CHESTERTON, MD - February 6, 2003 - Members of SFWA, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., with an international membership of over 1200 professional authors, have released the following statement expressing condolences over the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and also offering their support for the continued exploration of space:

On the morning of Saturday, February 1st, 2003, seven astronauts aboard the NASA space shuttle Columbia lost their lives as they were returning to Earth from a sixteen-day mission dedicated to the quest for scientific knowledge. They represented not only the United States of America, Israel, and India, but indeed all of humanity -- our greatest dreams, our most noble aspirations.

The loss of the Columbia and its crew touches the lives of not just Americans, Israelis, and Indians, but in fact everyone on Earth. The exploration of space is one of the human race's oldest ambitions, one that has been reflected in our literature long before we developed the technological capability to venture forth into the cosmos. We must not allow this tragedy to bring an end to this magnificent journey, but instead let their courageous example lead us upward and outward.

We the undersigned, members of the professional community of science fiction and fantasy writers, express our most heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of the crew of the Columbia, and our support to the men and women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the many contributing organizations worldwide, for their continuing efforts to establish humankind as a spacefaring people.

(Signed) The President and the Board of Directors of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., and the following authors:

Karen Jordan Allen Kevin J. Anderson C. Dean Andersson Dr. Arlan Andrews, Sr. Michael Armstrong Dr. Catherine Asaro Constance Ash Chris Atack A.J. Austin James A. Bailey Robin Wayne Bailey Alan R. Barclay Lisa Barnett William Barton Dr. M. A. Bartter Gerard M. Bauer Dr. David R. Beaucage Michael P. Belfiore Carol Berg Dr Russell Blackford Mark L. Blackman Jayme Lynn Blaschke Darlene D. Bolesny Terry Boren Michael Scott Bricker Morgan S. Brilliant Dr. David Brin Kristen Britain Dr. C. Dale Brittain Carroll Brown Charles N. Brown Warren Brown Charlene Brusso Tobias S. Buckell John C. Bunnell Stephen L. Burns Michael A. Burstein Brian Burt Dr. Andrew L. Burt Jack Byrne Michael Capobianco Steve Carper Jeffrey A. Carver Amy Sterling Casil Adam-Troy Castro Frank Catalano Mary Catelli Richard Chwedyk James Clark Deborah Coates Yvonne Coats Myke Cole Dr. Graham P. Collins Ron Collins Brenda Cooper Arthur Byron Cover Lydia Marano Cover Joan Cox Walter F. Cuirle Julie E. Czerneda Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury     Kate Daniel Kristine L. Danowski Ellen Datlow Russell Davis Keith R.A. DeCandido Christopher DeFilippis A.M. Dellamonica Paul Dellinger Gene DeWeese William C. Dietz Larry Dixon Cory Doctorow James S. Dorr Carole Nelson Douglas Debra Doyle, Ph.D. Dave Duncan Linda J. Dunn Tom Dupree Doranna Durgin Marianne J. Dyson Dr. Thomas A. Easton Scott Edelman Suzette Haden Elgin Dr. Alan C. Elms Timons Esaias Raymond E. Feist Mark Fewell Ellen Levy Finch Sheila Finch Mr. jan howard finder Charles Coleman Finlay James W. Fiscus Sean P. Fodera Jeffrey Ford Mrs. Robert L. Forward Alan Dean Foster Eugie Foster Dr. Jane Frank Carl Frederick Esther Friesner Kurt R. A. Giambastiani ElizaBeth Gilligan Laura Anne Gilman Robert Glaub Owl Goingback Kathleen Ann Goonan Adrienne Gormley Phyllis Gotlieb Jean Graham Joseph Green Ed Greenwood Anne Lesley Groell Eileen Gunn James Gunn (Prof.) Joe W. Haldeman Marty Halpern Nancy C. Hanger Jon Michael Hansen Thea Hardy David M. Harris James A. Hartley Jed Hartman Rachel R. Hartman Peter J. Heck James A. Hetley Carol Hightshoe Jim C. Hines M. C. A. Hogarth Richard R. Horton Dean Ing Steve Jackson Rivka Jacobs Roby James Kyle David Jelle Jane Jewell James B. Johnson Michael Chesley Johnson John E. Johnston III Mary McNulty Jones Michael M Jones Ann Miller Jordan Bonita Kale James Patrick Kelly John Kennedy Daniel G. Keohane Daniel Keyes Larry Oliver Keyser Gail Kimberly Rosemary Kirstein Mindy L. Klasky Richard A. Knaak Dr. Yoji Kondo Jeffery D. Kooistra Barbara Krasnoff Aimee Kratts Susan J. Kroupa Tina Kuzminski Mercedes Lackey Jay Lake Alexis Glynn Latner Katherine Lawrence Mary Soon Lee Sharon Lee Yoon Ha Lee Stephen Leigh Edward M. Lerner Fred Lerner, D.L.S. Dr. Paul Levinson Michael Libling Jacqueline Lichtenberg Karawynn Long Dave Luckett Angus MacDonald James D. Macdonald P. Rebecca Maines Derwin Mak, C.A., C.M.A., O.St.J. Louise Marley Paul E. Martens Michael A. Martin Lee Martindale Dr. Joseph P. Martino Christy Marx Wil McCarthy Lyn McConchie Kelly McCullough John McDaid Jack McDevitt Dr. Thomas R. McDonough Vonda N. McIntyre Dennis L. McKiernan Victoria D. McManus Henry Melton Dr. Robert A. Metzger Cyn Mason & David C. Meyer Melisa Michaels Martha Millard Steve Miller C. J. Mills Catherine Mintz Syne Mitchell Laura J. Mixon Rebecca Moesta Dr. Mia Molvray Elizabeth Moon Nancy Jane Moore Roger E. Moore Lyda Morehouse Mike Moscoe Derryl Murphy Joe Murphy Paula Helm Murray Vera Nazarian Gerald D. Nordley, Major, USAF(Ret.) Kevin O'Donnell, Jr. Joy Oestreicher Mary K. Osmanski Richard Parks Teresa Patterson Dr. Barbara Paul Hayford Peirce James Van Pelt Michaelene Pendleton Dr. C. E. Petit Catherine M. Petrini Brian Plante Nick Pollotta steven popkes Tim Pratt John W. Randal Alis A. Rasmussen Michael Reaves Jenn Reese Laura Resnick Mike Resnick Mark Rich Carrie Richerson Dr. Robin Roberts Alan Rodgers Robert E. Rogoff Deane Louis Romano Selina A. Rosen Mary Rosenblum Chuck Rothman Richard Paul Russo Don Sakers D. F. Sanders Pamela Sargent Robert J. Sawyer  Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen Melissa Scott Mark Shainblum Sharon Shinn Gary W. Shockley EJ Shumak William Shunn Dr. Susan Shwartz Steven H Silver Robert Silverberg Lisa Silverthorne Janni Lee Simner Kathryn A. Sinclair Bradley H. Sinor Dave Smeds Douglas Smith Kristine Smith Sherwood Smith Caro Soles John (Bud) Sparhawk Justin Stanchfield Allen M. Steele Allison Stein T. W. 'Ted' Stetson James Stevens-Arce Pras Stillman James Stoddard Keith W. Stokes Ian Randal Strock Charlie Stross David Lee Summers Michael Swanwick Dr. Judith Tarr Michael Thomas J. Lincoln Thorner Mark W. Tiedemann Lois Tilton Shane Tourtellotte Karen Traviss David A. Truesdale Dr. John S. Tumlin Diane Turnshek Dr. Harry Turtledove Laura Frankos Turtledove Meg Turville-Heitz Laura J. Underwood Rajnar Vajra Carrie Vaughn Joan Marie Verba Dr. Elisabeth Vonarburg Bud Webster Catherine Wells K.D. Wentworth Brook West Jake West Julia West Dr. Ken Wharton Leslie What Lori Ann White Connie Wilkins Dr. Liz Williams Sean Williams Sheila Williams Debra Wiskur Dr. Don Wismer Paul Witcover Dave Wixon E.H. Wong John C. Wright, esq. William F. Wu Jane Yolen Pat York

 

Members of the public may add their support by visiting http://www.nyx.net/columbia

Posted February 7, 2003