James E. Gunn (writer)

James E. Gunn

Gunn in 2005
Born James Edwin Gunn
(1923-07-12) July 12, 1923
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Pen name Edwin James[1]
Occupation Professor of English, critic, fiction writer
Language English
Nationality American
Education B.S., Journalism; M.A., English
Alma mater University of Kansas
Period 1948–present
Genre Science fiction
Subject Isaac Asimov, history of science fiction
Notable works
Notable awards (below)
Gunn's novelette "Powder Keg" was the cover story for the April 1958 issue of If

James Edwin Gunn (born July 12, 1923) is an American science fiction writer, editor, scholar, and anthologist. His work as an editor of anthologies includes the six-volume Road to Science Fiction series. He won the Hugo Award for "Best Related Work" in 1983 and he has won or been nominated for several other awards for his non-fiction works in the field of science fiction studies.[2] The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America made him its 24th Grand Master in 2007[3] and he was inducted by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2015.[4][5]

Gunn is a professor emeritus of English, and the founding director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction, both at the University of Kansas.[6][7]

Biography

Gunn served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, after which he attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Science in Journalism in 1947 and a Masters of Arts in English in 1951. Gunn went on to become a faculty member of the University of Kansas, where he served as the university's director of public relations and as a Professor of English, specializing in science fiction and fiction writing. He is now a professor emeritus and director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction, which awards the annual John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best novel and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award at the Campbell Conference in Lawrence, Kansas, every summer.

He served as President of the Science Fiction Writers of America[8] from 1971–1972 and was President of the Science Fiction Research Association from 1980–1982. SFWA honored him as a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 2007.[9]

On June 12, 2015, Locus announced the selection of Gunn and four others for induction into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, along with "a 'lightning-fast' fundraiser to cover [Gunn's] travel expenses so he can attend the June 27, 2015 induction ceremony in Seattle".[4][5]

Writing

Gunn began his career as a science fiction writer in 1949, making his first short story sale to Thrilling Wonder Stories.[9] He has had almost 100 stories published in magazines and anthologies and has written 28 books and edited 10. Many of his stories and books have been reprinted around the world.[7]

From 1949 to 1952, Gunn wrote ten short stories published as by Edwin James, a pseudonym derived from his full name.[7] The first two in print, "Communication" and "Paradox" (that first sale), were published in September and October 1949 by editor Sam Merwin in Startling Stories and Thrilling Wonder Stories.[1] His novels were first published by Gnome Press in 1955, Star Bridge, written by Gunn and Jack Williamson, and This Fortress World.[1]

Scribner's published Gunn's novel The Listeners in 1972[10] and it was runner-up for the first annual John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.[2] Carl Sagan called it "one of the very best fictional portrayals of contact with extraterrestrial intelligence ever written." According to the publisher of a 2004 edition, "this book predicted and inspired the creation of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)—the organization dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial life."[11]

In 1996, Gunn wrote a novelization of "The Joy Machine", an unproduced episode of Star Trek scripted by Theodore Sturgeon.

Adaptations

His stories also have been adapted into radioplays and teleplays.

Selected works

Fiction

Nonfiction

Gunn's anthologies include The Road to Science Fiction, six volumes 1977 to 1998. The first four volumes, published by Mentor New American Library from 1977 to 1982, are organized chronologically and cover Gilgamesh to 1981 or "Forever" (volume 4, From Here to Forever). The last two volumes, published by White Wolf, Inc. in 1998, feature "The British Way" and "Around the World".[1]

Awards

Gunn's 1972 novel The Listeners was runner-up for the 1973 Campbell Memorial Award.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 James E. Gunn at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB). Retrieved 2013-04-05. Select a title to see its linked publication history and general information. Select a particular edition (title) for more data at that level, such as a front cover image or linked contents.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Gunn, James". The Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Literary Nominees. Locus Publications (locusmag.com). Retrieved 2013-04-05.
  3. 1 2 "Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (sfwa.org). Retrieved 2013-04-05.
  4. 1 2 3 "2015 SF&F Hall of Fame Inductees & James Gunn Fundraiser". June 12, 2015. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 2015-07-16.
  5. 1 2 3 "James Gunn: The "triple threat": author, scholar, and teacher of science fiction". Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. EMP Museum (empmuseum.org). Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  6. ↑ "James Gunn: CSSF Founding Director". Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction (CSSF); University of Kansas (sfcenter.ku.edu). Updated December 2, 2014. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Niccum, Jon (April 11, 2008). "Top Gunn: Renowned science fiction author finds fresh ways to cultivate genre". Lawrence Journal-World. Lawrence, KS. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  8. ↑ The End of the Dreams, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, Book Club Edition, 1975 (jacket cover).
  9. 1 2 3 Burnes, Brian (August 16, 2013). "For James Gunn, science-fiction's golden age has lasted eight decades". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, MO: The McClatchy Company. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  10. 1 2 "The listeners" (first edition). LC Online Catalog; Library of Congress (catalog.loc.gov). Retrieved 2015-07-16.
  11. 1 2 "The listeners" (1st BenBella Books ed., 2004). LC Online Catalog. Retrieved 2015-07-16. With linked publisher description.
  12. ↑ (Russian) State Fund of Television and Radio Programs
  13. ↑ The Listeners (first edition) publication contents at ISFDB. Retrieved 2015-07-16.
  14. 1 2 "Isaac Asimov Novel Wins a Hugo Award". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 6, 1983. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  15. ↑ "The Long List of Hugo Awards, 1976". New England Science Fiction Association (nesfa.org). 1976. Retrieved 2013-08-17.

Citations

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James Edwin Gunn
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