SFWA’s In Memoriam marks the loss of writers and other science fiction and fantasy creators by celebrating their literary legacies and their contributions to the publishing community. The person whose loss we are marking does not have to be a SFWA member. It is enough that they contributed to the world of SFF and leave behind people who wish to honor their life and work. Please contact publications@sfwa.org if you wish for us to add an entry for a recently lost creator to the list.
In Memoriam: Harlan Ellison
Grand Master Harlan Ellison (b.1934) died on June 28, 2018. Ellison began his professional career in 1956 with the publication of the short story “Glowworm” in Infinity Science Fiction. Prior to that time, he was active in science fiction fandom. During…
In Memoriam: Gardner Dozois
Gardner Dozois (b. 1947) died on May 27, 2018. Dozois won fifteen Hugo Awards for his editing and back-to-back Nebula Awards for his short stories “The Peacemaker” and “Morning Child.” He had a long career as an author and was one…
In Memoriam: Mary Rosenblum
Photo by Cat Sparks Mary Rosenblum (b.1952) was killed on March 11 when the small plane she was piloting crashed near Battle Ground, Washington. Rosenblum’s debut novel, The Drylands, received the Compton Crook Award and was…
In Memoriam: Kate Wilhelm
Kate Wilhelm (b.1928) died on March 8. Wilhelm was one of the founders of SFWA. Two years ago, SFWA named the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award in her honor. Wilhelm began publishing science fiction in 1956 with her short story “The Pint-Sized…
In Memoriam: Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) died on January 22. Le Guin was named a Damon Knight Grand Master by the SFWA in 2003. Le Guin’s wrote for all ages and her Earthsea cycle, beginning with The Wizard of Earthsea, introduced…
In Memoriam: Julian May
In Memoriam: Dr. Yoji Kondo (a.k.a Eric Kotani)
Dr. Yoji Kondo, known to science fiction readers as Eric Kotani, passed away yesterday at the age of 84. Yoji Kondo was an astrophysicist at NASA/GSFC, where he served as Director of the NASA International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite observatory,…
In Memoriam: ElizaBeth A. Gilligan (Lace)
ElizaBeth A. Gilligan (Lace), died in her sleep on the morning on October 9, 2017 after a battle with cancer. Gilligan published her first short story, Evolution,” in 1990 and began writing as a columnist for Midnight Zoo in 1991. Subsequent short stories appeared…
In Memoriam: Kit Reed
In Memoriam: Jerry Pournelle
In Memoriam: Brian Wilson Aldiss OBE
Brian Wilson Aldiss OBE (August 1925 – August 2017) was a SFWA Grand Master, writer and editor, best known for science fiction novels and short stories. Greatly influenced by science fiction pioneer H. G. Wells, Aldiss was the vice-president of the international H. G….
In Memoriam: John Dalmas
John Dalmas (b.1926 as John Robert Jones) died in June following a short bout of pneumonia. In 1969, when Dalmas was working for the US Forest Service, he published the novel, The Yngling, which was serialized in Analog and published in book form…
In Memoriam: William B. Sanders
William B. Sanders (1942-2017) aka, William Sundown, was a writer and editor of science fiction. His work frequently drew on his own Native American heritage, coupled with a dry humor and biting cynicism. His novels included alternate histories, Journey to…
In Memoriam: Susan Casper
Susan Casper (b.1947) died on February 24 following a long illness. A member of SFWA throughout her life, her first published story was “Spring-Fingered Jack,” which appeared in the Charles L. Grant anthology, Fears in 1983. Over the next twenty…
In Memoriam: Ed Bryant
Ed Bryant (b.August 27, 1945) died on February 10. Bryant attended the Clarion Writers Workshop in 1968 and published his first short story, “The Only Come in Dreams” in Adam Magazine in 1970. Bryant was nominated for his first SFWA…