On March 6, 2003, Eastern New Mexico University hosted the 27th Williamson Lectureship. This annual event was created to honor Jack Williamson, the science-fiction Grand Master who also happens to be an Emeritus Professor of English at that instituation.
This year's focus was unique. We came together to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the sale of Jack Williamson's first short story, "The Metal Man," which was published in the December 1928 issue of Amazing Stories. Thanks to my role as editor of Science Fiction Age magazine, I'd had the opportunity to publish many of his stories and the privilege of getting to know him. There was no way I was going to miss this celebration, and so my body followed my heart to Portales, New Mexico.
On March 5, 2003, the night before the official lectureship, the out-of-towners gathered with some of the locals for dinner at the Roosevelt restaurant. (Click on any image on this page to view an enlargement.)
Jack Williamson with Patrice Caldwell, Associate Professor of English at ENMU and den mother to the lectureship
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Irene Vartanoff, Jack Williamson, Scott Edelman and Patrice Caldwell |
Patrice Caldwell andWalter Jon Williams deconstruct the menu |
Locus publisher Charles N. Brownwith Eleanor Wood, Jack Williamson's uber-agent |
Walter Jon Williams with light of his life Kathleen Hedges |
Eternal lovebirds Gay and Joe Haldeman |
Daniel Abraham and Irene Vartanoff |
Connie Willis andHaffner Press publisher Stephen Haffner |
Sage Walker and Rusty Hevelin |
Connie Willis armed with a weaponeven more dangerous than her typewriter |
Rick and Janet Hauptmann |
Brian A. Hopkins and Rick Hauptmann |
Fred and Joan Saberhagen |
Joe Haldeman and Jack Williamson embrace, while Gay waits patiently to cut in |
Rusty Hevelin carefully guardsthe Grand Master's leftovers while Gay gives Jack a squeeze |
The following day, we attended a luncheon and an evening symposium at which Jack Williamson, Connie Willis and Joe Haldeman were the featured speakers.