McCaffrey Questions

[McMurphy]

I have recently picked up Dragonflight at the local bookstore, and I just have a few questions:

1.) What novels resulted in her winning Hugo and Nebula awards? I noticed in the back of the Del Rey edition to her series it is mentioned that she has won both, but it fails to tie it into any certain work.

2.) Has anyone read Restoree? She wrote it as a protest against how women were typically portrayed in the '50s and '60s science fiction and fantasy genre. It sounds really potent with potential, but I never hear anything but her Pern series discussed. Is there a reason why?

3.) What do you consider her best piece of work?

I am only twenty pages into Dragonflight, and I like what I have read thus far.

 

[dwndrgn]

Mostly her Pern series is discussed so widely because it is her most popular, and biggest series. Therefore that is mostly what she's known for. She's only slightly known to be a woman who likes to use her fiction to further her stand on women as Ursula Le Guin does.

I haven't read Restoree either. Probably should.

Here (from her website; http://www.annemccaffrey.org ) is what she won the Nebula for:

The Nebula Award is given to a writer by the writer-members of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SWFA). This Nebula was given to Anne McCaffrey at the SWFA Awards Dinner in New York City in 1969 for the novella "Dragonriders," which was later incorporated into "Dragonflight," the first of the Dragonrider's of Pern® series of novels.

and the Hugo:

Named for Hugo Gernsback, who founded "Amazing & Fantastic" magazine in 1926 (the year Anne McCaffrey was born). The Hugo is given annually at the World Science Fiction Convention by the fans. Anne McCaffrey received this one in 1968 at the 76th World Science Fiction Convention in Berkeley, California. It was presented for "Weyr Search," as best novella. "Weyr Search" was later incorporated into "Dragonflight," the first of the Dragonrider's of Pern® series of novels.

She's won gobs of other awards too. Very prolific and fun writer. As far as her best work, I couldn't say as I haven't read them all. Once I do, I'll get back to you .

 

[McMurphy]

Mostly her Pern series is discussed so widely because it is her most popular, and biggest series. Therefore that is mostly what she's known for. She's only slightly known to be a woman who likes to use her fiction to further her stand on women as Ursula Le Guin does.

I haven't read Restoree either. Probably should.

Here (from her website; http://www.annemccaffrey.org ) is what she won the Nebula for:

and the Hugo:
She's won gobs of other awards too. Very prolific and fun writer. As far as her best work, I couldn't say as I haven't read them all. Once I do, I'll get back to you .

Thanks for the very informative response! She is one of those authors that I always see mentioned as a stample fantasy must.

 

[Mark Robson]

2.) Has anyone read Restoree? She wrote it as a protest against how women were typically portrayed in the '50s and '60s science fiction and fantasy genre. It sounds really potent with potential, but I never hear anything but her Pern series discussed. Is there a reason why?

3.) What do you consider her best piece of work?

I am only twenty pages into Dragonflight, and I like what I have read thus far.

Yes, I've read Restoree, it's excellent, as is much of her work. My personal favourite of hers is probably 'The Crystal Singer', but I'm not quite sure why. I've read it over and over and get a lot of pleasure from it each time. Perhaps it is the never give up, positive attitude of the lead character that inspires me, I'm not sure.

There are certainly a lot of titles to choose from amongst McCaffrey's work. Dragonsong and Dragonsinger are another two of her titles that I've read over several times. In these, the lead character is a shy, retiring young girl, about 15 years age, who is very gifted in music. The society in which she lives, however, is very chauvinistic when it comes to who can be Harpers - professional musicians who also act as teachers of the young. This role is seen traditionally as a man's role, and the story tells of how she overcomes the prejudices of her society to succeed against the odds. I like success stories like this. They bring hope and a feel good factor into my life that make me want to keep pressing on towards my own goals.

 

[Princess Ivy]

I've read most of her stuff. Including Restoree. Although I did not enjoy it as much as some of the others. my fave is the tower and hive sequence, it has touched me deeply.

one of the main reasons that i love her work so much is that it is always full of hope.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I'm sure I've read of various continuity problems with her work - not minor, but even major shifts in character personalities and involvement in different books. For example:
http://www.chronicles-network.com/b...nne-mccaffrey-masterharper-pern-reviews-1.php

 

[McMurphy]

Thanks for the Answers

I picked up Anne McCaffrey's Dragonflight simply because I was in the mood for a female prespective on the mainstream fantasy book genre. It was really down to picking up this novel or a Sara Douglass one. I was, at the very beginning, a little worried that there wasn't going to be a whole lot of difference. The male and female roles seemed to be the same whether if it had been written by either gender. As Mark pointed out, McCaffrey seems to purposely set up a stage of a chauvinistic society before breaking it apart with a stronger-than-predicted female character. That twist didn't become evident in Dragonflight until (around) fifty pages into the novel. It will interesting to see how the character development plays out.

I clicked the link, Brian, and read the review. It is annoying when authors do that. I understand when problematic loopholes appear in much older works, such as Dumas's The Three Musketeers series, but not in twentieth century professional literature.

On a positive note, I am happy to see that the reviewer regarded the beginning of the series much stronger. It means that I will, hopefully, not be disappointed by the book.

 

[Princess Ivy]

I honestly wouldn't get to caught up in the inconsistancies. She is infamous for it. part of the problem is that she often starts at the end, or near the end of a continuity line, ie, dragon flight was the first written in the series. the first part of the story is actualy a short story in the skies of pern compilations. the first full length novel in the continuity is Dragon Dawn. This is confusing enough for fans. She openly admits to the flaws, and quite honestly i've not found it a problem in my enjoyment of any of her work to date.

 

[McMurphy]

More McCaffrey Questions

Now that I have finished the book (I will post a review in the correct forum when I get a chance), I am left with one question:

If dragon and dragon riders can "go between" to teleport large distances on the planet by fathoming a mental picture of their intended location, and if they can likewise travel through time using the same method, then why aren't they always teleported into the past? They are picturing the location by memory, afterall. The theory, while fun and interesting, seems to have some loopholes in logic.

Or am I just not getting it?

 

[Brian G Turner]

Re: More McCaffrey Questions

I find it odd that an author who flagrantly and repeatedly defies their own continuity is regarded in good stead - surely in any other instance it would be seen as unprofessional?? To myself continuity is required for believability. Complete lack of continuity would essentially make a story a mockery - and mock the reader, too?

 

[dwndrgn]

Re: More McCaffrey Questions

If dragon and dragon riders can "go between" to teleport large distances on the planet by fathoming a mental picture of their intended location, and if they can likewise travel through time using the same method, then why aren't they always teleported into the past? They are picturing the location by memory, afterall. The theory, while fun and interesting, seems to have some loopholes in logic.

Or am I just not getting it?

I find logical inconsistencies like this often, unless they immediately irk me and actually make me stop reading to think about them, I usually let them go. But if they flagrantly challenge my intelligence, I will normally just put them down. For example, when reading China Mieville for the first time I was having a very hard time accepting a blend of insect and human; the small amount of biological knowledge I have tells me that their differing systems would be completely incompatable. I kept on even though this really bugged me (no pun intended) because the book had been so highly recommended to me by a person who's opinion I respect (nod to JP) and I eventually got over it to enjoy the story.

For some reason though, McCaffrey's inconsistencies, like the one you mention, seem to be small enough for me to pass over. Perhaps it is because her emphasis is on the story itself and not the technical details. I don't know. I read most of her books a long time ago when I was much younger and I didn't read them all at once - more like a book a year with many in between. This may also account for the fact that I don't recally any problems I had with continuity between stories.

Whatever the reason, I've always enjoyed those books - though the latest ones have seemed to be a little less wonderful compared to my memory of the earlier ones. I don't know if that is because the quality of her writing has degraded over the years or because I'm older and more knowledgeable.

 

[mzarynn]

I also picked up Dragonflight recently just to see what the talk was all about. I am now reading Dragonquest. I have read the Harper Hall trilogy also and very much enjoyed those books. So far, the inconsistencies have not disturbed my pleasure in reading this series. I admit I don't have a lot of emotional attachment to these books. When I'm looking for a fun, easy read I seem to pick up the next book. I'm currently on the waiting list for the fourth Outlander book, Drums of Autumn (title?). Which is a series that I am really attached to. I just picked up two Dragons of Pern books while I'm waiting. They're also fun because Bendenweyr is very similar to a common name in our family.

 

[Princess Ivy]

As with DD, I just overlook the strange inconsistancies, unless they actualy interfere with a specific story line.

 

[Princess Ivy]

BTW: I've checked the inconsistanices in betweening at the kitchen table (annes forum), apparently, in normal everyday transfers, the dragons take only the geographical placements from the riders, but keep in time, themselves, however, in riding between times, the rider imposes the temporal and geographical placements to the dragons mind!
So There
LOL

 

[mzarynn]

Are green dragons all female?

Are green dragons all female? I was under the impression that Mirrim was the first girl to impress a fighting dragon, so I would conclude the other green riders are male. I couldn't remember specifically if there were dragons and riders of the opposite sex paired together. Does anyone know?

 

[erickad71]

Re: Are green dragons all female?

Actually, if I am remembering correctly there were women riders when they first started breeding the dragons. It was only later that the women were only riders for the queen dragons. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that only the gold and green dragons are female. Which means if you are a green dragon rider and you are a male, you are of a certain leaning...

 

[mzarynn]

I guess that would mean the browns and occasional bronzes who fly the greens would also be of the same leaning. Or they would have to swing both ways. How interesting. They do imply there is more sexual freedom in the Weyrs than in the holds.

 

[erickad71]

Now I want to go read those books again...it's been long enough that I can't remember exact details. It should take me a little while too, I've got quite a few of them.

 

[dwndrgn]

Goodness. I never picked up on all of that stuff. I suppose I didn't pay attention and read them at a young enough age where sexual proclivity wasn't even part of my vocabulary! Sheesh, Ericka, I may have to read them again also!

 

[erickad71]

Well,I was pretty young the first time I read them too. Actually, I dont' think it's mentioned very specificly until one of the later books. But I can't remember for sure, so as soon as I am done with the book I'm reading right now those will be next.