Paul Osborne Williams passed away from an aortic dissection on June 2, 2009. Williams was a retired English professor with a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, and former president of the Haiku Society of America.

Writing as Paul O. Williams, he published nine science fiction novels, most notably the seven novel series Pelbar Cycle set in post apocalyptic Illinois. In 1983 he won the the John W. Campbell Award for best new Science Fiction author of the year. His most recent novel was The Man from Far Cloud in 2004.

The Pelbar books were reissued by the University of Nebraska Press in 2003 and 2004.

He is survived by his wife, KerryLynn Blau Williams.