News reports are that Anne McCaffrey passed away at her home in Ireland on Monday after suffering a stroke. McCaffrey was a prolific author of both Science Fiction and Fantasy. She was the first woman author to win a Hugo Award, a Nebula Award, make the NY Times bestseller list with an SF title, and was proclaimed a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America.
Among other talents she was noted for creating strong female leading characters. She's best known for the Dragonriders of Pern series, as well as the Ship Who Sang and the Crystal Singer tales. She is survived by two sons and a daughter.