James E. Gunn, 1923-2021
February 13, 2021 10:45 AM Subscribe
Hugo-award-winning science fiction writer, anthologist, and scholar dies in Kansas. Gunn wrote short stories and novels, including The Listeners (1972) and The Immortals (1962) (turned into a tv series, 1970-1).
Gunn also wrote nonfiction, including Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction (1982), which won a Hugo. He edited many anthologies, including the six-volume Road to Science Fiction (1979-1998).
He also established the Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas, where he was a professor.
Gunn also wrote nonfiction, including Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction (1982), which won a Hugo. He edited many anthologies, including the six-volume Road to Science Fiction (1979-1998).
He also established the Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas, where he was a professor.
In the mists of antiquity, I enrolled in Gunn's Introduction to Science Fiction course at KU. I saw the reading list—six or seven (eight?) fat, dense SF novels in the vein of Dune—and dropped the course, afraid that I wouldn't be able to complete the reading assignments, let alone the rest of the class work. My loss, no doubt.
posted by Flexagon at 11:19 AM on February 13, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by Flexagon at 11:19 AM on February 13, 2021 [5 favorites]
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posted by limeonaire at 11:39 AM on February 13, 2021
posted by limeonaire at 11:39 AM on February 13, 2021
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posted by Don.Kinsayder at 11:41 AM on February 13, 2021
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 11:41 AM on February 13, 2021
He edited many anthologies, including the six-volume Road to Science Fiction (1979-1998).
I found the first volume of this in a used book store for like four bucks and it was one of the best thrift finds of my life. It goes for stupid amounts online.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:21 PM on February 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
I found the first volume of this in a used book store for like four bucks and it was one of the best thrift finds of my life. It goes for stupid amounts online.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:21 PM on February 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
I met Dr. Gunn briefly when I was in high school. One of my teachers set up an appointment with him for me. He was very kind to a teenage wannabe science-fiction writer.
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posted by bryon at 9:41 PM on February 13, 2021 [3 favorites]
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posted by bryon at 9:41 PM on February 13, 2021 [3 favorites]
His Alternate Histories was one of the foundational texts for my science fiction love, one of that stream of seventies histories of the genre.
posted by MartinWisse at 1:45 PM on February 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by MartinWisse at 1:45 PM on February 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by clew at 11:17 AM on February 13, 2021