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In Memoriam: Kathleen Ann Goonan

Kathleen Ann Goonan (b.1952) died on January 28 after a lengthy battle with myelofibrosis.  Goonan began publishing science fiction with the stories “The Snail Man” and “Wanting to Talk to You” in 1991. Her first novel, Queen Jazz City, kicked off her four volume Nanotech series, which included the Nebula nominated novels Crescent City Rhapsody and Light Music.  In […]

The 2021 Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award Recipients: Ben Bova, Rachel Caine, and Jarvis Sheffield

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA, Inc.) is pleased to announce that the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award will be presented to Jarvis Sheffield and posthumously to Ben Bova and Rachel Caine at the 56th Annual SFWA Nebula Awards®. The Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award is given by SFWA for distinguished contributions to the […]

“Cities That Think Like Planets”: On Writing Sustainable Cities in Science Fiction

by Arkady Martine Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in The SFWA Bulletin #215. On the dining-room table which has become my desk during the endless time-is-a-flat-circle of this pandemic, is a book called Cities that Think Like Planets, by Marina Alberti. It has a subtitle – complexity, resilience, and innovation in hybrid ecosystems – […]

In Memoriam: Storm Constantine

Storm Constantine (b.1956) died on January 14 following a long illness. Constantine published her first novel, The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit, in 1987, kicking off her long-running Wraeththu series, which is comprised of multiple trilogies as well as several short stories. She later published books in the Corinna Trogarden series, the Grigori Trilogy, and […]

Legal Affairs Committee Alert: CASE Act on Copyright Small Claims Becomes Law

Against all expectations, the CASE Act (Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2019) has become law, after being folded into the omnibus spending and COVID-19 relief bill at the end of 2020. This new law creates a small-claims tribunal within the U.S. Copyright Office to settle claims of copyright infringement outside of the federal […]

Reasons to Publicize Your Award-Eligible Works

by Rosemary Claire Smith ‘Tis the season when many writers blog and tweet lists of what they’ve published this year in hopes of generating reader interest and consideration for awards. Full stop. Does the prospect of preparing a social media post touting your published work cause you to twitch and shudder? You aren’t alone. Nobody […]

Diversity Plus: Diverse Story Forms and Themes, Not Just Diverse Faces

by Henry Lien (This article originally appeared in The SFWA Bulletin #215.)   Something I’ve noticed repeatedly in my author appearances, conference panels, and lectures is that discussions about representation and diversity in the arts today focus on the importance of diverse characters and creators. As crucial as that is, diversity can and should also include […]

In Memoriam: James Gunn

SFWA Grand Master James E. Gunn (b.1923) died on December 23, 2020.  Gunn served as SFWA President from 1971-1972. Gunn began publishing science fiction in 1949 with the short story “Communications”, using the byline Edwin James. Over the years, he built up parallel careers as both a science fiction author and an academic. His first novel, […]