Editing Anne McCaffrey (section)

=== Classification ===
In August 1987, ''[[Locus (magazine)|Locus: The magazine of the science fiction & fantasy field]]'' ranked two of the eight extant Pern novels among the "All-Time Best Fantasy Novels", based on a poll of subscribers; ''Dragonflight'' was 9th and ''The White Dragon'' 23rd.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1987 Locus All-time Poll |journal=Locus |url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/LocusAT1987.html |access-date=2011-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040113221818/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/LocusAT1987.html |archive-date=2004-01-13}} Originally published in the monthly ''[[Locus (magazine)|Locus]]'', August 1987.</ref> Commenting on the ''Locus'' list, [[David Pringle]] called them "arguably science fiction rather than fantasy proper"{{sfn|Pringle|1988|p=21}} and named McCaffrey a "leading practitioner" of the [[planetary romance]] subgenre of science fiction.{{sfn|Pringle|1985|p=17}}{{efn|name=about-Pringle}}

McCaffrey considered most of her work science fiction and enjoyed "cutting them short when they call me a 'fantasy' writer". All the Pern books may be considered science fiction, since the dragons were genetically engineered by the Pern colonists. Regarding science, she said "I don't keep up with developments, but I do find an expert in any field in which I must explain myself and the science involved".{{sfn|Jamneck|2004}} Astronomer Steven Beard often helped with science questions,{{sfn|Roberts|2007|p=5}} and McCaffrey acknowledged reproductive biologist Jack Cohen several times.{{example needed|date=October 2011}}

The [[EMP Museum#Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame|Science Fiction Hall of Fame]] citation of Anne McCaffrey summarises her genre as "science fiction, though tinged with the tone and instruments of fantasy", and her reputation as "a writer of romantic, heightened tales of adventure explicitly designed to appeal—and to make good sense to—a predominantly female adolescent audience."<ref name="sfhof">{{cite web|url=http://empmuseum.org/exhibitions/index.asp?articleID=944|title=Anne McCaffrey 1926–|work=Science Fiction Hall of Fame (Members)|publisher=EMP Science Fiction Museum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722084039/http://www.empmuseum.org/exhibitions/index.asp?articleID=944|archive-date=2012-07-22|access-date=2011-07-16}} Acknowledges content from ''[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]'' 1993, 1999; see also its [[#{{SfnRef|Clute|2011}}|online third edition]].</ref>

McCaffrey said in 2000, "There are no demographics on my books which indicate the readers are predominantly of an age or sex group. Dragons have a universal appeal!"{{sfn|''SFFWorld''|2000}} Formerly, it was another matter:

<blockquote>I started writing s-f in the late 50s/early 60s, when readership was predominantly male. And their attitudes unreconstructed. [...&nbsp;Women] began reading s-f and fantasy—and, by preference, women writers. My stories had themes and heroines they could, and did, relate to. I never had any trouble with editors and publishers. I had trouble getting male readers to believe I was serious, and a good enough writer to interest them.</blockquote>

In 1999, the [[American Library Association]] gave McCaffrey the 11th [[Margaret A. Edwards Award]] for lifetime achievement in writing for teens. The librarians credited her with "over 50 novels for young adults and adults" and cited seven published from 1968 to 1979 for the "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature" that the award features: ''The Ship Who Sang'' (1969) and the first six Pern books (those sometimes called the "original trilogy" and the "Harper Hall trilogy"). The panel chair observed that "McCaffrey's focus on the personal and emotional need of human beings mirrors the quest of today's teens to find their own place in society."<ref name=edwards/>