The world lost a wonderful voice in the world of Science fiction and fantasy writing.
She introduced me to the wonderful world of dragons and Pern. Her voice will be missed.
Rest in peace, Anne McCaffrey, the world is less bright now that your star has extinguished.
Showing posts with label dragonriders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dragonriders. Show all posts
4/11/11
Riding Dragons
Have you ever ridden an dragon?
I have.
But I had forgotten what it felt like. Freedom, excitement and a oneness with the creature between your knees are only of few of the feelings.
I don't like forgetting the majesty of those animals, but I'm truly grateful for my friends who remind me of who I am . . . even if they didn't realize it at the time (Thank you, Meg!)
I virtually rode my first dragon when I read Anne McCaffrey's DRAGON SINGER. I was a teen and there wasn't much choice for reading material at the time for 'young adults'. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Zane Grey, and a host of other authors occupied my reading until I rode that first dragon.
For the next ten years, I read everything and anything fantasy, but especially McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series (Yes, they are on my keeper shelves!).
But it wasn't until I rode my first horse did I understand McCaffrey's dragons and their riders. This epiphany didn't happen overnight. It took three horses and almost twenty years before I really understood.
Each of my horses taught me something: Princess--the basics of riding and jumping, Abe--each day was a challenge with you, but damn, you taught me to stick to the saddle through rears, bucks and spins, and when you got bored the combination of the aforementioned naughty behaviors, and Buster--such a common name for a noble beast out of Secretariat's line--you taught me magic.
Buster was barely green-broke when I got him--he could walk, trot and canter with a rider, but steering and stopping were optional. After many hardships and torn ligaments (his, not mine), we had some spectacular moments . . .
but sometimes we would fly.
It didn't happen every time I mounted him, but when everything was right with the world, we were invincible!
Meg brought it all back to me when she posted this video on her Twisted Sisters blog.
The beauty of it brought tears to my eyes--and I'm not a crier--well, okay, I do cry at most Disney movies, but that's beside the point.
I've had people ask me how I can write about fantasy creatures: faeries, gnomes and especially dragons.
It's easy . . . because I've ridden one.
I have.
But I had forgotten what it felt like. Freedom, excitement and a oneness with the creature between your knees are only of few of the feelings.
I don't like forgetting the majesty of those animals, but I'm truly grateful for my friends who remind me of who I am . . . even if they didn't realize it at the time (Thank you, Meg!)
I virtually rode my first dragon when I read Anne McCaffrey's DRAGON SINGER. I was a teen and there wasn't much choice for reading material at the time for 'young adults'. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Zane Grey, and a host of other authors occupied my reading until I rode that first dragon.
For the next ten years, I read everything and anything fantasy, but especially McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series (Yes, they are on my keeper shelves!).
But it wasn't until I rode my first horse did I understand McCaffrey's dragons and their riders. This epiphany didn't happen overnight. It took three horses and almost twenty years before I really understood.
Each of my horses taught me something: Princess--the basics of riding and jumping, Abe--each day was a challenge with you, but damn, you taught me to stick to the saddle through rears, bucks and spins, and when you got bored the combination of the aforementioned naughty behaviors, and Buster--such a common name for a noble beast out of Secretariat's line--you taught me magic.
Buster was barely green-broke when I got him--he could walk, trot and canter with a rider, but steering and stopping were optional. After many hardships and torn ligaments (his, not mine), we had some spectacular moments . . .
but sometimes we would fly.
It didn't happen every time I mounted him, but when everything was right with the world, we were invincible!
Meg brought it all back to me when she posted this video on her Twisted Sisters blog.
The beauty of it brought tears to my eyes--and I'm not a crier--well, okay, I do cry at most Disney movies, but that's beside the point.
I've had people ask me how I can write about fantasy creatures: faeries, gnomes and especially dragons.
It's easy . . . because I've ridden one.
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