The month of April has seen the lost of two of the genres' influential women, and both from cancer:
Diana Wynne Jones
"How's Moving Castle is perhaps" the novel and film that first comes to mind when thinking of Jones. Her esteemed story of Sophie and Howl is full of memorable elements, including wizards and fire demons. Her novels were written typically in the Fantasy genre for children and adults, though she has written a small amount of nonfiction. Her stories typically range from amusing to social criticism.
Jones had grown up, with her two younger sisters, in a rather neglected household. She studied in Friends School Saffron Waldon, and attended St. Anne's College in Oxford, where she heard C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien give lectures; graduating in 1956.
Neil Gaiman wrote a nice long entry on his blog concerning the death of his mentor. Jones was 76 years old, and died of lung cancer. You can read his entry here:
http://tinyurl.com/4epmp2x
Elisabeth Sladen
Sladen started her career as one of the most famous "Dr. Who" companions in 1973, after Katy Manning left the show. Playing opposite Jon Pertwee, the Third Doctor, Sladen became the beloved Sarah Jane Smith, and stayed on for three and a half seasons; as Pertwee finished as the Third Doctor, and Tom Baker picked up as the Fourth Doctor. Her departure from the series made front page news, and she returned later as guest appearances. Later she went on to have her own successful television spinoff series: "The Sarah Jane Chronicles."
Sladen began her performing life at the age of five by dancing in a production with the Royal Ballet. After attending drama school, she later traveled across England and appeared in numerous plays, such as Desdemona in "Othello."
Sladen worked on "Dr. Who" and "The Sarah Jane Chronicles" until 2010. She died at age 65 from cancer.
