Anne McCaffrey (1926-2011) was a groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy author. Born in Massachusetts and later settling in Wicklow, Ireland, she was the first woman to win a Hugo or Nebula award*.

Her most famous work, the Dragonriders of Pern series, blended science fiction with elements of high fantasy, influencing generations of writers and readers. McCaffrey’s career spanned more than four decades, during which she published dozens of novels and stories.

*Ursula K. Le Guin is often incorrectly cited as the first woman to win a Hugo award. Although Le Guin was the first woman to win a Hugo for best Novel in 1969 with The Left Hand of Darkness, McCaffrey had won the year before in the category of best Novella, for her story "Dragonrider".