About the author
Anne McCaffrey (1928–2011) was educated at Radcliffe College, from where she graduated in Slavonic languages and literature. She started writing science fiction, and had several short stories published before the publication of her first novel, Restoree, in 1967. Dragonflight, the first of the Dragonriders of Pern series, followed in 1968.
The Dragonriders of Pern series, which has remained McCaffrey’s most popular and successful series, is about Pern, a world threatened periodically with hideously destructive life forms in the shape of threads falling from another planet. Pern is saved by its dragons, and their dragonriders, who destroy the threads. Horses still exist on this world, but they are unimportant compared with dragons, who can move through time and space in the blink of an eye, as well as fly, and of course protect the planet by destroying thread. Horses are referred to in the series as “runners”.
Lacking dragons on earth, Anne McCaffrey seems to have made do quite well with horses. After divorcing her husband in 1970, Anne McCaffrey and her two younger children moved to Ireland, where, in 1971, she bought her first horse, Mr Ed. She and her daughter Gigi started a livery stables, Dragonhold Stables, in 1977. Whilst not as large a part of her oeuvre as dragons, horses did appear in some of her books. She has written at least three adult books with some horse content, as well as Black Horses for the King, a children’s book.
Finding the books
All are still in print. First editions in very good condition can be expensive.
Links and sources
Anne McCaffrey fansite (created by Cheryl B Miller)
Wikipedia on Anne McCaffrey
Bibliography (horse books only)
Ring of Fear
Brandywyne Books, San Francisco, 1971, 252 pp.
Millington, London, 1979. 252 pp.
Futura, London, 1980, pb, 252 pp.
After the murder of her father, Nialla moves across the USA. She makes her living show jumping, and is keeping her head above water until a series of accidents occur.
The Kilternan Legacy
Brandywyne Books, San Francisco, 1975, 269 pp.
Millington, London, 1976, 269 pp.
Irene Teasey comes to Ireland after she inherits from an aunt she has never met. She inherits a house, land, tenants and even a horse.
The Lady
Ballantine Books, New York, 1987, 461 pp.
Ballantine, pb, 2005, 384 pp., cover art Walter Rane
In the UK as The Carradyne Touch
Macdonald, London, 1988, 640 pp.
Futura, London, 1989, pb, 416 pp.
Read a review here. (Whitebrook Farm)
Set in 1970s Ireland, this is the story of Michael Carradyne, who owns the
Cornanagh Stud.
Black Horses for the King
Harcourt Brace, San Diego, 1996, 217 pp.
Doubleday, London, 1996, 259 pp.
Ballantyne, New York, 1997, pb, cover art David Shannon (left)
Corgi, London, 1998, pb, 219 pp. (right)
~a children’s book ~
An Arthurian tale, in which Lord Artos is on a quest to find the finest black
horses so that he can drive the Saxons out of Britain.
