I just heard the news about Anne McCaffrey’s passing and I’m at a loss for words. I can’t overstate her importance to the SF field, the influence she had on scores of writers and thousands upon thousands of readers, and the role she played in the shaping of my career. Her writing never failed to inspire me to try my best to capture the intriguing characterizations and sweeping vision of her stories. And to top it off, she was unfailingly gracious to me and generous with her time and support.

The first cover of mine to make the New York Times Bestseller list was her novel, The White Dragon… a major benchmark for her and me. I’ve been immeasurably fortunate to have been able to name her as a friend and inspiration. She’ll be sadly missed, but her worlds will live on always.

Michael Whelan is a Hugo, Society of Illustrators, and Chesley award-winning artist. His work can be seen in galleries, book stores, and within many art and illustration annuals.