Early science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum was recently awarded the Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award for 2008. Weinbaum, whose science fiction career spanned less than two years in the 1930s, became a sensation in 1934, when his first story, “A Martian Odyssey,” was published. He was widely declared the greatest living science fiction writer. One of the most revolutionary aspects of his writing was that Tweel, a most likable Martian with a tendency to leap up in the air, was the first “alien” character to be portrayed sympathetically and as if he had his own life, rather than simply being a plot device for the story.

The Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award judges — Martin H. Greenberg, Barry N. Malzberg, Robert J. Sawyer, and Mike Resnick — could choose any fantasy or science fiction author whom they thought deserved rediscovery. The award was given at the July 2008 Readercon. Previous winners of the award include:

• Olaf Stapledon, 2001
• R.A. Lafferty, 2002
• Edgar Pangborn, 2003
• Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore, 2004
• Leigh Brackett, 2005
• William Hope Hodgson, 2006
• Daniel F. Galouye, 2007

For more about Weinbaum, visit http://www.cordwainer-smith.com/stanleygweinbaum.htm This page is part of a site devoted to the work of science fiction author Cordwainer Smith. Information about previous winners of the award is also available.

Related posts:

1. Nvolve Limited Wins Prestigious Innovation Award at Annual Enterprise Awards Nvolve Limited scoops the Innovation Award at the Annual Enterprise...
2. Nvolve Limited nominated for Prestigious Innovation Award at Enterprise Awards Nvolve specializes in providing training and compliance management to organisations,...