice to be a top tier performer. She does, however, have perfect pitch, which enables her to apply to the Heptite Guild for the elite but dangerous job of crystal singer. The first book is “Crystal Singer” (orig. pub. 1982); 3 total.
Readalikes (unique or enhanced ability)
– Beth Wood is a senior collection development librarian for Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.
New at the Library
This is just a small sampling of the many new titles added each week to the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District collection. Visit the district’s 15 locations, our website at www.fvrl.org, or call (360) 906-5000 to reserve titles or find additional listings.
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