[Mercedes-Lackey] From Misty: Andre Norton obituary

[Melanie Dymond Harper]

Mercedes Lackey writes:

"I never wanted to have to write this piece.  I was, foolishly perhaps,
hoping for a miracle.  After all, in many ways, hope and miracles were
what Andre Norton's work was all about.

I literally grew up reading Andre's work.  BEAST MASTER was the second
book of science fiction I ever read, in seventh grade, and it was the
first one I actually picked out for myself.  I spent most of my
allowance on her books, I still have all of them, cherished and
carefully tucked away and reread over and over again.  

She was seminal for women in a way that "feminist" writers were not,
because both boys and girls read her avidly.  The young women in her
books were people both sexes could relate to.  They are absolutely some
of the best books to give to a kid to begin a long and enjoyable voyage
into sf and fantasy reading.  I cannot begin to imagine how many of us
writers, women in particular, were inspired to begin our own writing
careers because of her.

Not long ago, she was seriously ill and we thought we would lose her
then.  She had come to believe that no one read her books anymore, that
she was outdated and forgotten.  The outpouring of love and appreciation
that ensued at that time, I think, helped her fight her way back, and
made her truly understand how much she meant to us all.  It is one
comfort that the last time I spoke to her, she was quite well aware that
we considered her to be a national treasure, though modest as she was,
she still wasn't certain she deserved such accolades.

I was unbelievably privileged to work with her.  I will miss her more
than I can say."

(this will also appear in _Locus_)