Maeve Binchy has passed away.

I've just this minute learned that this iconic Irish journalist and writer has passed away after a short illness at 72 years.

PHOTO FROM THE GUARDIAN

It feels almost like a personal loss. 
Certainly it marks the demise of a National Treasure and (according to Wikipedia) Irelands most recognisable author. Whether you enjoyed her works or not (and who wouldn't!) - Maeve Binchy was a personality and a talent to be reckoned with!


Like most of her fans, I was lent my first Maeve Binchy novel. A mate from school - a 'Convent girl' - was of Irish descent and wanted to watch the soon-to-be-released Circle of Friends movie with a native (this was 1995 I think). We - naturally - had to read the book before we took a trip to the fil(u)ms. My mother - as ever - rose to the occasion with a flourish. She provided not one but three different Binchy novels for us to devour!


What a wonderful gift Ms Binchy had. Not for her grand statements on politics and 't'economy'. She focused instead on the small scale - familiar settings, constant humorous observations on/of/about people and by providing detailed sketches of men and women the length and breath of Ireland; she more than made obvious her deep understand of the society around her and her opinions of it, if you chose to read between the lines!


More than that, she created people that you believe in. As she put it “I don't have ugly ducklings turning into swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turning into confident ducks.”
Ideal for every teenager I think.


Though eventually I stopped reaching for her novels as regularly; I've never underestimated her as an author. Yes, she wrote romps; funny and silly and wise in equal measure. But damn, our Maeve crafted them beautifully! And some of those can't-spot-them-coming shock endings were...well...shocking! And extreme! And did I mention shocking!!


Reading these books in Zimbabwe didn't necessarily paint for me an accurate picture of the scene back home. Rather, her witty and wry view convinced me that people are pretty much the same wherever you go. Traditions, belief systems and laws vary from place to place - but that unique spark within each of us - our personalities and our hopes and our dreams - well they seem to provide a sort of universal constant. As I will always associate Anne McCaffrey with my longest successful relationship (SF); I shall always think of Maeve Binchy as the author who allowed me to pull back the curtain for the first time.


More recently; I borrowed (yes, still from my mammy!) Convent Girls - a collection of short stories from women on either side of the V2 divide (if you don't know, count yourself lucky & read on!). Maeve Binchy contributed one of the essays provided. Reading her very brief piece had the same emotional impact on me as bumping into a friend you haven't seen in over ten years in a cafe unexpectedly, ordering a coffee and discovering that they as are warm, as entertaining and as comfortable as your fondest memories suggest!


To the family and friends of Ms Binchy I offer my condolences.


Maeve Binchy
28th of May 1940
30th of July 2012

Read a detailed biography and obituary on The Guardian or RTE website. 


Favourite Quote


“We're nothing if we're not loved. When you meet somebody who is more important to you than yourself, that has to be the most important thing in life, really. And I think we are all striving for it in different ways. I also believe very, very strongly that everybody is the hero/heroine of his/her own life. I try to make my characters kind of ordinary, somebody that anybody could be. Because we've all had loves, perhaps love and loss, people can relate to my characters”


Maeve Binchy

Anne McCaffrey

I have just read that Anne McCaffrey - one of the greatest of the SF Grand Dame's - has passed away from a stroke, aged 85 years.

An author for over 35 years, with almost a hundred titles under her belt; she wrote in a charismatic, imaginative and humorous fashion. Indeed, her first foray into SF was a biting response to the portrayal of women in the genera - she was determined to create an antithesis to the weak, decorative and passive creations that had so dominated the field up to that point.

The first female author to win the Hugo Award (in 1968); she also collected the Nebula Award the following year. She also holds the honor of having created the first SF novel written by a woman to be included in the New York Times Best Seller List - for The White Dragon. The artwork (by Michael Whelan) for this book remains in print today (see below)- so great is its popularity.


For a moment in time she was credited with introducing a female audience into science fiction; however for many years now her audience has been recognised as being both broad and varied. She once noted that dragons are universally popular, appealing to all ages, genders & races equally!


In 2005, she became the 22nd Grand Master of Science Fiction for the Science Fiction Writers of America, while the following year she was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.


While she will always be primarily remembered for her magnificent Pern series (it has dragons people, what's not to love!!!); I was always more taken with her Pegasus Series and her books about The Ship Who Sang (the Brain and Brawn Series). From the age of 11 onwards, I would disappear into her worlds for hours at a time; always delighted & enthralled by her books.

My condolences to her surviving family members - two sons, a daughter and (I believe) a grand-daughter - and her collaborators and friends. Her creative spirit has brought much joy and wonder to many people worldwide.

She will be sorely missed.

Anne McCaffrey

1st of April 1926 - 21st of November 2011