Diana Wynne Jones
I discovered Diana Wynne Jones in about 1980 or 1981 when I was about 9 or 10. The first of her books that I read was Dogsbody, in the Puffin paperback edition. I was a great reader, and would read anything and everything. We only had a small school library and I was working my way through it. I went past Dogsbody many times, because I hated the cover. Eventually the only options left must have been even worse, so I got it out and read it. And loved it of course!
From there I read every copy of Diana Wynne Jones I could get my hands on. This meant from the library in Geraldton, the country town in Western Australia where I lived. I know I had my own copy of Charmed Life, which I read and reread (it's still one of my favourites). Going away for holidays meant the excitement of going to a new library and seeing if there were any Diana Wynne Jones books I hadn't read in those libraries. I read Drowned Ammet for the first time in Esperance.
The school library only ever did have that copy of Dogsbody. But the higest level of supplementary readers in the classroom had some DWJ books in the boxes. You weren't meant to read them until you were reading at that level. Though I was usualy in the reading class a year above my age I think I waited a whole year until I was in the group where I was allowed to read the black supps. I can't believe I was such a stickler for the rules! These days I'd just dive right in and read them!!
I remember the excitement when a new DWJ would come into the library. I read The Time of the Ghost on the bus to Perth. I sat in the library after school and read Archer's Goon. I remember my shock and disappointment when I found that copy was missing several chapters due to a printing error. The librarians wouldn't _do_ anything about it!! Didn't they _understand_?? Even now the missing part doesn't stick in my brain the way the rest of the book does.
When I went to uni, I joined the University Science Fiction Association and met many like-minded people. Some of them even seemed to like Diana Wynne Jones books almost as much as I did! One of them had even written to her, and got a reply back. I remember one New Years Eve party where a group of us were standing around in awe as she read to us from the reply. That's my kind of party!
After uni there was eventually the internet, and lists of what DWJ had published. I tracked down the few I hadn't read, including one of the few existing copies of Changeover. There was also rec.arts.books.childrens, where I discovered like minded people whose level of fandom even exceeded mine! One of them started the DWJ mailing list. Heaven!! There were people on it who actually _knew_ DWJ, and would occaisionally post her comments on what we had said. And now I had Contacts! I no longer had to wait for books to randomly appear in the library, or even wait to order them from a bookshop the minute I knew they were being published. Wonderful people would post me books not yet available in Australia. Then I started going to SF conventions and hanging out with people in the bookselling or publishing industries, and discovered the joy of advanced proof copies. I got my new DWJ fix sooner than I ever though possible!
DWJ herself perfectly captured the excitement of a new book in The Magicians of Caprona where Tonino is sent a book, which turns out to have a spell on it. One thing after another stops Tonino from reading it and in the end "Tonino began to think he would die of book frustration." DWJ books always had that effect on me. I'd read a new book in one sitting if I could. Then the wonderful Deep Secret turned that around. It's one of the few books I have ever deliberately read slowly, because it was just so good I never wanted it to end.
Deep Secret was also the book that made me want to go to an Eastercon. I eventually managed this and for various reasons that was one of the best things I ever did. But that's a story for another post.
For a few years I was lucky enough to have a job that flew me around the world. In 2003 when I was passing though England I thought it would be fun to meet some DWJ list members from there. I suggested a meet-up, and there was quite a lot of interest. Then I had a Thought. A Greatly Daring Thought. I suggested to the list that perhaps DWJ could be invited to join us and speak to us? The invitation was passed on to DWJ (after the speak to us idea was abandoned as that would not be as much fun for her). She accepted! A pub-meet was organised in Bristol near her house. I got to spend an afternoon hanging out with some fabulous people from the list (one even flew in from Israel) and DWJ herself.
I was too much in awe to say much too her, which was a bit of a waste. I did get to ask her the question about her books that I had wanted to know for years which was what were the books that Tom sent Polly (in Fire and Hemock) that were not listed. DWJ said that was left for the reader to fill in the blanks with favourite books, and that she did hope one of hers would make the list! She also took the time to sign a pile of books I had brought with me - tattered old favourites and shiny new ones I'd picked up along the way when I knew I'd be meeting her. I also got to thank her for the books, and for how much pleasure they'd given me. I'm so glad I got to say that in person.
When I was living in London in 2006 we had another pub meet, and I got to meet some more list members, incuding ones from Ireland and Germany, plus another Australian whose passing through London was the inspiration for this meet. I'm very glad that happend, as he died unexpectedly a couple of years later. That was another lovely afternoon.
Being a Diana Wynne Jones fan has always been a very personal thing for me. Even though I know fans as die-hard as me (or even more so!) are out there I am at some level think that I am her only fan and no on else can ever feel the same way! It was strange when her books were reprinted and Howl's Moving Castle came out and she started getting a lot more recognition. It's strange now seeing all the tributes out there, and knowing she affected so many people the way she affected me.
I'm so glad I live in a time where I could read these books, and connect to other people through these books. I am so glad I got to meet her, and once had an email from her (maybe I should get that framed). l am so glad she has influnced writers that I now read. But I am so sad she's gone. No matter how good those writers are there will never be another Diana Wynne Jones.
From there I read every copy of Diana Wynne Jones I could get my hands on. This meant from the library in Geraldton, the country town in Western Australia where I lived. I know I had my own copy of Charmed Life, which I read and reread (it's still one of my favourites). Going away for holidays meant the excitement of going to a new library and seeing if there were any Diana Wynne Jones books I hadn't read in those libraries. I read Drowned Ammet for the first time in Esperance.
The school library only ever did have that copy of Dogsbody. But the higest level of supplementary readers in the classroom had some DWJ books in the boxes. You weren't meant to read them until you were reading at that level. Though I was usualy in the reading class a year above my age I think I waited a whole year until I was in the group where I was allowed to read the black supps. I can't believe I was such a stickler for the rules! These days I'd just dive right in and read them!!
I remember the excitement when a new DWJ would come into the library. I read The Time of the Ghost on the bus to Perth. I sat in the library after school and read Archer's Goon. I remember my shock and disappointment when I found that copy was missing several chapters due to a printing error. The librarians wouldn't _do_ anything about it!! Didn't they _understand_?? Even now the missing part doesn't stick in my brain the way the rest of the book does.
When I went to uni, I joined the University Science Fiction Association and met many like-minded people. Some of them even seemed to like Diana Wynne Jones books almost as much as I did! One of them had even written to her, and got a reply back. I remember one New Years Eve party where a group of us were standing around in awe as she read to us from the reply. That's my kind of party!
After uni there was eventually the internet, and lists of what DWJ had published. I tracked down the few I hadn't read, including one of the few existing copies of Changeover. There was also rec.arts.books.childrens, where I discovered like minded people whose level of fandom even exceeded mine! One of them started the DWJ mailing list. Heaven!! There were people on it who actually _knew_ DWJ, and would occaisionally post her comments on what we had said. And now I had Contacts! I no longer had to wait for books to randomly appear in the library, or even wait to order them from a bookshop the minute I knew they were being published. Wonderful people would post me books not yet available in Australia. Then I started going to SF conventions and hanging out with people in the bookselling or publishing industries, and discovered the joy of advanced proof copies. I got my new DWJ fix sooner than I ever though possible!
DWJ herself perfectly captured the excitement of a new book in The Magicians of Caprona where Tonino is sent a book, which turns out to have a spell on it. One thing after another stops Tonino from reading it and in the end "Tonino began to think he would die of book frustration." DWJ books always had that effect on me. I'd read a new book in one sitting if I could. Then the wonderful Deep Secret turned that around. It's one of the few books I have ever deliberately read slowly, because it was just so good I never wanted it to end.
Deep Secret was also the book that made me want to go to an Eastercon. I eventually managed this and for various reasons that was one of the best things I ever did. But that's a story for another post.
For a few years I was lucky enough to have a job that flew me around the world. In 2003 when I was passing though England I thought it would be fun to meet some DWJ list members from there. I suggested a meet-up, and there was quite a lot of interest. Then I had a Thought. A Greatly Daring Thought. I suggested to the list that perhaps DWJ could be invited to join us and speak to us? The invitation was passed on to DWJ (after the speak to us idea was abandoned as that would not be as much fun for her). She accepted! A pub-meet was organised in Bristol near her house. I got to spend an afternoon hanging out with some fabulous people from the list (one even flew in from Israel) and DWJ herself.
I was too much in awe to say much too her, which was a bit of a waste. I did get to ask her the question about her books that I had wanted to know for years which was what were the books that Tom sent Polly (in Fire and Hemock) that were not listed. DWJ said that was left for the reader to fill in the blanks with favourite books, and that she did hope one of hers would make the list! She also took the time to sign a pile of books I had brought with me - tattered old favourites and shiny new ones I'd picked up along the way when I knew I'd be meeting her. I also got to thank her for the books, and for how much pleasure they'd given me. I'm so glad I got to say that in person.
When I was living in London in 2006 we had another pub meet, and I got to meet some more list members, incuding ones from Ireland and Germany, plus another Australian whose passing through London was the inspiration for this meet. I'm very glad that happend, as he died unexpectedly a couple of years later. That was another lovely afternoon.
Being a Diana Wynne Jones fan has always been a very personal thing for me. Even though I know fans as die-hard as me (or even more so!) are out there I am at some level think that I am her only fan and no on else can ever feel the same way! It was strange when her books were reprinted and Howl's Moving Castle came out and she started getting a lot more recognition. It's strange now seeing all the tributes out there, and knowing she affected so many people the way she affected me.
I'm so glad I live in a time where I could read these books, and connect to other people through these books. I am so glad I got to meet her, and once had an email from her (maybe I should get that framed). l am so glad she has influnced writers that I now read. But I am so sad she's gone. No matter how good those writers are there will never be another Diana Wynne Jones.