Honoring Jack Williamson (1908-2006), "Dean of Science Fiction"

Air Dates: April 2-4, 2016

This week REPORT FROM SANTA FE features a special program honoring famed New Mexico author Jack Williamson, the Dean of Science Fiction (1908-2006).

Special guests joining in honoring Jack Williamson are Patrice Caldwell, Chair of the Jack Williamson Lectureship at Eastern New Mexico University, and authors Daniel Abraham ("Leviathan Wakes," "The Expanse") and Lectureship Guest of Honor Victor Milan ("The Dinosaur Lords," "Cybernetic Samurai").

Jack Williamson has been called the “Dean of Science Fiction” and “a founding father of 20th century science fiction.” He was a science fiction legend, and a pioneer of science fiction, who was one of field's longest-active writers.

Jack Williamson won every science fiction award. He won the Nebula Award and his second Hugo Award when he was in his nineties, and was named Grand Master of Science Fiction a multitude of times. Williamson was given the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, was inducted into the SciFi & Fantasy Hall of fame, won the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement, and was named Grand Master by the World Horror Convention.

Williamson Inspired such masters of the genre as Issac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. He was the first to coin the terms: androids, matter / antimatter, terraforming, and genetic engineering. “He invented the future for all of us...And that future is a far better place because he invented it,' said Connie Willis, author “Doomsday Book”, winner of 11 Hugos and 7 Nebula awards.

In addition to being a world-class writer, Williamson was a professor of English at ENMU from 1960-1977. In the 1980s, he made a sizable donation of books and original manuscripts to ENMU's library, which resulted in the formation of a Special Collections department; the Jack Williamson Science Fiction Library, which is described as "one of the top science fiction collections in the world," with over 30,000 volumes. Williamson also hosted the Jack Williamson Lectureship Series, an annual panel discussion in which science fiction authors are invited to speak to attendees.

 

Patrice Caldwell, Chair of the Jack Williamson Lectureship at Eastern New Mexico University and Executive Director of Planning & Analysis at ENMU, will host the 40th Annual Jack Williamson Lectureship will be held from April 7-9, 2016 at Eastern New Mexico University. Dr. Caldwell welcomes Guest of Honor author Victor Milán, and writers, friends and fans from across the region for this annual celebration of Jack Williamson and the genre to which he contributed so significantly.

Victor Milán is a writer of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure tales known for his interest in cybernetics. In 1986 he won the Prometheus Award for “Cybernetic Samurai.” Milán has published over 60 novels. His current project is the six-volume Dinosaur Lords series, launched by “The Dinosaur Lords” (July 2015) with “Dinosaur Knights” due for release July 2016. He is the Guest of Honor at the 2016 Jack Williamson Lectureship.

“’Dinosaur Lords’ is like a cross between ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Game of Thrones.’”-- author George R.R. Martin, “Game of Thrones”

Daniel Abraham is a writer of speculative fiction who has written over 25 novels, short fiction, and graphic novels. His collaboration with Ty Franck under the name James S.A. Corey, “Leviathan Wakes,” was nominated for both the Hugo and Locus Award for best science fiction novel. The book is the basis for the first season of “The Expanse,” a new original TV series airing on the Syfy Channel.

“'Leviathan Wakes' is interplanetary adventure the way it ought to be written.” -- author George R.R. Martin, “Game of Thrones”