Dear SFWAns --
        Two important announcements:
        1. The Board of Directors has created the Gordon R. Dickson SFWA® Grant-in-Aid, to be given on an occasional basis to individuals in need, who have a connection to the science fiction and fantasy field. The first recipient is Vanessa Felice (sister of Jenna Felice), who will be receiving a grant of $1000 to help in her education.
        2. A Bradbury Award will be presented at SFWA's Nebula® Banquet in Los Angeles on April 28. As many of you know, the Bradbury Award was initiated by President Ben Bova in 1992, as a special President's award, and given that year to James Cameron for his work on Terminator 2. I gave the Bradbury Award again in 1999 to Joe Straczynski, for his work on Babylon 5. I wanted in this science-fictional year of 2001 to honor a dramatic medium whose important contribution to science fiction and narrative culture is often overlooked. 2000X - Tales of the Next Millennia, the National Public Radio series which beginning in April 2000 adapted more than 40 classic science fiction stories into 26 hour-long dramatic episodes, struck me as the perfect recipient. Works adapted included Ray Bradbury's "Pillar of Fire," Ursula K. LeGuin's "Vaster ThanEmpires and More Slow," Robert Heinlein's "By His Bootstraps," Octavia Butler's "Bloodchild," Kurt Vonnegut's "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," Robert Sheckley's "The Watchbird," and Harlan Ellison's "'Repent Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman". Richard Dreyfuss and Robin Williams were among the stellar cast of performers. The radio series was produced by the Peabody, Audie and Grammy award-winning team of "The Hollywood Theater of the Ear." The two people most responsible for the series are audio dramatist Yuri Rasovsky, who personally produced and directed 2000X, and author Harlan Ellison, who hosted every show and was creative consultant. Harlan will accept Bradburies for Rasovsky and himself at our Nebula banquet on April 28.
        And here's the kicker: SFWA® will be especially honored that evening by the presenter of the Bradbury award: Ray Bradbury, himself.
        I hope as many of you as possible are able to join us in Los Angeles for what promises to be a special night indeed.

With all best wishes,
Paul Levinson, PhD
SFWA® President

Posted March 26, 2001