Jack Williamson Lectureship kicks off April 6

PORTALES — Swords, sorcery and S.M. Stirling will infiltrate Eastern New Mexico University on April 6 as part of the 42nd annual Jack Williamson Lectureship.

Don't know S.M. Stirling? Allow Barbara Senn, lectureship committee member and long-time attendee, to introduce the event's guest of honor.

"One of his big series that he's written is called 'The Emberverse.' What happens in the series is a change — he calls it 'the change,' which is where the title for (this year's) lectureship comes from," she said. "It ends most kinds of modern technology, and so the world goes on without electricity and gunpowder and so-forth."

What happens from there is — you guessed it — a further series of changes in the aftermath of this cataclysmic global event. This type of content makes Stirling just the man to headline the 2018 lectureship, according to Senn.

"There's lots of changes happening right now in everything, and so this is a different kind of looking at a change of what could have been or what could be," she said.

Stirling will kick off the festivities with a reading at 10 a.m. in the Zia Room of the Campus Union Building and will make comments at a luncheon in the CUB at 11:45 a.m.

A tabletop gaming session will then ensue from 1-3 p.m. in room 106 of the Jack Williamson Liberal Arts Building, so don't be surprised to see a group of science fiction writers collectively "nerding out," said Cris Watson, assistant to organizer Patrice Caldwell.

"We did have some of our guests request it, so we're going to try it," she said.

Many of those guests, including long-time favorites Connie Willis and Walter Jon Williams, along with newer faces including Lauren Teffeau, will convene in JWLA rooms 106 and 112 for a series of panel discussions from 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Watson said topics are still being decided, but confirmed so far are discussions about the recent solar eclipse and writing alternative history stories.

The panels, along with all of the events at the lectureship, are perfect for locals with the slightest interest in science fiction and fantasy, according to Senn.

"It's an opportunity we don't often get to meet and hear from and talk to people who are working in the field — very successful, and some of them are world-renowned. Some are a little newer in their career, and it's something that those of us in this area don't get a chance to do very often," she said.

All events at the lectureship are free with the exception of the luncheon. Admission is $10, and advance reservations must be made by contacting ENMU Planning and Analysis at:

[email protected]