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Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey
Here there be dragons . . .
Since the first unforgettable appearance of Pern's remarkable dragons and their brave human riders in the novella Weyr Search, winner of a Hugo award in 1968, millions of readers the world over have thrilled to Anne McCaffrey's bestselling saga of men, women, and dragons united against the deadly fall of Thread. Thanks to McCaffrey's bold and generous imagination, we have known what it is to fly. We have touched the fiery hearts and minds of the great fighting dragons, witnessed their passionate loves and violent hates, and felt the deep, unbreakable bonds that join them to their riders. McCaffrey's creative magic has made Pern real--a home to hold in the heart. Its inhabitants are more than characters in a book. They are family.
Now a member of Anne McCaffrey's family--her son Todd--gives us a candid and inspiring glimpse into the mind and soul of one of the greatest science fiction and fantasy writers of all time--an extraordinary woman who has influenced a generation of writers and readers and left an indelible mark on the field.
From Anne's birth on April Fool's Day in 1926, her girlhood encounters with the strange power of second sight that gifts the McCaffreys, her trailblazing efforts to balance the roles of wife, mother, and writer in the turbulent sixties, through a painful divorce and the years of success and acclaim that followed, Dragonholder is a labor of love that will enrich every reader's appreciation of the world of Pern . . . and its equally unique creator.
Since the first unforgettable appearance of Pern's remarkable dragons and their brave human riders in the novella Weyr Search, winner of a Hugo award in 1968, millions of readers the world over have thrilled to Anne McCaffrey's bestselling saga of men, women, and dragons united against the deadly fall of Thread. Thanks to McCaffrey's bold and generous imagination, we have known what it is to fly. We have touched the fiery hearts and minds of the great fighting dragons, witnessed their passionate loves and violent hates, and felt the deep, unbreakable bonds that join them to their riders. McCaffrey's creative magic has made Pern real--a home to hold in the heart. Its inhabitants are more than characters in a book. They are family.
Now a member of Anne McCaffrey's family--her son Todd--gives us a candid and inspiring glimpse into the mind and soul of one of the greatest science fiction and fantasy writers of all time--an extraordinary woman who has influenced a generation of writers and readers and left an indelible mark on the field.
From Anne's birth on April Fool's Day in 1926, her girlhood encounters with the strange power of second sight that gifts the McCaffreys, her trailblazing efforts to balance the roles of wife, mother, and writer in the turbulent sixties, through a painful divorce and the years of success and acclaim that followed, Dragonholder is a labor of love that will enrich every reader's appreciation of the world of Pern . . . and its equally unique creator.
113 pages, Hardcover
First published November 23, 1999
44 people are currently reading
2546 people want to read
About the author
Todd McCaffrey
118 books536 followersTodd J. McCaffrey (born as Todd Johnson) is an Irish American author of science fiction best known for continuing the Dragonriders of Pern series in collaboration with his mother Anne McCaffrey.
Todd Johnson was born 27 April 1956 in Montclair, New Jersey as the second son and middle child of Horace Wright Johnson (deceased 2009), who worked for DuPont, and Anne McCaffrey (deceased 2011), who had her second short story published that year. He has two siblings: Alec Anthony, born 1952, and Georgeanne ("Gigi", Georgeanne Kennedy), born 1959.
Except for a six-month DuPont transfer to Dusseldorf, Germany, the family lived most of a decade in Wilmington, Delaware, until a 1965 transfer to New York City when they moved to Sea Cliff, Long Island. All three children were then in school and Anne McCaffrey became a full-time author, primarily writing science fiction. About that time, Todd became the first of the children to read science fiction, the Space Cat series by Ruthven Todd. He attended his first science fiction convention in 1968, Lunacon in New York City.
Soon after the move, Todd was directed to lower his voice as an actor in the fourth-grade school play, with his mother in the auditorium. That was the inspiration for Decision at Doona (1969) which she dedicated "To Todd Johnson—of course!" The story is set on "an overcrowded planet where just talking too loud made you a social outcast".
Anne McCaffrey divorced in 1970 and emigrated to Ireland with her two younger children, soon joined by her mother. During Todd's school years the family moved several times in the vicinity of Dublin and struggled to make ends meet, supported largely by child care payments and meager royalties.
Todd finished secondary education in Ireland and returned to the United States in 1974 for a summer job before matriculation at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He studied engineering physics and discovered computers but remained only one year. Back in Dublin he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at the College of Technology (Bolton Street). Later he earned a Politics degree at Trinity College, Dublin.
Before Trinity College, Todd Johnson served in the United States Army 1978–82, stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, and determining to pursue civilian life. After Trinity he returned to the US hoping to work in the aerospace industry but found employment in computer programming beginning 1986.
He earned a pilot's license in 1988 and spent a lot of time flying, including solo trips across North America in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile he sold his first writings and contributed "Training and Fighting Dragons" to the 1989 Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, using his military and flight experience. Next year he quit his job to write full-time and in 1992 he attended the Clarion Workshop for new science fiction and fantasy writers.
Writing under the name Todd Johnson until 1997/98 he specialized in military science fiction, contributing one story each to several collective works
As a boy, Todd accompanied his mother to her meetings with writers, editors, publishers, and agents; and had attended conventions from age 12.
He was exposed to Pern before its beginning: soon after the move to Long Island when he was nine, his mother asked him what he thought of dragons; she was brainstorming about their "bad press all these years".
The result was a "technologically regressed survival planet" whose people were united against a threat from space, in contrast to America divided by the Vietnam War. "The dragons became the biologically renewable air force."
About thirty years later, Todd McCaffrey recalls,
"the editor at Del Rey asked me to write a "sort of scrapbook" about Mum partly to prevent Mum from writing her autobiography instead of more Pern books. That was Dragonholder [1999].
The editor had also pitched it to me that someone ought to continue Mum's legacy when she was no longer able. At the time I had misgivings and no stor
Todd Johnson was born 27 April 1956 in Montclair, New Jersey as the second son and middle child of Horace Wright Johnson (deceased 2009), who worked for DuPont, and Anne McCaffrey (deceased 2011), who had her second short story published that year. He has two siblings: Alec Anthony, born 1952, and Georgeanne ("Gigi", Georgeanne Kennedy), born 1959.
Except for a six-month DuPont transfer to Dusseldorf, Germany, the family lived most of a decade in Wilmington, Delaware, until a 1965 transfer to New York City when they moved to Sea Cliff, Long Island. All three children were then in school and Anne McCaffrey became a full-time author, primarily writing science fiction. About that time, Todd became the first of the children to read science fiction, the Space Cat series by Ruthven Todd. He attended his first science fiction convention in 1968, Lunacon in New York City.
Soon after the move, Todd was directed to lower his voice as an actor in the fourth-grade school play, with his mother in the auditorium. That was the inspiration for Decision at Doona (1969) which she dedicated "To Todd Johnson—of course!" The story is set on "an overcrowded planet where just talking too loud made you a social outcast".
Anne McCaffrey divorced in 1970 and emigrated to Ireland with her two younger children, soon joined by her mother. During Todd's school years the family moved several times in the vicinity of Dublin and struggled to make ends meet, supported largely by child care payments and meager royalties.
Todd finished secondary education in Ireland and returned to the United States in 1974 for a summer job before matriculation at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He studied engineering physics and discovered computers but remained only one year. Back in Dublin he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at the College of Technology (Bolton Street). Later he earned a Politics degree at Trinity College, Dublin.
Before Trinity College, Todd Johnson served in the United States Army 1978–82, stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, and determining to pursue civilian life. After Trinity he returned to the US hoping to work in the aerospace industry but found employment in computer programming beginning 1986.
He earned a pilot's license in 1988 and spent a lot of time flying, including solo trips across North America in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile he sold his first writings and contributed "Training and Fighting Dragons" to the 1989 Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, using his military and flight experience. Next year he quit his job to write full-time and in 1992 he attended the Clarion Workshop for new science fiction and fantasy writers.
Writing under the name Todd Johnson until 1997/98 he specialized in military science fiction, contributing one story each to several collective works
As a boy, Todd accompanied his mother to her meetings with writers, editors, publishers, and agents; and had attended conventions from age 12.
He was exposed to Pern before its beginning: soon after the move to Long Island when he was nine, his mother asked him what he thought of dragons; she was brainstorming about their "bad press all these years".
The result was a "technologically regressed survival planet" whose people were united against a threat from space, in contrast to America divided by the Vietnam War. "The dragons became the biologically renewable air force."
About thirty years later, Todd McCaffrey recalls,
"the editor at Del Rey asked me to write a "sort of scrapbook" about Mum partly to prevent Mum from writing her autobiography instead of more Pern books. That was Dragonholder [1999].
The editor had also pitched it to me that someone ought to continue Mum's legacy when she was no longer able. At the time I had misgivings and no stor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 13, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley, Open Road Media and Todd McCaffrey for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was the ebook release of the book which was originally published in 1999. I’ve been sitting on this galley for a very long time, since it came out in 2016, I believe! That said, I don’t know why it wasn’t expanded to encompass the rest of Anne’s life, which the original book did not, but she had passed away several years before this ebook release.
Some of the stories were interesting, but it wasn’t so much about Anne McCaffrey as the people and events that shaped her life. I would’ve like to get to know *her* better. And there was even a bit of repetition in the stories, that I found myself skimming. I wish there had been a lot more photos.
I’m going to assume that the issues to do with whether to write in 3rd or 1st person were ironed out. It was a little odd.
This was the ebook release of the book which was originally published in 1999. I’ve been sitting on this galley for a very long time, since it came out in 2016, I believe! That said, I don’t know why it wasn’t expanded to encompass the rest of Anne’s life, which the original book did not, but she had passed away several years before this ebook release.
Some of the stories were interesting, but it wasn’t so much about Anne McCaffrey as the people and events that shaped her life. I would’ve like to get to know *her* better. And there was even a bit of repetition in the stories, that I found myself skimming. I wish there had been a lot more photos.
I’m going to assume that the issues to do with whether to write in 3rd or 1st person were ironed out. It was a little odd.
June 12, 2021
This is a short scrapbook-like biographical look at Anne McCaffrey written by her son. It's quite short and not arranged in chronological sequence, but does give some insight on the inspiration of some of her best known characters, recounts some interesting anecdotes from her life, and provides a look at some unusual biographical data along with a lot of nice photographs. It was published in 1999, but there's not much discussion of anything past the 1970's. I'd recommend it for people who are already fans of her work and worlds.
November 24, 2014
I was a little dismayed when I saw how short this was, but the introduction explained why: written in 1999, it's more like a scrapbook of family stories, and ends in 1988 shortly after The White Dragon was first published.
In it we learn about Anne's childhood, what - and who - brought her to Ireland, and how elements of life influenced everything from her characters' emotional distress to those little touches of reality like bubbly pies and overly-intelligent animals as well as events which became plotlines. I was surprised by her interaction with the SF community and other now-big names (Isaac Asimov, Harry Harrison, James Blish and more) and there were some nice reminiscences there.
There are good times and bad times, happy memories and angry or sad ones, and definitely some hard times (other aspiring novelists should pay attention to these), but overall this is indeed explaining some of the stories behind the stories.
In all, a nice little book, good for McCaffrey fans. I wish that with this 2014 re-release it had been updated to include more of her life; I feel that it stopped just when her writing career had taken off, and I'd love to have read the same sort of stories which inspired her later works.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In it we learn about Anne's childhood, what - and who - brought her to Ireland, and how elements of life influenced everything from her characters' emotional distress to those little touches of reality like bubbly pies and overly-intelligent animals as well as events which became plotlines. I was surprised by her interaction with the SF community and other now-big names (Isaac Asimov, Harry Harrison, James Blish and more) and there were some nice reminiscences there.
There are good times and bad times, happy memories and angry or sad ones, and definitely some hard times (other aspiring novelists should pay attention to these), but overall this is indeed explaining some of the stories behind the stories.
In all, a nice little book, good for McCaffrey fans. I wish that with this 2014 re-release it had been updated to include more of her life; I feel that it stopped just when her writing career had taken off, and I'd love to have read the same sort of stories which inspired her later works.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2011
A biography only a son could have written, with love and respect. This does cover very well Anne's life (so far). I've loved her books for as long as she's been writing so to have an opportunity to look into a window into her life, not intrusively, was exquisite. Very much enjoyed the book.
January 29, 2015
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
Don’t go into Todd McCaffrey’s Dragonholder expecting a thorough and insightful portrait of Anne McCaffrey. Instead, the book is a self-described “scrapbook” of memories, stories, and background information about Todd’s famous mother. Like most scrapbooks, it’s somewhat superficial and not at all critical; it’s also choppy, jumping back and forth in time in ways that are usually but not always clear.
The book was written back in the late 1980s, with Anne McCaffrey’s full blessing and cooperation, and was re-released in December 2014 by Open Road Media with a new cover and a new foreword by Todd. The writing style of the original text is conversational, and I have to say that Todd’s writing has improved in the years since he wrote Dragonholder; the prose here is a bit pedestrian and lacks polish.
Open Road graciously gave me an ARC of their edition, and it was only on reading it that I realized I had actually read the book before, back in the 1990s or early 2000s. My impression then was similar. The book is worth reading if (like me) you are a die-hard McCaffrey fan, because you do get a sense of her background and where various story ideas came from, but it’s not a deeply engrossing biography. On the other hand, it is a very fast read, so if you can put up with the temporal quirks and lack of depth, you’ll be rewarded with some interesting facts about McCaffrey’s life and work.
2.5 stars
Don’t go into Todd McCaffrey’s Dragonholder expecting a thorough and insightful portrait of Anne McCaffrey. Instead, the book is a self-described “scrapbook” of memories, stories, and background information about Todd’s famous mother. Like most scrapbooks, it’s somewhat superficial and not at all critical; it’s also choppy, jumping back and forth in time in ways that are usually but not always clear.
The book was written back in the late 1980s, with Anne McCaffrey’s full blessing and cooperation, and was re-released in December 2014 by Open Road Media with a new cover and a new foreword by Todd. The writing style of the original text is conversational, and I have to say that Todd’s writing has improved in the years since he wrote Dragonholder; the prose here is a bit pedestrian and lacks polish.
Open Road graciously gave me an ARC of their edition, and it was only on reading it that I realized I had actually read the book before, back in the 1990s or early 2000s. My impression then was similar. The book is worth reading if (like me) you are a die-hard McCaffrey fan, because you do get a sense of her background and where various story ideas came from, but it’s not a deeply engrossing biography. On the other hand, it is a very fast read, so if you can put up with the temporal quirks and lack of depth, you’ll be rewarded with some interesting facts about McCaffrey’s life and work.
2.5 stars
October 14, 2008
Mine is autographed by Todd (10/12/08)!!
January 1, 2015
I am not normally a biography reader, though I suppose you can't tell since this is my second biography this year. But as a huge fan of Anne McCaffrey's, this was a story I wanted to read.
See, the very first author stalking I did was on Anne McCaffrey. A friend had lent me the first three books in the Harper Hall portion of the Pern series. The three about Menolly. And I fell in LOVE with Pern. This led me to more Pern books with Lessa, F'Lar, F'Nor, Robinton, Jaxom and Mirrim.
Next I discovered the Crystal Singer trilogy, the BrainShips, Petaybee and the Tower and Hive series. This was the first author that I actively searched out used book stores looking for more to read. (This was way, way back in the day before ebay, amazon and easy internet lookups.) Ms. McCaffrey's words and worlds opened my mind to possibilities and a love of reading.
This book, told via her son, tells of her life and mainly how the dragons came to be. I wish that all of the series had been touched on, but since I can understand that since he is continuing the Pern series, that is the one he knows best. It was still an interesting look in the early days of the sci-fi/fantasy genre and her part in it.
This is a reprint of the of the 1999 edition, and I had hoped for some more information being added about or since her death in 2011. But nothing is mentioned. As a fan, it was a pleasant read. I gave this 3 stars, mainly because I really think the other series should have been mentioned and there was nothing past 1999.
See, the very first author stalking I did was on Anne McCaffrey. A friend had lent me the first three books in the Harper Hall portion of the Pern series. The three about Menolly. And I fell in LOVE with Pern. This led me to more Pern books with Lessa, F'Lar, F'Nor, Robinton, Jaxom and Mirrim.
Next I discovered the Crystal Singer trilogy, the BrainShips, Petaybee and the Tower and Hive series. This was the first author that I actively searched out used book stores looking for more to read. (This was way, way back in the day before ebay, amazon and easy internet lookups.) Ms. McCaffrey's words and worlds opened my mind to possibilities and a love of reading.
This book, told via her son, tells of her life and mainly how the dragons came to be. I wish that all of the series had been touched on, but since I can understand that since he is continuing the Pern series, that is the one he knows best. It was still an interesting look in the early days of the sci-fi/fantasy genre and her part in it.
This is a reprint of the of the 1999 edition, and I had hoped for some more information being added about or since her death in 2011. But nothing is mentioned. As a fan, it was a pleasant read. I gave this 3 stars, mainly because I really think the other series should have been mentioned and there was nothing past 1999.
January 12, 2015
Unlike many who will read this book I was not a lifelong fan of Anne McCaffrey. I own many of her books, but have read not a single one up to this point, but I love anything biographical so this looked really interesting, and it was.
For those who have been reading her work for many years, this should fill in the knowledge gaps nicely. This book is written in a very personal way, with family pets and life changes included. The middle son of the author does a good job painting a picture of Anne's life outside of being a career writer as well as explaining her writing and publishing struggles and eventual success.
It was nice to see the other, less business side of a woman that most fantasy authors and readers still consider one of the finest writers to have ever graced our planet. Even for someone who has not experienced her work, this book captivated my attention.
A good book, my only criticism would be that it is very short.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
For those who have been reading her work for many years, this should fill in the knowledge gaps nicely. This book is written in a very personal way, with family pets and life changes included. The middle son of the author does a good job painting a picture of Anne's life outside of being a career writer as well as explaining her writing and publishing struggles and eventual success.
It was nice to see the other, less business side of a woman that most fantasy authors and readers still consider one of the finest writers to have ever graced our planet. Even for someone who has not experienced her work, this book captivated my attention.
A good book, my only criticism would be that it is very short.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
April 30, 2017
I read this pre 2005 and I don't remember too much other than I enjoyed reading it. I remember discussing it with Elizabeth from So Long... & Thanks For All The Fish, but I cannot remember what I was telling her about it.
May 23, 2024
Read for the second time. Heartwarming stories of a wonderful author with family and friends. Uplifted my spirits again.
March 9, 2024
Anne McCaffrey is one of my favorite writers. This "biography" is really more of a "scrapbook", with family stories, origin stories for some of the books, and historical pictures. It's not long and not very detailed, which makes it a quick read. I had not realized how very much Anne McCaffrey was embedded in the early SF culture (she apparently hand-made some of the original Nebula trophies, one of which she won).
This book was written in 1999 and I found myself wishing for more: more timeline, more detail, more origin stories... but biographies are NOT my jam normally! I'd rather be reading the Pern books all over again (now THOSE are five-star stuff). I read this as part of a library project related to Women's History Month.
This book was written in 1999 and I found myself wishing for more: more timeline, more detail, more origin stories... but biographies are NOT my jam normally! I'd rather be reading the Pern books all over again (now THOSE are five-star stuff). I read this as part of a library project related to Women's History Month.
July 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It was written by her son, Todd McCaffrey. He writes about life growing up with his mother. How she started her writing. How she ended up living in Ireland at Dragonhold and so many other interesting facts. I really admire Anne McCaffrey and how she coped as a mother, going through a divorce, being a single parent as well as a writer breaking through the fantasy genre as a woman author!! She was amazing!
I think I read every book she wrote whether it was fantasy, sci-fi or romance. When I found out that she had passed away I was so sad. I really enjoyed her writing style, her books and her creativity.
I think I read every book she wrote whether it was fantasy, sci-fi or romance. When I found out that she had passed away I was so sad. I really enjoyed her writing style, her books and her creativity.
October 17, 2024
A book with written with love, compassion and a real respect for the subject. It’s filled with the kind of rueful anecdotes that you know really hurt at the time, as well as a joy in the achievements of the subject that only those close to them know were hard-earned.
It’s filled with typos and “interesting” punctuation - far more than I would readily accept in any other book that claims to be on its third edition - but I just adored it from cover to cover. The author - McCaffrey’s son - pulls his punches a little but you know it’s only because he loved his mum.
A mass of contradictions but a pure delight for fans.
It’s filled with typos and “interesting” punctuation - far more than I would readily accept in any other book that claims to be on its third edition - but I just adored it from cover to cover. The author - McCaffrey’s son - pulls his punches a little but you know it’s only because he loved his mum.
A mass of contradictions but a pure delight for fans.
July 2, 2023
Dragonholder by Todd McCaffrey
127 Pages
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media, Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Release Date: December 23, 2014
Nonfiction, Memoirs, Biographies
The book is written by Todd, the son of science fiction author Anne McCaffrey. It chronicles her life from childhood through adulthood. He describes the book as a scrapbook, but I do not agree. It is written as a memoir with photos added. I read several of Anne’s book series so I found this book interesting. If you want to learn more about Anne McCaffrey, this would be a nice book to read.
127 Pages
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media, Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Release Date: December 23, 2014
Nonfiction, Memoirs, Biographies
The book is written by Todd, the son of science fiction author Anne McCaffrey. It chronicles her life from childhood through adulthood. He describes the book as a scrapbook, but I do not agree. It is written as a memoir with photos added. I read several of Anne’s book series so I found this book interesting. If you want to learn more about Anne McCaffrey, this would be a nice book to read.
October 20, 2024
Thank you, Todd
I have always been a fan of Anne McCaffrey. To ride a Pegasus was the first book of hers that hooked me line and sinker. Since then I have collected every single story she had written. Sadly, I never got to meet her and always hoped to, but in hindsight, I got to know her through her worlds.
For anyone that loved her and her stories, this book is for you. I enjoyed. Cried a few times and laughed too. Thank you Todd for this gift of memories. It was a pleasure and a privilege.
I have always been a fan of Anne McCaffrey. To ride a Pegasus was the first book of hers that hooked me line and sinker. Since then I have collected every single story she had written. Sadly, I never got to meet her and always hoped to, but in hindsight, I got to know her through her worlds.
For anyone that loved her and her stories, this book is for you. I enjoyed. Cried a few times and laughed too. Thank you Todd for this gift of memories. It was a pleasure and a privilege.
June 23, 2022
A biography of Anne McCaffrey written by her son, Todd. Seems fairly honest about her ups and downs. Born in Cambridge, MA; father in the Army. Went to Radcliffe and knew Bobby Kennedy. Married a man who didn't understand her desire to write science fiction. Three kids. Moved to Ireland after her divorce. Some rocky years, but her dragon stories keep the bills paid and eventually make her a success. Also goes into some of the people behind some of her characters. An interesting insight.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2022
Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey by Todd McCaffrey
A neat little look into the life of Anne McCaffrey. She lived a fascinating life meeting and befriending so many different Sci-fi authors while at the same time being accepted by them. I do wish however, that I got a deep look into how she actually can about writing dragons and how they manifested themselves into one of the more well-known series in Sci-fi/Fantasy. Give it a read.
A neat little look into the life of Anne McCaffrey. She lived a fascinating life meeting and befriending so many different Sci-fi authors while at the same time being accepted by them. I do wish however, that I got a deep look into how she actually can about writing dragons and how they manifested themselves into one of the more well-known series in Sci-fi/Fantasy. Give it a read.
September 16, 2023
WHAT A DREAMER!! WHAT A LIFE!!!
I did not know 1/10th of the things her family went through in her life. Wow! What an amazing life her family has had. This is a great book to learn about her. 5⭐️ for that. Unfortunately there are a couple typos I found that should have been caught by either the writer or the editor (or anyone else who has read this book) that lowered my rating to 4 ⭐️ for the overall rating.
I did not know 1/10th of the things her family went through in her life. Wow! What an amazing life her family has had. This is a great book to learn about her. 5⭐️ for that. Unfortunately there are a couple typos I found that should have been caught by either the writer or the editor (or anyone else who has read this book) that lowered my rating to 4 ⭐️ for the overall rating.
June 3, 2019
Dragonholder: Anne McCaffrey
The book was a very easy read. It was filled with the passion of both the author and his mother. With every new chapter of their lives I found myself waiting in anticipation of what the next event would be. As a biography it definitely rates five stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The book was a very easy read. It was filled with the passion of both the author and his mother. With every new chapter of their lives I found myself waiting in anticipation of what the next event would be. As a biography it definitely rates five stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 28, 2025
A short but interesting biography of the life and writing of this very well-known author. Her early writing coincides well with my early days as a SciFi fan. I have read and enjoyed most if not all of her books and remember attending, with my brother Joe and friend Russ, the early SciFi conventions. We met many of the authors mentioned by the author.
October 27, 2025
Dragonholder
Todd’s, “Scrapbook” style memories memorial for one of Sci-Fi’s brightest lights him mother : Anne McCaffrey. A glimpse into the life of writings most remarkable female author. Through out this book, personal messages, stories, and memories are shared in a caring and loving manner, equal to the Woman being honored with in it.
Todd’s, “Scrapbook” style memories memorial for one of Sci-Fi’s brightest lights him mother : Anne McCaffrey. A glimpse into the life of writings most remarkable female author. Through out this book, personal messages, stories, and memories are shared in a caring and loving manner, equal to the Woman being honored with in it.
July 6, 2017
This was a great peek into the life of one of my favorite authors! I liked learning about her as a person, as well as a writer. It's a shame I never got a chance to visit her in person, but I feel like I understand her a little better now.
October 10, 2017
Scrapbook
The introduction stated that the book had been written in a scrapbook style, and that was very true. While it had many interesting tidbits, I found the style disjointed and at times difficult to follow.
The introduction stated that the book had been written in a scrapbook style, and that was very true. While it had many interesting tidbits, I found the style disjointed and at times difficult to follow.
December 11, 2018
This book gives you a lot of the background of Anne McCaffrey and if you are a fan of hers it is well worth reading. You get to see her as a daughter, mother, wife and author. You find out where some of the inspiration for her stories came from and how hard it was to be an author.
December 10, 2020
As others have mentioned, this reads like a scrapbook, which is interesting in its way but doesn't provide a very straightforward timeline of events, or even in some instances generations. However, there are a lot of fun stories in there.
September 10, 2023
I enjoyed this even more than I thought I would. It felt very warm and personal and I couldn’t stop the tears at the end.
A short but sweet look into the incredible life of an incredible woman.
“Who wills,
Can.
Who tries,
Does.
Who loves,
Lives.”
A short but sweet look into the incredible life of an incredible woman.
“Who wills,
Can.
Who tries,
Does.
Who loves,
Lives.”
October 10, 2024
A life well lived!
What an interesting book on my favorite author! The scrapbook of Anne’s life was well written by her son Todd. There are so many interesting anecdotes. I would definitely read more if it was ever written.
What an interesting book on my favorite author! The scrapbook of Anne’s life was well written by her son Todd. There are so many interesting anecdotes. I would definitely read more if it was ever written.
January 7, 2025
Fascinating look at one of my very favorite authors. Got the hardcover because this author because she has brought me so many many hours of pure joy reading her Pern series and every other book she wrote. One of my top 10 authors of all time!
February 7, 2018
proof I am born in the wrong era I absolutely love this writer now
October 18, 2018
Nice family scrapbook-like biography. Not the meatiest ever written, but definitely has a ton ofcharm, and its lots of fun to see all the other authors who pop in and out.
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