Williamson, Jack

[Signed] Teaching SF

Portales, New Mex. Jack Williamson, 1972. [Signed] Teaching SF, Jack Williamson,
Portales, New Mexico, Jack Williamson, 1972

11” x 8.5” stapled packet of mimeographed leaves, 55 pp. SIGNED on cover “For Douglas Menville / with warmest good wishes / Jack Williamson / 1973” In original mailing envelope, hand addressed to Menville at an address in Los Angeles with a return stamp of Jack Williamson, Portales, New Mexico. Very good or better booklet, faint small crease to cover and just a touch toned at edges, envelope lightly toned and worn, very good condition.

John Stewart “Jack” Williamson (1908-2006) has been called the “Dean of Science Fiction.” He sold his first story at age 20: "The Metal Man" was published in the December 1928 issue of “Amazing Stories”, and he remained a regular contributor to the pulp magazines throughout his life. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a weather forecaster, and from 1954 into the 1990s, Williamson and Frederik Pohl wrote more than a dozen science fiction novels together. He taught English at (and donated his sizable collection to) his alma mater, Eastern New Mexico University; the “Jack Williamson Science Fiction Library” has been described as one of the top science fiction collections in the world. He coined the word “terraforming” in a story published in 1942 and is also credited with one of the first uses of the term “genetic engineering.” Williamson won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards during the last decade of his life.

The present work is the third edition of an important and oft re-printed survey into science fiction education. As the author opined, the “survey was begun to help improve the image of science fiction -- often scorned, I think, because it is a literature of ideas in a world where intelligence is suspect.” It includes a reprint of an article based on Williamson’s original report that appeared in “Publisher’s Weekly” in 1971, a syllabus from a course taught by Gary Goshgarian at Northeastern University, and detailed, thorough lists of courses in science fiction taught at high schools and colleges around the country. Typical required reading lists were also included, as was a supplement of academic sci-fi offerings compiled by Roger D. Sween.

This copy is warmly inscribed on its front to Douglas Menville. Menville (born 1935) is a widely respected science fiction author and editor who has published fourteen books. From 1970 to 1971 he was the editor of “Forgotten Fantasy” magazine and in 1977 he penned an episode called “The World Ship” for the animated sci-fi series “Space Sentinels.” Some of his other titles include “A Historical and Critical Survey of the Science Fiction Film” (1975) and “The Work of Ross Rocklynne: An Annotated Bibliography & Guide” (1989). With R. Reginald, a frequent collaborator, Menville edited sci-fi and fantasy anthologies including “Ancestral Voices: An Anthology of Early Science Fiction” (1975), “Dreamers of Dreams: An Anthology of Fantasy” (1978), and “Worlds of Never: Three Fantastic Novels” (1978).

A seminal work in the history of academic interest in science fiction. The work had been previously published in 1971 as “Science Fiction Comes To College” and revised that year and the next as “Science Fiction In College.” This version, published by the author in 1972, had an asking price of one dollar. OCLC shows 11 holdings. Item #1653

Price: $125.00