Williamson Lectureship returns Thursday

Lectures, readings and workshops about science fiction will highlight Eastern New Mexico University’s 45th annual Jack Williamson Lectureship  Thursday through Saturday on the ENMU campus.

The event is named for Jack Williamson, a prolific science fiction author and ENMU faculty member who died in 2006 at the age of 98.

The theme for his year’s lectureship is “Speculative Fiction: Never the Same Story Twice.”

The guest of honor will be Walter Jon Williams, author of “Hardwired,” a book considered a pioneer of the cyberpunk movement in science fiction.

Williams will deliver a talk with the same title as the lectureship’s theme at a luncheon scheduled for noon Friday in the ballroom of the Campus Union Building.

Reservations for the luncheon were due Friday, and there is a $10 charge.

Connie Willis, author of “The Doomsday Book” and other science fiction and fantasy works, will act as master of ceremonies

Willis will also host a creative writing workshop on Saturday morning.

Other events include panel discussions, readings and even a gaming session.

Here are the events:

Thursday

• A retrospective with Williams, 5:30 p.m. in the University Theater Center Studio Theater.

Friday

• A guest of honor reading featuring Williams, 10 a.m. at the Golden Student Success Center Presentation Area

• The lectureship luncheon, noon

• Gaming session, 1:30 p.m. in the Golden Student Success Center Presentation Area.

• Panel Discussions at 3 p.m. , 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., Rooms 216 and 327 of the Golden Student Success Center. Subjects and panels to be determined.

Saturday

• Creative Writing Workshop with Connie Willis, 10 a.m. in Room 111 of the Jack Williamson Liberal Arts building.