Campbell Conference
and Awards Ceremony:
Theodore Sturgeon and the Science-Fiction Short Story
July 16-18, 2010

Information Map
2010 Conference
Special Guests for 2010
Schedule of Events
Registration and Costs
Housing
Transportation to and from the Airport
Maps of KU and Lawrence
Enrollment Forms
Reports from Previous Campbell Conferences

 
Award winners at the 2009 Campbell Conference Awards Banquet
Cory Doctorow, Ian MacLeod, James Alan Gardner (James Gunn in background). Photo by Keith Stokes.

This year's Campbell Conference took place on July 16 - 18 in Lawrence, Kansas. The topic was "Theodore Sturgeon and the Science-Fiction Short Story." Stay tuned for more reports.

2009's topic was, "What's Old, What's new: The New Space Opera, the New Hard SF, the New Weird." The Campbell Conference is the concluding event of the Writers Workshop in Science Fiction, the Novel Writers Workshop in Science Fiction, and the beginning of the Intensive English Institute on the Teaching of Science Fiction. Held regularly at the University of Kansas since 1973 (except for the special joint event in 2007 with SFRA and the Heinlein Centennial), the Conference 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.
• From 1996–2004, the induction of honorees into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

The Awards Banquet takes place on Friday evening. Winners of both awards take home Lucite trophies and have their names engraved on the permanent trophies that remain on display at the Center's office.

The Kansas Union Oread Bookstore also holds a signing and often hosts readings with the attending authors on the Saturday of the Conference. See the full schedule of events for more information.

Campbell Conference book signing from 2008
Kij Johnson, James Gunn, Chris McKitterick, and Frederik Pohl.

Be sure to register early for savings!

In addition to area authors and regular guest authors, the Campbell Conference usually brings to Lawrence the winners of the Campbell and Sturgeon Awards as special guests. CSSF Director James Gunn is our permanent special guest.

Guests of this year's Campbell Conference included:

	Z.S. Adani (Sophy) was born in Budapest, where she grew up on salami and fairy tales. She came to America in the mid-70s. While raising two daughters, she started writing fiction. Books such as Orson Scott Card’s How to Write Fantasy and Science Fiction, Ben Bova's The Craft of Writing Science Fiction that Sells, and James Gunn's The Science of Science-Fiction Writing proved invaluable. Sophy lives and writes in Florida. She's a member of the Carpe Libris Writers Group and Broad Universe, and a graduate of Gunn's Science Fiction Writers Workshop.
	Paolo Bacigalupi’s writing has appeared in High Country News, Salon.com, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. His work has been anthologized in various "Year’s Best" collections, nominated for three Nebula and five Hugo Awards, and won the 2006 Sturgeon Award. His debut novel, The Windup Girl (2009), is nominated for the Hugo Award and won the Nebula Award.
	Robin Wayne Bailey is the author of many novels and short works, including "The Children's Crusade," a 2007 Nebula nominee. He's edited two notable collections, including Architects of Dreams: The SFWA Author Emeritus Anthology. Mr. Bailey is a past president of SFWA and was a key player in the 1996 creation of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Hall of Fame. UPDATE: Due to a family health emergency, Robin was not able to attend this year.
	Sheila Finch is the author of seven science fiction novels and numerous short stories that have appeared in Amazing, Asimov’s, Fantasy Book, Fantasy & Science Fiction, and many anthologies. Sheila taught creative writing at El Camino College for thirty years and at workshops around California. She also writes non-fiction about teaching creative writing and science fiction, including a series on the SFWA website. Her work has won several awards, including the Nebula Award for Best Novella, the San Diego Book Award for Juvenile Fiction, and the Compton-Crook Award for Best First Novel.
	James Gunn is a science fiction author and historian, KU professor emeritus of English, director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction, and SFWA Grand Master. 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 Science Fiction & Fantasy Hall of Fame.
	Kij Johnson is a freelance author whose fantasy and SF novels and short stories have been nominated for all the major awards, and her stories have won the Sturgeon Award (where she now serves as juror), World Fantasy award, and Nebula award. Kij teaches the Center's Science Fiction & Fantasy Novel Writing Workshop.
	Larry Martin is Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. He was a discoverer of the American Cheetah, Miracinonyx; the sabertoothed cats, Barbourofelis and Xenosmilus; the earliest beaked bird, Confusciusornis; and is a leading authority on saber-toothed carnivores, fossil rodents, birds from the age of dinosaurs, and the fossil history of disease.
	Christopher McKitterick is an author, editor, and instructor at the University of Kansas, where he serves as CSSF Associate Director and teaches technical writing, fiction writing, and science fiction. His first novel, Transcendence, comes out in 2010.
	James Morrow's novels have won the World Fantasy Award (Only Begotten Daughter, 1991; and Towing Jehovah, 1995). His novels, This Is the Way the World Ends (1986), Only Begotten Daughter (1991), The Last Witchfinder (2006), and The Philosopher's Apprentice, (2008) were all finalists for the Campbell Award. Two of his short works, "The Deluge" and "City of Truth," won the Nebula Award.
	Eric T. Reynolds is the publisher/editor of Hadley Rille Books and writes about science, space, and archaeology. Eric is a member of SFWA and Broad Universe and a graduate of the Science Fiction Writers Workshop.
	Lane Robins was born in Miami, Florida, the daughter of two scientists, and grew up as the first human member of their menagerie. When it came time for a career, it was a hard choice between veterinarian and writer. It turned out to be far more fun to write about blood than to work with it. She received her BA in Creative Writing from Beloit College, and currently lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with an ever-fluctuating number of dogs and cats. She is the author of Maledicte, Kings & Assassins, and under the name Lyn Benedict, the Shadows Inquiries series.
	Noël Sturgeon is the Trustee of the Theodore Sturgeon Literary Trust and the fourth daughter of his seven children. With Paul Williams, she put together the 13-volume Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon. She is a Professor of Women’s Studies at Washington State University, and the author of many articles and two books: Ecofeminist Natures: Race, Gender, Feminist Theory and Political Action (1997) and Environmentalism and Popular Culture: Gender, Race, Sexuality and the Politics of the Natural (2009).
	Nathaniel Williams was the Center's second AboutSF.com Volunteer Coordinator and now serves on the Board of Directors. Before coming to KU for graduate study, Williams worked as a tech writer by day and musician by night, serving as the singer/songwriter for a roots rock band. He's also authored a number of speculative fiction short stories, most of which incorporate his love of music and American history.
	This year's Campbell Award and Sturgeon Award winners.
	More guests TBA!

Keep your eye out for talks and readings by and about these special guests! We will continue to update the guest list until shortly before the Conference begins.

Special Guests from 2004
George Zebrowski (Campbell Award 1999 winner and Sturgeon Award juror), Frederik Pohl (the only two-time Campbell winner, 1978 and 1985), Gregory Benford (Campbell 1981), Jack McDevitt (Campbell 2004), Brian Aldiss (1983 Campbell winner, SF&F Hall of Fame inductee, and First Fandom Hall of Fame inductee), and Hall of Fame inductee Harry Harrison. Aldiss and Harrison created the Campbell Award in 1972. Photo courtesy Karen Gunn.

Campbell Award, Sturgeon Award, and SFRA Pilgrim Award together in 2007
Photo courtesy Keith Stokes

Friday, July 16

• 1:00pm: "The Secrets of Successful Science Fiction" chat with our attending guest authors during the Workshop.
  Location: Dorm lobby (Workshop meeting space) on the KU campus. Though this is of special interest to our Workshop attendees, all Campbell Conference registrants are welcome to join.
   
• 6:00pm - 9:00pm: Awards Ceremony and Banquet for the John Campbell Award for best SF novel of the year and the Theodore Sturgeon Award for best short SF of the year. The Banquet costs extra, but all Conference attendees are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony (starts at about 7:50pm) that follows the meal; however, you must contact Lydia Ash (lash@ku.edu) in advance (by 4:00pm on Wednesday, July 7) so we can arrange for seating.
  Location: Events Room in Mrs. E's (aka Ekdahl Dining Commons), adjacent to Lewis Hall on the KU campus. Parking is free in the dorm lots.
   
• Evening: Reception immediately following Awards Ceremony.
  Location: TBA at Awards Ceremony.

Saturday, July 17

• 9:00am – 11:30am: Round-table discussion.
  Location: Kansas Room on the 6th Floor of the Kansas Union on the KU campus. Parking is free in the adjacent garage from Friday 5:00pm until Monday 7:00am.
  
• 10:15am – 12:30pm: Readings of Theodore Sturgeon short work.
  Location: Oread Books on the 2nd Floor of the Kansas Union. This event is free and open to the public. Scheduled readers:
  • Kij Johnson: A Saucer of Loneliness (35 minutes)
  • Sheila Finch: Affair With a Green Monkey (30 minutes)
  • Chris McKitterick: The Clinic (35 minutes)


• 11:30am – 12:45pm: Break for lunch. Click here for a good list of downtown restaurants.
   
• 12:45pm – 1:45pm: Autograph session.
  Location: Oread Books in the Kansas Union. This event is free and open to the public.

 
• 2:00pm - 5:00pm: Round-table discussion resumes.
  Location: Kansas Room in the Kansas Union.
   
• 1:30pm – 4:30pm: Readings of Theodore Sturgeon short work resumes.
  Location: Oread Books on the 2nd Floor of the Kansas Union. This event is free and open to the public. Scheduled readers:
  • James Gunn: Bianca’s Hands (20 minutes)
  • Samantha Bishop Simmons: The World Well Lost (50 minutes)
  • Nate Williams: The Professor’s Teddy Bear (25 minutes)
  • Paolo Bacigalupi: It Was Nothing, Really! (35 minutes)
  • James Morrow: The Man Who Lost the Sea (30 minutes)
  
  
• 8:00pm: Informal reception after a break for dinner.
  Location: Check your packet.

Readings

Karen Joy Fowler reading at the 2008 Campbell Conference

• All day on Saturday, Oread Books in the Kansas Union will host readings of short work by Theodore Sturgeon, presented by this year's attending authors. Noel Sturgeon organized this year's readings - thanks, Noel!

Sunday, July 18

• 9:00am – noon: Continuation of Saturday's discussions, plus "meet the authors" informal talk with our attending guests and award-winning authors. Some pastries and beverages provided.
  Location: Events Room in Mrs. E's (aka Ekdahl Dining Commons), adjacent to Lewis Hall on the KU campus. Parking is free in the dorm lots.
   

Campbell Conference round-table discussion, 2007
Photo courtesy Keith Stokes

To attend some or all of the Conference activities, please send a check made out to Center for the Study of Science Fiction (CSSF will do) to:

CSSF
c/o Lydia Ash
English Department
University of Kansas
Wescoe Hall
1445 Jayhawk Blvd, Room 3001
Lawrence Kansas 66045-7590

Feel free to drop us an email with any questions: Lydia Ash (lash@ku.edu) or Chris McKitterick (cmckit@ku.edu)

Our official dorm housing was Lewis Hall, a renovated residence located at the top of the hill. Most rooms in these dorms have a private bathroom as well as a sink and counter space for a microwave or other small kitchen equipment.

Dormitory rooms are available at the following rates:

• Single room: $78 (Friday and Saturday night). 
• Double room: $39 (Friday and Saturday night); if you want the double rate, you need to work out a roommate in advance, because the Center is charged per room, not per occupant, and we cannot choose roommates for you. 
• If you plan to arrive a day early or stay a day late, add $19.50 per night for a double room, $39 per night for a single room. Be sure to indicate on your registration form if you wish to check in earlier or check out a later. 

Participants must make reservations as soon as possible (absolute deadline of July 2) in order to secure a room through KU Housing. Please pay for your room in advance and make this check payable to CSSF (you may combine checks for CSSF).

Use this form to reserve a dorm room.

See this map of the University of Kansas to find your way to the dorm: http://www.ku.edu/~parking/ParkingMap.pdf

Check out VisitLawrence.com for local hotel information.

Meals are available in a variety of wonderful restaurants, and Lawrence offers at least one fine micro-brewery. Check out Lawrence.com for a list of just a few of the local eating establishments.

Campbell and Sturgeon winners from 2007
James Gunn, Campbell Award winner Ben Bova, and Sturgeon Award winner Robert Charles Wilson.
Photo courtesy Keith Stokes.

This year's Conference takes place in Lawrence, Kansas.

The shuttles most people use to get to and from the Kansas City International (MCI) airport to Lawrence are:

• KCI Express Shuttle offers pickup and delivery right to our dorm for only $5 more than the normal rate. Phone Reservations: (816)645-1815. After 8:00 PM CST (816)372-1556.
• KCI Airport Shuttle (also known as the "Roadrunner Shuttle"). Full information here (scroll to the bottom of the page for rates). Toll-free phone contact number: (800)747-2524 or call your travel agent.
  
• Ground Transportation, Inc, is a local Lawrence business. (888)467-3729 or (785)838-4500. See a schedule here.

Here's a cropped map of the University of Kansas (click the image to see it in full-screen size):
 

Here's a map showing where KU is located in Eastern Kansas:
 

University of Kansas map (in .pdf format):
http://www.ku.edu/visit/maps.shtml

Kansas Union map (in .pdf format):
http://www.union.ku.edu/forms/kansasuniondirect.pdf

Lawrence map (a bus-route map, but very useful, in .pdf format):
http://www.lawrencetransit.org/maps/ltspage2.pdf 

Google Maps (just input where you wish to go and it will provide the maps).

Use this form to register for the Conference and for a dorm room.

Lawrence in the Summer

For anyone who hasn't visited, Lawrence is wonderful, a lively small city in the Kaw River valley, filled with art, events and activities. The location of the University of Kansas, Lawrence is situated about 40 miles from Kansas City and 20 miles from Topeka. Summers can be hot, but classrooms and housing are air-conditioned.

Among its many amenities, the University of Kansas has a large science-fiction collection and good reference collections; museums of natural history and art; and sports, theater, and concerts. Lawrence has excellent restaurants and shopping and recreational opportunities. Kansas City is less than an hour away.

The nearest major airport is Kansas City International, about 55 miles from Lawrence. Transportation to Lawrence from Kansas City International can be arranged through one of several airport shuttle services. By car, Lawrence is at the intersection of U.S. 59 and I-70 (Kansas Turnpike). The west interchange is closer to the campus. Lawrence can also be reached by Kansas Highway 10.

Find out all about Lawrence - its history, stores, museums, observatories, and SFnal activities - here.

Contact us for any logistical help you might need in getting settled for your stay:

Chris McKitterick ( cmckit@ku.edu )

Click the links below to see reports about previous Campbell Conferences.

Photos from Past Conferences

Click the links below to see Keith Stokes' MidAmerican Fan photo-archives of previous years' activities.