75 Replies to “Anne McCaffrey”

  1. I’m possibly behind on the news, but are there plans in the works to produce films to cover the Pern story? I recently saw Avatar and it made me think of how beautiful it’d be to create the Pern stories in similar films.

  2. If you root around in my FAQs, you’ll get a fair bit on the process of bringing books to film.

    As it is, yes, there are plans. We’re very hopeful that Copperheart Entertainment will bring Pern not only to the big screen but to the big, big IMAX screen and perhaps even in 3D.

    I think Avatar with its (ahem!) “banshees” has made the idea of flying dragons far more acceptable to the financiers.

  3. Todd,

    I went to your mother’s website looking for a list of her published books – something I do a couple times a year to make sure that I am current, and was surprised not to find a list. Not just a “not quite current” list, but NO list at all. Although I understand that you seem to be in the midst of an upgrade (and things are looking good), a list of published books is esential for an author’s website! HELP!

  4. This is great news to me. However I can understand the reluctance after seeing what they originally did to the “Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” series, It was awful ! What was it, three difference techniques used to complet the story? However, after seeing the new technologies, I think it would be great. However, which book to do? The original trigology or “The Chronicles” or “First Landing”. That would be a tough decision.

    Are you going to create your own series? Possibly add to another of your Mum’s series? “Crystal Singer”, “PTB” or another “Prime” novel? The only one of her series I have not started is the “Acorna”. I’ve been waiting until she had a few worked up so that I don’t have wait for the next one. I am so happy that your are continuing your Mum’s stories. Thanks.

  5. Just needed to pass on my congrats on the latest books. I have been a fan of your mother’s (and now yours) since the 70’s and my mother who died at 75 was also the biggest fan – the new books each year always came out around her birthday and were the biggest hightlight of her special day. I think of her each time I read and re-read all the books.

    Once again, many thanks and I really hope the films come off – my first thought when I saw Avatar for the first time was how brilliant would Pern and the dragons look in 3D.

    Kind regards and best wishes to your mother, hope she is well again.
    Kathie

  6. Paul,

    No one knows. Clearly a place where dragons don’t come back. However, you might consider Mum’s short story “Beyond Between” as a possible answer.

  7. Jim,

    We are all pretty much of the inclination to see Dragonflight, first, on the screen.

    I am working on several ideas, some of which will become series, some of which will be standalone novels (some of which will be written as Todd Johnson).

  8. Becky,

    There’s a lot of work to be done to do Mum’s books justice and I’m not going to rush it on her website, so it’ll be a while. In the interim, a good place to go is Hans ver der Boom’s website, pern.nl.

  9. Todd, would you ever be tempted to write a Pern script yourself (with your mum checking up on you)?

  10. Ive been trying to find information about you and your mother but i cant find anything in any other websites and my school library is sorely deprived of anything written by or about either of you. Is there anything you would like to me to put in my essay that i wouldn’t find.

  11. Adam,

    No. My writing a screenplay would be a fun exercise but nothing more. Hollywood prefers to work with knowns and there’s a long history of novel writers thinking they can write screenplays and failing, so Hollywood prefers to avoid that.

  12. LessaGal, there are a number of biographies on Mum, a simple search online with your favorite search engine for “Anne McCaffrey biography” should give you good results.

  13. Todd,

    I just wanted to say Thank You for continuing the Pern series. I look forward to each new book. I may not be the only one but I do read all the books each year.

    Like most other avid readers I do look forward to seeing Dragon Flight on the big screen. My only concern with creating our beloved dragons is the script. You don’t see very many movies that stick to the origional story.

  14. I have been a fan of Pern and the many other worlds created by Anne Mccaffery. I am very glad to hear news about potential movies. I have started to really enjoy reading books and would love to see more of Anne’s and you books Todd on iBooks. Do you know when you will get more books there?

  15. tell your mom for me that I have enjoyed her books for years and am thrilled when I see ones that I haven’t read. Tell her thanks for training you so well to take over Pern when the need arises! I hope for her health and wish her the best!

  16. Todd,

    I just wanted to let you know how much I have been enjoying the Pern series, written by both your mother and yourself. I started reading them at the age of nine when I stumbled across a box of books containing The Dolphins of Pern that was tucked behind a shelf in the library at my elementary school – evidently they were misplaced during that summer’s renovations.

    I have since purchased all of the currently published novels – even going so far as to download one or two in the midst of my searches for some less than easy to locate ones 😛

    I just wanted to say I’m looking forward to your mother’s new book, After the Fall, and hope to read your newest as well; you share her talent.

    Sincerely,
    Jake Daynes
    Representative of the Pirate Party of Canada

  17. Todd (and Anne), I was thrilled to discover Anne’s books years ago because I love the creativity of scifi but prefer to avoid the common themes of antagonism, intrigue, war and killing. People united against thread was the perfect answer, and I find the details of a developing society much more satisfying. Having read Todd’s just-as-entertaining contributions to the history of Pern, I’m wondering if villains will become a standard feature of future plots. But my biggest concern is that I can read faster than you can write. Happiness is having a couple new Pern adventures to look forward to! Jeannie

  18. I am kicking myself as I am afraid I have left it too late, but I desperately would like your Mother’s postal address so I may send her a little something for her birthday, this year being one of the special ones! I guess I am not as adept as I thought when using search engines – Would just using her name and Dragonhold Underhill, County Wicklow, Ireland reach her?? I am hoping the Dragonhold Underhill is used for official mail.
    Hope you are online soon!
    Thanks
    Eunice

  19. Jean,

    I’d have to say that villains, starting with Fax and moving onwards have always been a part of Pern. There are always those who find it expedient to say “no” even in the face of implacable truths and also those who work solely for their own ends.

    I understand about out-reading us writers, both Mum and I experience the same feeling about our favorite authors!

  20. Candace,

    It’s not so much the dragons that worry me on the big screen but the riders and the story. As I’ve said before though, I feel that Pern’s in pretty good hands!

  21. Hi, Im so excited about the new book thats coming out in May! Thats my birth month, so, I might get it for my B-day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :))

  22. I have loved the Pern seris for over twenty years. As a therapist I use it as a way to show strong women in a positive light. It has helped build self esteem in many a young woman. Thank you both for the strong people and great stories.

  23. I am excited hearing the news of Dragonflight coming to the big screen and am hoping beyond hope that the script is stuck too (with his wife being a big fan that will be a plus) I am glad the Dragonriders story is continued being told thru both your mom and yourself, I am however hopeful that your Moms site is updated soon with not only the list of all the dragonriders books but her other books as well, I unpacked my books which have been in storage for over a year and I seem to recall there being 30 combined between the 2 of you and I only have 20, Ive been to Hans van der Booms site and have come across 4 that I know I had and are missing but I also have books that arent listed in the series, I am trying to find out which books I need to replace and some of them were hard to find, I had the lists printed out once upon a time but it was within the books and apparently in the ones that are missing, thank you for the continuing work on the series and heres to your seperate works as well

  24. I am a very big fan of the Pern series, both the current works and past works. My question is are there going to be anymore to the series after All The Weyrs of Pern? I keep rereading the entire series over and over again. So I have high hopes for a continuation of the series.

  25. Trisha,

    We’ll have to see. Mum has been trying to find the energy to write a solo book but, at 85, she’s asking a lot of herself.

  26. Hi Todd,
    I’ve notice that the books you have written are in the early years of Pern’s history. Do you have any plans for any Post Thread stories?

  27. I read Dragon’s Time and I loved the book. I can’t wait until the next book comes out next year. Keep up the great work. Stay healthy.

    Marc

  28. D.F.

    Plans? No, not “plans.” Right now I’m rather happy writing in the Third Pass. And there’s an argument as to whether anything “Post Thread” will really be Pern, or at least what people like about Pern.

  29. Just finished The Skies of Pern….any plans to continue with the Pern series? Love to see your ideas on Pern after Thread, and obviously what happens to the riders and their dragons.

  30. Chuck,

    Mum’s been working on a sequel for “The Skies of Pern” for a very long time now. I think her energy levels have stood in her way.

  31. I have to say I’m practically standing on my head waiting for the “after the fall” book. I believe I’ve read the series in its entirety at least 20 times in the last 15 years. I try to go through it once a year along with the Crystal Singer series. What a wonderful way to spend time with such excellent literature!

    I was wondering…besides Rescue Run, why hasn’t anybody else found their way to Pern? I mean, somebody has to get “lost” sometime ;o) That would be really cool…Lessa and F’lar could show how well they’ve progressed without any help from FSP…wouldn’t that be a great, what if??

    I’m also looking forward to YOUR next book in the Dragongirl series….Fiona is something!! What a great character…I see myself in her…stubborn ;o)

    Hope you and your mother are doing well and my sincerest Best Wishes to you.

    Kathleen

  32. Todd,

    I have, literally, since the age of 4 when I first read dragonflight, have read all the pern books and most of your mothers other series, hundreds of times. It has sparked my imagination every time I pick them up and I have begun reading them to my late girlfriends two youngest children. I think the biggest credit I can give to your mom, and to you once we reach your collaborations with her, is that a 2 and 4 year old who fall asleep halfway through a magic school bus book, have stayed awake through almost 100 pages of dragonflight on the first night. I have never seen such attention from two so young about a book and can’t wait to finish it and move on to the next book with them and, when it comes out, take them to see the movie. Their astounding imagination and questions that they ask, show the spark that your mother has made to young minds even in this new generation.

    Their mom would be proud and I can’t thank you and your mom enough for something that keeps us close and keeps us going through a difficult time.

  33. Kathleen,

    Well, I believe that Mum’s hoping to do just that with “After The Fall Is Over.”

    Dragon’s Time is out now, and we think the next one should be out around 2012.

  34. Just wondering whether anyone (not excluding your Mum and you, Todd!) had considered writing more based in the Restoree universe? I first read it… gosh it must be 30-35 years ago now…. and always loved it; So many books get sequels (or prequels) these days, any chance of seeing more of Sara?

  35. Jen, I thought Restoree was a lot of fun, too! However, every time I looked at it, thinking about sequels or films, I just couldn’t see it. The feeling I get from Mum is that she hasn’t any more to write in that universe.

    I’d also say that her Freedom series revisits the same themes but much better.

  36. Thank you for the books, especially Pern and the Ship Who Sang. You have provided me with much pleasure over the years. Pern has now become a favorite of three generations in my family – my oldest grandaughter has, just this year, discovered Pern and I’ll be sending her copies of the Pern books as gifts both for Xmas and birthday in the upcoming months (I’m buying them all for my Kindle as they become available and I hope that eventually all of them are available in that format).

    You and the stories you told have been among my favorites over the years and I frequently read the books again. Each time they take me to the Pern you imagined. The are among my all-time favorities. You will be missed.

  37. Alice and I were sad to hear of Anne’s passing. I found Anne’s books as a 6th grader and her words have been a part of my life for more than 30 years now. I was so excited at the prospect of meeting her at DragonCon this year. As I sat in Vinings listening to those who had the privilege of knowing her, I realized just how personal our attachments were to this amazing woman most of us had never met. Each of us had been touched on such a personal level by her words and her worlds. We ALL felt we knew her, only natural as she had been whispering in our ears for so many years. Anne’s voice colored my world in so many ways. Her work provoked thought without passing judgement and caused me to think about social issues in ways I had never considered and still influences me today. I can’t begin to thank her for the many gifts she gave to me and the world. I am proud to have shared her books with my daughter.

  38. My sincere condolences for your loss. Your mother will be missed in immeasurable ways. I hope you keep the legacy going. God bless. Daniel

  39. Anne has been my favorite writer since the first book I bought and read (which was The Renegades of Pern) I re read all the books whenever a new Pern books come out I just got done with Dragon’s Time it was great. Now I can add you also to my list of favorite writer next to your mother. I always wished there was a sequel to The Lady I thought there could be more to the story what became of Cat. Also I wanted to say sorry for your lose a great writer is gone.

  40. I was so sorry to hear of Anne McCaffrey’s passing. All my thoughts and good wishes to you and your family, your mother brought so many good times to the last 20 years of my life. I am very appreciative that you are following in her footsteps to keep her world alive. I will always cherish the letter she wrote me back when I was a young child asking when she would visit Australia so I could meet her. My deepest condolences.

  41. Hey Todd,
    I must say that I love your moms books. I have had many hours of entertainment and joy from reading her books. I was wondering if your could provide a complete list if her dragonriders of perm books and your books that are connected to that series and where I can find them because I want to try and perchase them all.

  42. I will miss her books. I drive a lot and have listened to the pern books many times. I am sorry for your loss. What a great writer that the world has lost.

  43. I broke down and cried when I got your e-mail notice of your mother’s passing. She gave so much to so MANY of us. I am grateful that you have continued her work–and you are getting better as you go.

    Did you and your mother ever consider sponsoring anthologies of short stories written by readers/fans and set in Pern? I know that other very good sci-fi/fantasy writers did/have done/are doing such sponsored collections of QUALITY works–Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey to name just a couple. Such collection have never harmed but only enhanced the original authors’ bodies of work.

    I hope you are continuing to develop your own work(s) on Pern. What would happen if a lost ship from Earth ever got to the latest/most recent time level of Pern–without any way of ever going back or bringing attention from other Earth/Federation ships? How would the people on board adapt to/affect Pern?
    What if–we readers know that many of the original settlers bound to Pern were in sleep mode–did they all come out of that sleep mode to go down to the planet. What if–in the hurry of leaving the 3 ships–someone’s sleep chamber (perhaps a young, small person) was shunted aside among empty chambers and is found in the present/most recent time in the series? How would that person adapt? How could he/she (especially a she) adapt to/contribute to/develop on Pern. “The stranger” ?????

  44. I have loved you mum’s stories for over 40 years. I sell books, but the Pern novels will stay with my forever – they are NOT for sale. My sincere condolences for your loss.

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