was gonna talk about my trip to see myndii in SF, and my consequent introduction down the dark, twisting road that is Battlestar Galactica, but instead, I'm kind of horrified at the news of Diana Wynne Jones being diagnosed with lung cancer.

DWJ is hands down my favorite author and has been for years, since high school. I think the first book I read of hers was The Lives of Christopher Chant when I was in middle school, but I actually didn't like it. Howl's Moving Castle was what struck a chord with me. It was one of those books that I was reading multiple times within the week; the writing was funny, complex, and original. From there, I immediately searched out all her books available in the US, at one point going so far as to buy Tough Guide to Fantasyland in Japan (in English) when it was out-of-print back at home. I don't think I've been disappointed by a single book she's written (even the Merlin Conspiracy, which I read in a rush and probably didn't enjoy as much as I could have-- it's okay. I got a personal copy of it anyways so I'll reread it eventually). Every time I go back and dig out one of those novels I hadn't enjoyed the first time around, the second time reading always brings out a different reaction.

What is remarkable about DWJ is how although she writes for YA, her writing is never condescending. She understands people. She writes them flawed, silly, sincere, and remarkable, yet the way she does it is so simple and seamless with the always-complex plot, that you sometimes don't come to revelations about the story until after multiple readings.

Her books have so much life and wit and vibrancy; it's awful to hear her diagnosed with such a vicious, exhausting disease. I wish her the best against her battle with lung cancer.