The European Science Fiction Society (ESFS) has released the following statement regarding the war in Ukraine:

War is against the very values on which the ESFS was founded. 50 years ago the ESFS was created during the Cold War to promote understanding between people of different racial, political and religious grounds.

We have received a number of suggestions for actions the society should take in relation to the Russia-Ukraine war. ...Read More

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) has voted on five revisions to the membership eligibility qualifications.

The Board of Directors stated:

As previously announced, the new membership eligibility requirements, across all membership categories (e.g., prose, game writing, comics, etc.), are intended to set Associate membership eligibility at $100 earned professionally and Full membership at $1000 earned professionally over a career, attested by sworn affidavit.

Additionally, with this change, ...Read More

Kij Johnson is joining the Ad Astra Center for Science Fiction & the Speculative Imagination as associate director. Created in November 2021 at the University of Kansas, the Center “brings writers, readers, scholars, educators, and fans of speculative fiction together to study and create work that changes the world.” The Center is headed by director Chris McKitterick.

For more information, see the official Ad Astra Center website.

While you are ...Read More

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America released a statement in support of the people of Ukraine:

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America stand with the people of Ukraine, all creators, and SFF fans around the world who oppose and abhor the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The organization wholly condemns this invasion and oppression which has tragically taken so much from the tireless and brave ...Read More

We posted previously about the PEN International statement in opposition to Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Other organizations have also added their voices to the chorus of opposition to the war.

The Horror Writers Association says:

The HWA condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We stand for democracy. We stand for truth. We stand for freedom of speech and freedom of the press. We support the people of Ukraine, including authors, ...Read More

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America is changing its name to The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. The Board of Directors says,

Last November, the SFWA Board of Directors voted to file a new name for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., to do business as: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.

Once the filing is complete, which we expect to be in ...Read More

Amidst a string of open letters signed by scientists, journalists, and others, over 1,000 authors and artists signed a PEN International open letter “calling for an immediate end to the bloodshed.” The letter was posted in English, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic, French and Spanish on the PEN International site. Signers include Margaret Atwood, Paul Auster, Anthony Doerr, Jonathan Franzen, Roxane Gay, Joyce Carol Oates, Salman Rushdie, Elif Shafak, Colm Tóibín, Olga ...Read More

The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America events team has announced that their 2022 Nebula Conference will be entirely virtual, with no in-person component. Their email explains that:

for the third year in a row, the Nebula Conference will be held entirely online! Why yes, you can attend from anywhere on Earth (or in the galaxy). The conference will be held May 19–22, 2022.

We had hoped to ...Read More

Michael Swanwick has announced his resignation as honorary president of the International Union of Writers (IUW). IUW is a writers’ organization with headquarters in Russia.

Swanwick’s resignation letter reads, in part,

It is with deep regret that I am compelled to submit my resignation as honorary president of the International Union of Writers, effective immediately. Given the Russian invasion of Ukraine I cannot, however indirectly, support Vladimir Putin, his government, ...Read More

The 2022 Walter Scott Prize 10-title longlist has been announced. The prize “celebrates outstanding historical novels published in the UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth.” Titles and authors of genre interest include:

• Blue Postcards, Douglas Bruton (Fairlight Books)
• Snow Country, Sebastian Faulks (Hutchinson Heinemann)
• The Ballad of Lord Edward and Citizen Small, Neil Jordan (Lilliput Press)
• News of the Dead, James Robertson (Hamish Hamilton)
• The Magician,

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) announced the recipients of the 2022 Givers Fund Grants for organizations which further SFWA’s mission: “To promote, advance, and support science fiction and fantasy writing in the United States and elsewhere, by educating and informing the general public and supporting and empowering science fiction and fantasy writers.”

Grant recipients can be “any 501(c)(3) or similar organization… with a program related to ...Read More