Joint Campbell and SFRA Conference
and Awards Ceremony
July 10-13, 2008

Information Map
2008 Conference Planning
Special Guests for 2008
Teaching Science Fiction: A Portable Workshop
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

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, SFRA will hold their 2008 Conference Meeting as a joint event with the 2008 Campbell Conference on July 10 - 13, 2008 in Lawrence, Kansas. This year's Campbell Conference topic is "Teaching Science Fiction," and you can check the SFRA website for details about their topic and plans. SFRA has posted a call for papers. Be part of the event and give a presentation!

The annual SFRA meeting brings science fiction and fantasy writers, scholars, critics, enthusiasts, and a guest of honor together for four thought-provoking days. Whether as members or guests, attendees are encouraged to present papers, discuss common interests, and share knowledge and perspectives in a relaxed, informal environment. Last year's topic was, "Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Williamson, and 21st Century Science Fiction," and we held the event in Kansas City in conjunction with the Heinlein Centennial event and the SFRA Conference. We are now planning this year's joint Conference, so check back for updates. Note that you will need to present your Conference identification for most events.

This year we plan to offer a special seminar, "Teaching Science Fiction," led by distinguished SF teacher and authors, including James Van Pelt. Because we are collaborating with SFRA for this event, SF teachers will have a great opportunity to learn about methods and pedagogy by attending presentations and talking with other attendees.

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.

Winners of both awards receive trophies.

The Kansas Union Oread Bookstore also usually holds a signing for the attending authors on the Saturday of the Conference. See the full schedule of events for more information. We hope to for all Conference attendees to be able to pick up a copy of the Sturgeon Award-winning short story at the Bookstore during the signing - just present your badge.

Be sure to register early for savings!

We are honored this year to co-host a joint Conference with the Science Fiction Research Association. 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. Check back soon for updates about guests and events!

Note: This is a preliminary list that will grow and likely change as planning progresses. Guests expected for the 2008 Campbell Conference will likely include the following luminaries:

• Robin Wayne Bailey is a fantasy and science fiction author and recent president of SFWA. Mr. Bailey was a key player in the 1996 creation of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Hall of Fame, and is on the advisory board of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle. Mr. Bailey was the Master of Ceremonies for last year's Heinlein Centennial.
• Karen Joy Fowler has authored eight books and many shorter works, and was honored with the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Ms. Fowler, with Pat Murphy, created the James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award. She regularly teaches writing at workshops around the country.
• 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 SF Museum and Hall of Fame.
• Elizabeth Anne Hull is an author, politician, past president of the Science Fiction Research Association, and noted scholar in the field.
• Kij Johnson is an author of several fantasy and SF novels and short stories. She is a documentation manager for Real Networks, teaches writing and science fiction writing, is a Sturgeon Award juror (and 1994 winner), and teaches the Center's Science Fiction & Fantasy Novel Workshop.
• Paul Kincaid has written and edited six books on science fiction, a number of essays and short works of fiction, and regularly writes reviews for SF journals. Mr. Kincaid lives in England, where he administrates the Arthur C. Clarke Award.
• Christopher McKitterick is an author, editor, technical writer, and teacher at the University of Kansas, where he also serves as CSSF Associate Director and co-teaches the Writers Workshop in Science Fiction.
• 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. Mr. Pohl is a long-time friend of the Center, attending almost every Conference since its inception.
• Joan Slonczewski is an author and professor of Biology at Kenyon College. She has authored six novels, a biology textbook, and a number of short works of science fiction. Ms. Slonczewski won the John Campbell Memorial Award for her novel, A Door into Ocean.
• Maureen Kincaid Speller is a reviewer, author, editor, and former librarian, and writes for Writers Services.
• James Van Pelt is a writer and teaches English at the high-school and college levels. His publications include two story collections, a novel, many works of short fiction, as well as poetry and nonfiction. Mr. Van Pelt is this year's keynote speaker for the Teaching Science Fiction workshop.
• The year's Campbell and Sturgeon Award winners.
• More guests TBA!

Keep your eye out for papers, 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.

This year, the Campbell Conference offers a special five-hour course in teaching science fiction.

Membership includes a teaching certificate for those completing the program. This is based on one of the projects created by our AboutSF Coordinators; we plan to include a CD-ROM and other materials as part of the registration for those attending this teaching seminar (including those who register through the SFRA Conference). We are also working with the University of Kansas to see if we can offer credit for an added cost. Check back for updates.

Please note that this schedule will grow and change as we firm up plans with SFRA. What you see below is only a portion of the planned Campbell Conference schedule; the SFRA Conference also includes papers, presentations, and other events of interest to SF scholars and educators.

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

Thursday: Hotel Conference Rooms

• TBA. Attendees and guests will possibly give fiction readings and presentations, and we hope to continue our interview series this year.
• Afternoon: SFRA presentations.

Location: Holiday Inn "Holidome" in Lawrence, KS.

Friday: Hotel Conference Rooms

• All day: SFRA presentations.
• Afternoon: Possible fiction readings from our special guests.
• 7:00pm - 9:00pm: Awards Ceremony and cash bar for the John Campbell Award for best SF novel of the year, the Theodore Sturgeon Award for best short SF of the year, and the SFRA Awards (click for details).
• Evening: Reception to follow.

Location: Holiday Inn "Holidome" in Lawrence, KS.

We hope to also host a talk, "The Secrets of Writing Successful Science Fiction," with the Campbell and/or Sturgeon Award winners. This will likely take place at the Writers Workshop dormitory gathering space.

Saturday: University of Kansas Conference Rooms

• All day: SFRA presentations.
• 9:00am - noon: "Teaching Science Fiction: A Portable Workshop," first segment.
• Noon - 12:45pm: Catered lunch in the Kansas Union.
• 12:45pm - 1:45pm:  Autograph session in the Oread Book Store in the Kansas Union.
• 2:00pm - 4:00pm: "Teaching Science Fiction" seminar, second segment.
• 4:00pm: Visit to Spencer Research Library's special science-fiction collection.
• 5:30pm: Picnic on the Hill, in the park behind Spencer. Includes a variety of Kansas-style food as well as beer. In case of inclement weather, we will have catered dinner in the nearby Kansas Union.
• More TBA. Our special guests will likely give fiction readings, perhaps a presentation or two, and we hope to continue our interview series.
• Evening: Informal evening reception off-campus.

Transportation to the KU campus from hotel is provided. Please let us know in advance if you need transportation and if you are willing to help transport others.

Sunday: Varied Locations

• Morning: Meet our special guests in an informal gathering.
• Morning: Possible readings from our special guests.
• Morning: SFRA presentations and members' business meeting.

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

Due to the change in plans to host a joint event with SFRA for 2008, we will update our costs to attend. We are working hard to keep the cost of registration close to our typical price! If you wish to attend the 2008 activities, the costs will be announced soon and will be listed below. Make your reservation early and save! We implemented this sliding scale a few years ago due to losses incurred from late registrations and to reward early-bird registration. See the Housing section, below, for information about staying in our official dorm housing.

• If we receive your check by June 2, 2008, registration is $40 for all of the activities except the picnic and SFRA Conference (includes light lunch on Saturday).
• If we receive your check between June 3 and the start of the Conference, registration is $50.
• The Saturday evening BBQ picnic is $15 ($25 after June 27).
• The Awards ceremony is included with all registrations, plus the celebration to follow. This year, we will not have a formal banquet, so eat before we begin! A cash bar will be located in the ceremony room at the hotel.
• If you wish to attend the SFRA Conference plus the "Teaching Science Fiction" workshop on Saturday, register for the SFRA Conference. Campbell Conference activities are included at no additional cost.
• If you prefer to stay in the dorm rather than the convention hotel, use this form to reserve a dorm room.
  NOTE: You do not need to register separately for the Conference if you elect to attend the teaching seminar.

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 Chris McKitterick
English Department
University of Kansas
Wescoe Hall
1445 Jayhawk Blvd, Room 3116
Lawrence Kansas 66045-7590

Here is the list of items that include a cost:

• Campbell Conference membership and "Teaching Science Fiction" workshop for certification ($40 by June 2, $50 thereafter).
• SFRA Conference membership (fees vary; see their separate registration site).
• "Teaching Science Fiction" workshop for certification.
• "Teaching Science Fiction" workshop for credit.

You must be a registered SFRA Conference attendee to attend SFRA events held at the hotel.

You must register to attend the special "Teaching Science Fiction" workshop for credit or certification, but all other Campbell events are open to Campbell Conference and SFRA attendees, as well.

Meals are available in the hotel restaurant as well as across town and are not provided by the Conference; however, the Center provides some snacks and beverages for the Saturday event and the evening receptions on Friday and Saturday.

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

For 2008, we have secured the conference-capable Holiday Inn hotel in Lawrence for most of our joint event. Hotel reservations must be made separately. Contact Lawrence Holiday Inn Holidome, 200 McDonald Dr, Lawrence, KS 66044, 1-888-HOLIDAY (888-465-4329), local phone 785-841-7077. A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the Conference rate of $69/ night plus tax, effective until June 11, 2008. Please call in your reservations to receive the special rate. Be sure to mention the Center for the Studies of Science Fiction. View a Google map showing Lawrence Holiday Inn Holidome location.

We have also secured up to 20 dorm rooms on the nearby KU campus at a special conference rate. Costs at the hotel are a bit higher than the dorm housing, but attendees will be on-site for the SFRA Conference. We will announce room rates soon. The Center also plans to provide shuttle transportation across town for planned excursions to Saturday University of Kansas events and likely a planned visit to lovely downtown Lawrence. Use this form to reserve a dorm room.

Last year, our dorm housing was a renovated residence hall located at the top of the hill. Each room in this dorm has a private bedroom and bathroom as well as a central area with sink and counter space for a microwave or other small kitchen equipment. Dormitory rooms will also likely be available to a limited number of Conference guests at the rate of $18 per night double, $36 per night single; if you want the double rate, you will need to work out a roommate in advance, because the Center is charged per room, not per occupant. Conference participants must confirm reservations as soon as possible due to the increased numbers. Please pay for your room in advance by calculating the nightly rate times how many nights you will stay in the dorm, and make this check payable to CSSF (you may combine checks for CSSF).

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

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.

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

• 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. (a local Lawrence business) 888-467-3729 or 785-838-4500. See a schedule here.

University of Kansas map:
http://www.ku.edu/visit/maps.shtml

Kansas Union map:
http://www.jayhawks.com/union/images/KansasUnionMap2.pdf

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

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

Both an electronic form and a printable text form are available on line. To only reserve a dorm room, use this form.

Lawrence in the Summer

Lawrence, the location of the University of Kansas, is a pleasant college town of about 89,000 situated 40 miles from Kansas City and 20 miles from Topeka. Summers can be hot, but Conference rooms 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.

2007 Campbell Conference report

2006 Campbell Conference report

2005 Campbell Conference report

2004 Campbell Conference report

2003 Campbell Conference report

2002 Campbell Conference report

Photos from Past Conferences

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

2007 Campbell Conference photos

2006 Campbell Conference photos

2006 Campbell Conference photos (by Tracy Majkol)

2005 Campbell Conference photos

2004 Campbell Conference photos

2003 Campbell Conference photos

2002 Campbell Conference photos

2001 Campbell Conference photos

2000 Campbell Conference photos

1998 Campbell Conference photos

1997 Campbell Conference photos

1996 Campbell Conference photos