Site Map | Archives

Home › News › Local

Williamson, 98, was sci-fi author, teacher in Portales

Jack Williamson

Jack Williamson

related linksMore Local
related linksMOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

related linksTRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.
STORY TOOLS

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

PORTALES — Author Jack Williamson, a grand master of science fiction who wrote dozens of novels and short stories and taught at Eastern New Mexico University, is being remembered as a kind man and a pioneer.

Williamson died Friday at his home in Portales, said his niece, Betty Williamson, and officials at ENMU, where the 98-year-old author was well regarded for a writing career that spanned eight decades.

Williamson published steadily since writing his first story, "The Metal Man," in 1928 at the age of 20. In addition to teaching a course at Eastern New Mexico University each spring, he continued to write until close to his death. His last book, "The Stonehenge Gate," was published recently.

Betty Williamson said her uncle would often say "I have lived a wonderful life, and I will die with no regrets."

A memorial service was tentatively planned for Thursday at the university.

Patrice Caldwell, an associate professor of English who co-taught a class with Williamson, said the sci-fi writer was a "pioneer."

"Literally, he came to New Mexico in a covered wagon, and he was also a pioneer in the world of science fiction," she said. "He made the world of science fiction more than just a futurist world for a few."

Caldwell and ENMU librarian Gene Bundy remembered Williamson as a kind man.

"I think Jack is probably the gentlest person I've ever met, and he was just able to put people at ease," Bundy said.

Williamson and his family moved to eastern New Mexico when he was a boy; he talked about of the difficult life of ranching in his memoir. Rather than staying on the ranch, he went on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees from Eastern New Mexico University and then a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado.

Williamson was already a well-known author when he returned to ENMU and joined the faculty in 1960. He had received Hugo and Nebula awards for his work as well as lifetime achievement honors from the World Fantasy Convention and the Horror Writers of America.

He was named a grand master of science fiction in the mid-1970s by the Science Fiction Writers of America and his second-to-last novel, "Terraforming Earth," was singled out for awards in 2002.

According to his publisher, Williamson was the first to write about genetic engineering and antimatter. It was also more than 70 years ago that he first wrote of nuclear rockets colonizing the moon.

His works includes "The Humanoids" series and the novels "With Folded Hands" and "The Legion of Time."

Williamson supported scholarships for modern languages and science at ENMU, and the university dedicated a library in his honor. The Jack Williamson Science Fiction Library has one of the top sci-fi collections in the world with 17,000 volumes, including manuscripts, correspondence and photographs from the author's own collection.

The university also sponsors an annual lecture series named after Williamson that draws writers from across the country.

In addition to his niece, Williamson is survived by his brother, Jim Williamson of Roosevelt County; stepdaughter Adele Lovelorn of Portales and numerous step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche Slaton Harp Williamson; a brother, Joe Williamson; and a sister, Katie Littlefield.