Jack Williamson

Jack Williamson, born John Stewart Williamson on April 29, 1908, in the Texas Panhandle, was a foundational American science fiction writer often cited as one of the genre's "Deans." He passed away on November 10, 2006, at age 98. Williamson entered the field in the late 1920s, selling his first story to *Amazing Stories* while still a student. He wrote under the pseudonyms Will Stewart and Nils O. Sonderlund early in his career. Williamson is credited with one of the earliest uses of the term "genetic engineering" in fiction. His most famous creation is the *Legion of Space* series, which he developed across several decades and which remains his signature work. He also wrote the comic strip *Beyond Mars*, which ran in the *New York Sunday News* from 1952 to 1955. Williamson collaborated extensively with fellow writer Frederik Pohl on novels such as *The Reefs of Space* and *Starchild*. His later life saw him earn a Ph.D. in English and teach at Eastern New Mexico University, where he influenced younger writers. Williamson received multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards, and in 1976 was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. His legacy endures as a bridge between the pulp era and modern science fiction.