Diana Wynne Jones, rest in peace

[xparrot]

2011 is not shaping up to be a good year for creators I love. DWJ's passing isn't unexpected, but it's still sad. I didn't actually discover her until I was an adult, which is a shame because I know I would have adored her as a child. And all the same, the first of hers I read, Howl's Moving Castle, was the first book I'd read in years that upon finishing it, I wanted to do nothing more than flip to the beginning and read it all over again.

But she was writing up until the end, and produced a fabulous body of work (much of which I still have waiting for me to read) and was beloved by folks who know good fantasy everywhere - there are worse epitaphs.

Comments

[tasabian.livejournal.com]

My hometown library only had one DWJ book "Fire & Hemlock" which I read repeatedly. I was very excited to learn that she'd written more than one book! I read the rest as an adult and still re-read them now.

[gruskek.livejournal.com]

That's so sad... I knew about her illness but somehow I hoped she would be alright.

I became her fan very late too. Thanks to Miyazaki's film. I've read very few of her books so far, but am planning to read them all when I get the chance.

Well, at least she seems to have had a good life and will be remembered very fondly. That's not much of a consolation but still something.

[serrende.livejournal.com]

Here (http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/03/being-alive.html) is Neil Gaiman's post about her, if you haven't seen it already. *sniffle*

[captainsblog.livejournal.com]

Well, shite.

I got to Neil Gaiman's in memoriam (http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/03/being-alive.html) of her before yours, but his tribute managed not to mention that very close-to-home reference to one of her works. The animation of Howl's Moving Castle was one of the seminal works that got our daughter Emily motivated to make that her academic path. I'm sad to now know of this, and thank you for making the connection for me.

A loss of magic ...

[beautifuljoe.livejournal.com]

... and the way she let it enhance a story rather than drive it! I just reviewed Enchanted Glass for Audiofile magazine (the audio version slightly delayed as is sometimes the case) and so have had heard her words in my head very recently. That book is about how the passing of an older generation who maintained a magical "field of care" calls upon a younger generation to carry on.

in this world I guess that's you. Write on! Best legacy.

[werewolfling.livejournal.com]

I am so going to miss the chance of more stories from her. She was an author that I almost didn't read. There was a summer reading program at my local library and if you read enough, you would win free books (YAY) the last year before I was too old to participate, I earned a book, but didn't have a chance to pick it out myself, Mom beat me to it and picked out Dogsbody for me. I was so mad, I refused to read it for YEARS . . . Dang, do I ever love that book now. Whenever I have money, I buy another of her books.

I guess now I may actually catch up? *sighs*