Dragonsong

Anne McCaffrey, an American Irish writer and luminary in the genres of science fiction and fantasy, is best known for the Dragonriders of Pern series. A pioneering figure in genre fiction, McCaffrey became the first woman to win a Hugo Award in 1968 with her novella Weyr Search, and soon afterward, she became the first woman to win the Nebula Award in 1969 with her novella Dragonrider. In 1978, her novel The White Dragon became the first science fiction book written by a woman to appear on the New York Times bestseller list. During her 46-year career as an author, she received many other honors and accolades, including the Golden Pen Award and the Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Literary Achievement Award. McCaffrey was named the 22nd Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2005 and was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2006.

While McCaffrey’s works are renowned for their imaginative and expansive world-building, they also draw upon her personal values and experiences. Her ethos informs Dragonsong’s celebration of independence over conformity. Many of her narratives focus on characters who are considered “different” or disempowered in some way but find success by being true to themselves. For example, in “The Smallest Dragonboy“ (1973), Keevan is underestimated due to his size but manages to become a dragonrider. When McCaffrey first set out to become a professional writer, science fiction was a heavily male-dominated genre. Similarly, Menolly, the protagonist of Dragonsong, demonstrates great resilience and creative abilities as she strives to enter the traditionally male field of Harping. McCaffrey is celebrated for her trailblazing and prolific contributions to science fiction and fantasy, as well as her dedication to values like women’s empowerment.