Sci-fi writer receives lifetime teaching award

LAWRENCE — James Gunn, University of Kansas professor emeritus and award-winning science fiction author, recently received a lifetime teaching award from the Writing the Rockies writers conference of Western Colorado State University.

Conference organizers noted the many students who have gone on from Gunn’s classes to careers in writing. Those students include Pat Cadigan, Brad Denton and John Kessel, all award-winning science fiction authors.

Gunn is the creator of KU’s science fiction classes and programs, including the Center for the Study of Science Fiction and the summer writing workshops and intensive teaching institutes. He has been presented the Grand Master Award for his fiction writing by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and been inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Museum. He also received a Hugo Award from the World Science Fiction Convention for his book about Isaac Asimov, among other honors.

He has published more than 100 stories and 45 books, including 17 novels and six collections. Most recently, Gunn completed the third volume of his first science-fiction trilogy. “Transcendental” was published in 2013, “Transgalactic” in March, and “Transformation” will be published in spring 2017.