2004's SF&F Hall of Fame inductees and several Campbell Award winners: George Zebrowski, Frederik Pohl (the only two-time Campbell winner), Gregory Benford, Jack McDevitt (this year's winner), Brian Aldiss (former Campbell Award winner, Hall of Fame inductee, and First Fandom Hall of Fame inductee), and Hall of Fame inductee Harry Harrison. Photo courtesy Karen Gunn.
The 2004 Campbell Conference was held July 8-11, as the concluding event of the Writers Workshop in Science Fiction and the beginning of the Intensive English Institute on the Teaching of Science Fiction. The Campbell Conference, held regularly at the University of Kansas, provides a setting for the presentation of three science-fiction honors: since 1979, the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for the best science-fiction novel of the year; since 1987, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short science fiction of the year; and, since 1996, the induction of honorees into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
Beginning in 2004, winners of both awards receive trophies. After this year (starting in 2005), only the Campbell and Sturgeon Awards will be given during the Conference, with the Hall of Fame inductions moving to the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle. The Center for the Study of Science Fiction continues to sponsor the Conference, which takes place at the University of Kansas.
Guests in 2004 included two SFWA Grand Masters and many other award-winning authors. Check back to learn more about how to get video and print documentation for this rare event!
Click here to see 2004's schedule of events.
The 2004 Conference hosted a number of science fiction notables,
including:
- Brian Aldiss is a science fiction author who began writing professionally in the 1950s. He has been named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA), and is a co-founder of the Campbell Award. Mr. Aldiss lives in England and is here to attend his induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
- Robin Wayne Bailey is the author of fantasy and science fiction works. He has served on the Board of Directors of SFWA, was a key player in the 1996 creation of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Hall of Fame, and is on the advisory board of the new Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle. Robin Wayne Bailey lives in Kansas City, MO.
- Greg Bear is an author known especially for his science fiction writing on the future of biology and human evolution. He is chair of the advisory board of the SF Museum and Hall of Fame and lives in Seattle, WA.
- Gregory Benford is a professor of physics at UC, Irvine, and a science fiction author. He has also published well over a hundred papers in fields of physics and several in biological conservation. Dr. Benford is on the advisory board of the SF Museum and Hall of Fame and lives in California.
- James Gunn is a science fiction author and historian, KU professor emeritus of English, and director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction. He is a past president of SFWA and is chair of the Campbell Award jury to select the best science-fiction novel of the year. Dr. Gunn is on the advisory board of the SF Museum and Hall of Fame and lives in Lawrence, KS.
- Harry Harrison is a former comic book artist, a science fiction author, and co-founder of the Campbell Award. His novel Make Room! Make Room! was the basis for the movie Soylent Green. Mr. Harrison lives in the Republic of Ireland and is here to attend his induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
- Kij Johnson is author of several fantasy and SF novels and short stories. She teaches writing and science fiction writing, is a Sturgeon Award juror (and former winner), and assists at the Science Fiction Writers Workshop. Ms. Johnson lives in Lawrence, KS.
- Jack McDevitt is a science fiction author as well as a former English teacher, naval officer, Philadelphia taxi driver, customs officer, and motivational trainer. Mr. McDevitt lives in Georgia and is "world-class good company" according to Michael Swanwick. McDevitt is this year's winner of the Campbell Award.
- John Ordover, former student of James Gunn, now Editor-in-Chief of Phobos Science Fiction and Fantasy publisher.
- Frederik Pohl has been involved in science fiction since the 1930s as a fan, magazine editor, and author. He is a SFWA Grand Master, was inducted into the Science Fiction & Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1998, and is a Sturgeon Award juror. He lives in Illinois. Mr. Pohl, a long-time friend of the Center, will make this year's keynote address.
- Pamela Sargent is a science and historical fiction author, editor, and literary critic whose stories and books have been published in several languages. She also serves as a Campbell Award juror. Ms Sargent lives in New York.
- Donna Shirley is the former manager of the NASA Mars Exploration Program, and is now the director of the new Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle. Her autobiography, Managing Martians, describes her journey from small town to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and her team’s Mars Rover missions. Dr. Shirley lives in Seattle, WA.
- Joan Slonczewski is a Professor of Biology at Kenyon College and author of science fiction novels and short stories. Dr. Slonczewski lives in Ohio.
- George Zebrowski has been a science fiction author, critic, editor, and scholar since 1960. He has written more than 10 novels, edited dozens of science fiction anthologies, and published countless short stories. He is also a former Campbell Award winner. Mr. Zebrowski lives in New York.
- This year's Campbell and Sturgeon Award winners (if they are able to attend).
- And many others.
The Conference typically brings to campus the winners of the Campbell and Sturgeon Awards as special guests, the living inductees to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, as well as long-time CSSF friends Frederik Pohl and his wife, Elizabeth Anne Hull, a former president of SFRA and a Campbell juror.
The Kansas Union Oread Bookstore held an amazing 13-person signing for the attending authors on Saturday, July 10.
Note that evening lectures, film showings, and so on are included in the cost
of the Conference.