Dear SFWAns --

I'm very pleased to tell you that the SFWA® Board of Directors has selected Robert Sheckley to be this year's Author Emeritus.

Bob Sheckley basically owned the 1950s science fiction short form with an extraordinary output of more than a hundred stories in that decade, ranging from "The Academy," "The Accountant," and "The Altar" to "A Ticket to Tranai" (still my favorite), "Trap," and "Watchbird." His stories appeared in the leading pulps -- If, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Galaxy -- as well as more mainstream magazines such as Esquire and Playboy. A veritable Thurber of science fiction -- I actually like Sheckley better -- our Author Emeritus's writing helped our genre grow up by giving it an irresistible sense of humor.

SFWA® began its Author Emeritus program in 1995 as a way of recognizing senior writers who have made significant contributions to our field. Previous recipients include Emil Petaja, Wilson "Bob" Tucker, Judith Merril, Nelson Slade Bond, Philip Klass (William Tenn), and Daniel Keyes. Robin Bailey, whose suggestion as then South-Central Regional Director initiated the program, is currently editing a SFWA Author Emeritus anthology.

Bob Sheckley and his wife will be joining SFWAns at our Nebula Awards® Banquet in Los Angeles on April 28.

I look forward to seeing many of you there.

All best wishes,
Paul Levinson
SFWA President

Updated February-14-2001