Decades-old tradition continues

PORTALES — A more than 40-year-old tradition continues for Eastern New Mexico University as residents and university faculty pay tribute to the world of science fiction this upcoming weekend.

The 41st annual Jack Williamson Lectureship will be held Friday on campus with guests of honor Melinda Snodgrass and Michael Cassutt, as well as many other New Mexico science fiction writers in attendance.

Michael Cassutt produced and/or wrote for The Outer Limits; Eerie, Indiana; Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Twilight Zone, while Melinda Snodgrass has written and produced scripts for television shows Odyssey 5, The Outer Limits, SeaQuest DSV and Reasonable Doubts, according to an ENMU press release.

The Lectureship’s theme this year is “Re-imagining the Superhero: Celebrating Thirty Years of Wild Cards.”

Discussion panels with science fiction writers Steven Gould, Darynda Jones, and Walter Jon Williams, as well as Snodgrass, Cassutt and other writers to discuss science fiction and the craft of writing will begin at 3 p.m. Friday.

“The Lectureship celebrates a New Mexico legacy, Jack Williamson, and the genre he loved. His memory still attracts top-notch writers and dedicated friends from around the state, on campus and from the community,” said event coordinator and ENMU faculty member Patrice Caldwell. “Jack lived in his imagination, and he was a fan of superheroes. I think he would have loved this year’s theme. I look forward to great conversations about a fascinating genre and great stories about the man who made this lectureship possible.”

Jack Williamson’s niece, Betty Williamson, said her family has always joked that Jack had three families throughout his life.

“He had his biological family; he had his ENMU family, and he had his science fiction family,” she said. “That was one of the best legacies he left to us was his connection to the science fiction world, and we get to renew that each year at the lectureship. My favorite part of it is having the opportunity to see these people at it every year.”

And of course, she loves the workshops, adding that this year, even those not so involved with sci-fi might find some of this year’s panels fun, such as the presentation on solar eclipses to be given by Courtney Willis.

“We always look forward to it ... It’s just a really great gathering of really fun, witty, smart people,” said Williamson.

All of the events for the lectureship are free other than the luncheon, according to coordinators. Monday is the last day to register for the luncheon. Tickets are $10. Call 575-562-2315 to register.