P. D. James – Tuesday 3 August 1920 Oxford to Thursday 27 November 2014 Oxford

Phyllis Dorothy James was born in Oxford in the Twentieth century and died in Oxford in the Twenty-first century. Over the course of her life in these two centuries, P. D. lived in the realm of the mysterious and murderous, primarily populated by Adam Dalgliesh and his New Scotland Yard stories. I had the pleasure of meeting P. D. James at a book signing in Bath, England. It was the only time I saw her, but I am grateful to have had the privilege. P. D. James was one of the women writers presented in this blog in March 2010. I’ve met Adam Dalgliesh via television productions of James’ mysteries, but not through the original source. Time to rectify that oversight. Hope P. D. James is inhabiting whatever place pleases her mystery and murder inclinations – it is sure to be special.

P. D. James from the website funny-pictures.picphotos.net

Maeve Binchy Has Left Her Circle of Friends, Family, Fans And All Are Broken At The Departure - Tuesday 28 May 1940 To Monday 30 July 2012

It was in California where I read Maeve Binchy’s novel The Glass Lake - a daughter-mother relationship tale set in rural Ireland and urban England during the 1950s. I have been remiss in continuing to read her works, though Maeve Binchy was one of thirty women writers I featured in this blog during March 2010.

Wherever Maeve Binchy has traveled, there are bound to be others willing to form a new circle of friendship with the Irish writer. May they be a treasure to her as Maeve will be to them.


Images:
Left: Maeve Binchy from the website bellenews.com
Center: Front cover of The Glass Lake from the website bookcrossing.com
Right: Maeve Binchy from the website livelib.ru

Ray Douglas Bradbury – Sunday 22 August 1920 Waukegan, Illinois To Tuesday 5 June 2012 Los Angeles, California

Martians, oh Martians,
Our chronicler writes no more.
Weep, memories weep.

Artists, all artists,
Fade not illustrated lore.
Keep bold your colors.

Readers, yes readers,
Never fear Fahrenheit four
Five, one – remember!

- Adrean Darce Brent
June 2012

Images:
Left: The Martian Chronicles from the website moivefanatic,cin
Center: The Illustrated Man from the website quilandkeyboard.blogspot.com
Right: Fahrenheit 451 from the website bookintime.blogspot.com

Queen Dragonrider Anne Inez McCaffrey Goes Between And Pern Fans Mourn - Thursday 1 April 1926 To Monday 21 November 2011

I was living in Massachusetts the first time I read a Pern story in an anthology borrowed from the local library. I continued to read and began to buy Pern and other of her series (Crystal, Ship, Talents) during my first residence in California. Then it was onto Europe and I’m sorry to say that during my stay there I did not often seek out Pern novels. Now I am in my second residence in California and I have revisited the Pern world thanks to Anne’s son Todd.

Anne McCaffrey was one of thirty women writers I featured in this blog during March 2010. The post began…

"I want to be a Dragonrider of a Golden queen and lead my Weyr in the fight against Thread! From the first novel, Dragonflight, I have loved the tales of Pern penned by Anne McCaffrey. They just touch something in my imagination. How wonderful it would be to ride a dragon and have such absolute connection with another living creature. Even though I prefer my science fiction located in space and with extra-terrestrial interaction, the Pern Series is a wonderful, different perspective."

Though I may never really ride a queen dragon or fight Thread, through Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels and short stories I will always be an eager visitor to the planet Pern and its amazing dragons. You may have gone Between Anne, but you’ll always remain Beside in all the journeys of Pern.

Images:
Left: Anne McCaffrey from the website irishtimes.com
Center: Signed Bookplate for Dragon’s Time
Right: Anne McCaffrey from the website empmuseum.org