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This is part of an archived version of James Gunn's original Center for the Study of Science Fiction website, designed, built, and managed by McKitterick. The Center was run by Gunn, Johnson, and McKitterick 1992-2021, then taken over by the KU English department in 2022. CSSF history overview 1969 - 2022 All content (except where otherwise noted) copyright Christopher McKitterick, 1992-2022.
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Chris McKitterick, Kij Johnson, and James Gunn of
Gunn's original
Center for the Study of Science Fiction (1982-2021,
the first of its kind in the world) managed the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award
and Sturgeon Collection until the Center was taken over. |
Theodore Sturgeon's Papers Donated
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The definitive collection of late author Theodore Sturgeon's books, papers, manuscripts, and correspondence have been placed at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library at KU, home to the Centers for the Study of Science Fiction. The Sturgeon Award for the best short science fiction is presented annually, often at the Campbell Conference. This acquisition greatly enhances an already-strong KU Libraries Special Science Fiction Collection of papers, manuscripts, and other important research materials available for researchers working in science fiction. The collection (catalogued here) includes:
Best known for transforming the pulp magazine short story into an art form, Sturgeon's writing strongly influenced 60s counterculture, including the Grateful Dead and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. His lyrical and varied style represented a turn from the hard science fiction of the 1940s to the socially conscious topics more common in contemporary science fiction, including sexuality, gender, pacifism, and the individual cost of social conventions. His short stories ranged from science fiction and fantasy to comedy and horror. Sturgeon was also known for coining Sturgeon's Law, which states that "90% of everything is crud," and the credo, "Ask the next question." During his career, Sturgeon (1918-85) won virtually every major award in his field, including the Hugo, the Nebula, the World Fantasy Achievement Award, and the Gaylactica/Spectrum Award for his groundbreaking story about homosexuality, "The World Well Lost." He also was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. The Sturgeon collection, valued at $600,000, had been privately held in two parts: the Woodstock collection, from his widow, Marion, and the Sturgeon Literary Trust collection managed by daughter Noël. Additional support came from KUs Center for the Study of Science Fiction, English department, and Spencer Research Library.
Beth Whittaker, head of Spencer Research Library, said, "This extraordinary gift ensures that Sturgeon's profound literary and cultural legacy will be available to new generations of scholars, writers and readers." Keith Stokes, well-known fan and photographer, posted a wonderful photo-essay of the event here. To listen to the NPR interview with James Gunn, Noël Sturgeon, and Elspeth Healey about the acquisition, see the AboutSF audio archive here. For more information about Sturgeon, stories, readings of his work, and more, see the Sturgeon Literary Trust website. You can also follow Sturgeon news on Facebook. In the news:
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A
treasure trove of private letters, manuscripts and other papers by one of the
most influential writers of the Golden Age of science fiction who is credited
with inventing with Leonard Nimoy the live long and prosper Vulcan phrase for
Star Trek has been donated to the University of Kansas.
In making the donation, Noël Sturgeon credits the work of CSSF Founder James Gunn.