Janis Ian, like Anne McCaffrey, is someone who is best experienced. Back in the 1960s, at just fourteen, Janis had her first hit with “Society’s Child.” Since then, she’s won two Grammy Awards, become a well-established author of science fiction, and written children’s books. And she still continues to tour the world with her soft, beautiful music.

When they first met, she and Anne hit it off, and they were friends forevermore. When life was getting Mum down, Janis was one of the people I enlisted in cheering her up. If there’s a hole in the universe where Anne McCaffrey once was, Janis is one of the people helping to fill it with her warmth, kindness, and spirit.