This is the second part of the interview John Tibbetts conducted with Kim Stanley Robinson.

Episode 020 of the AboutSF podcast is a recording of an interview John C. Tibbetts conducted with science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson. If you have not been following the podcasts, John Tibbetts, associate professor in the department of Film and Media Studies at the University of Kansas, provided donations of audio interviews with luminaries in the fields of Science Fiction and Fantasy, including Ray Bradbury, Frederick Pohl and Stephen King, among others, to the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction in Lawrence, KS. The interviews, gathered during the course of a lifetime of reading, collecting, and writing about Science Fiction, include conversations with Frederick Pohl, Poul Anderson, Jack Williamson, L. Sprague De Camp, and many more.

Kim Stanley Robinson is best-known as the author of the Mars trilogy, featuring the landing, exploration, and terraforming of Mars. Many of Robinson's works feature ecological issues, as well as scientific research and how to find balance between technology and human pursuits. He won the Nebula Award for Red Mars, the beginning of the trilogy. Robinson went on to win the Hugo Awards for Green Mars and Blue Mars. He also won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel for Pacific Edge.

In this episode, Robinson discusses his research about the planet Mars for his trilogy, his inspiration for writing the novels, and his ambitions for writing science fiction.

Episode 019 of the AboutSF podcast is a recording of an interview John C. Tibbetts conducted with horror, mystery, and science fiction writer Robert Bloch. If you have not been following the podcasts, John Tibbetts, associate professor in the department of Film and Media Studies at the University of Kansas, provided donations of audio interviews with luminaries in the fields of Science Fiction and Fantasy, including Ray Bradbury, Frederick Pohl and Stephen King, among others, to the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction in Lawrence, KS. The interviews, gathered during the course of a lifetime of reading, collecting, and writing about Science Fiction, include conversations with Frederick Pohl, Poul Anderson, Jack Williamson, L. Sprague De Camp, and many more.

Robert Bloch was one of the youngest members of the Lovecraft Circle, authors who received mentoring and guidance from H.P. Lovecraft. He began his professional career at the age of 15, with the Lovecraftian story "The Thing," published in The Quill in 1932. Bloch is famous not only for his horror tales, but the book Psycho, later adapted into film by Alfred Hitchcock. Bloch is also well-known for his story, "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper," casting the serial killer as an immortal, and a Star Trek episode with similar themes, "Wolf in the Fold."

In this episode, Bloch talks about his early communication with Lovecraft, the development of his career, and his experiences writing for television.

Episode 018 of the AboutSF podcast is a recording of an interview John C. Tibbetts conducted with Dark Fantasy writer T.E.D. Klein. If you have not been following the podcasts, John Tibbetts, associate professor in the department of Film and Media Studies at the University of Kansas, provided donations of audio interviews with luminaries in the fields of Science Fiction and Fantasy, including Ray Bradbury, Frederick Pohl and Stephen King, among others, to the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction in Lawrence, KS. The interviews, gathered during the course of a lifetime of reading, collecting, and writing about Science Fiction, include conversations with Frederick Pohl, Poul Anderson, Jack Williamson, L. Sprague De Camp, and many more.

T.E.D. Klein has received a great deal of critical praise for his novel The Ceremonies, his collection of novellas Dark Gods, and his short fiction. He was the editor of the Twilight Zone magazine in the 1980s, and has penned several non-fiction articles about horror and dark fantasy including several for The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural. Klein won the 1986 World Fantasy Award for his novella, "Nadelman's God."

In this podcast, Klein discusses his time as an editor, his struggles with writer's block, and the need for writers to be readers.

Episode 017 of the AboutSF podcast is a recording of an interview John C. Tibbetts conducted with Science Fiction and Fantasy writer Jack Williamson. If you have not been following the podcasts, John Tibbetts, associate professor in the department of Film and Media Studies at the University of Kansas, provided donations of audio interviews with luminaries in the fields of Science Fiction and Fantasy, including Ray Bradbury, Frederick Pohl and Stephen King, among others, to the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction in Lawrence, KS. The interviews, gathered during the course of a lifetime of reading, collecting, and writing about Science Fiction, include conversations with Frederick Pohl, Poul Anderson, T.E.D. Klein, L. Sprague De Camp, and many more.

Jack Williamson was the second author to receive the SFWA Grand Master award, and has been working in the field since 1928. He was an inspiration for several authors, including Isaac Asimov. Williamson is known for his pulp Legion of Space series, as well as collaborations with Frederick Pohl such as the Starchild series, but his most well-known work may be his series about intelligent robots who seek to control humanity, The Humanoids. After an illustrious career, Williamson was producing great work even into his 90s, winning both the Hugo and Nebula awards for his 2000 novella, "The Ultimate Earth."

In this podcast, Williamson reflects on the differences between the science fiction and fantasy genres, the various trends in speculative fiction, and his career overall.

Episode 016 of the AboutSF podcast is the second half of a recording of an interview John C. Tibbetts conducted with Science Fiction and Fantasy writer Poul Anderson in 1993, in Minneapolis, MN.

During his wide-ranging interview, he discusses his creative process, history of writing, the role his wife plays in editing his books, and the value of humor in stories. This is Part Two of a two-part interview.

Episode 015 of the AboutSF podcast is a recording of an interview John C. Tibbetts conducted with Science Fiction and Fantasy writer Poul Anderson in 1993, in Minneapolis, MN. If you have not been following the podcasts, John Tibbetts, associate professor in the department of Film and Media Studies at the University of Kansas, provided donations of audio interviews with luminaries in the fields of Science Fiction and Fantasy, including Ray Bradbury, Frederick Pohl and Stephen King, among others, to the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction in Lawrence, KS. The interviews, gathered during the course of a lifetime of reading, collecting, and writing about Science Fiction, include conversations with Frederick Pohl, Jack Williamson, T.E.D. Klein, L. Sprague De Camp, and many more.

Poul Anderson was a Grand Master of Science Fiction, has won seven Hugo Awards, and won The John W. Campbell Memorial Award in 2001. He has been writing professionally since 1947. He is known for his epic Technic History stories and his Time Patrol series.

During his wide-ranging interview, he discusses his creative process, history of writing, the role his wife plays in editing his books, and the value of humor in stories. This is Part One of a two-part interview.

Episode 014 of the AboutSF podcast is a recording of an interview John C. Tibbetts conducted with Science Fiction and Fantasy writer L. Sprague De Camp. If you have not been following the podcasts, John Tibbetts, associate professor in the department of Film and Media Studies at the University of Kansas, provided donations of audio interviews with luminaries in the fields of Science Fiction and Fantasy, including Ray Bradbury, Frederick Pohl and Stephen King, among others, to the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction in Lawrence, KS. The interviews, gathered during the course of a lifetime of reading, collecting, and writing about Science Fiction, include conversations with Poul Anderson, Jack Williamson, T.E.D. Klein, children’s book author Chris Van Allsburg, and many more.

This interview with De Camp covers being a Grand Master of Science Fiction, how he got started writing science fiction, and the themes present in his writing. De Camp is well known for his books The Incomplete Enchanter and his work continuing Robert Howard's "Conan" character. De Camp, like Isaac Asimov, also wrote a large amount of nonfiction, including the Science Fiction Handbook.

De Camp also comments on predictions in his works, collaborative work with other writers, and his overall body of work.

Episode 013 of the AboutSF podcast is a recording of Mary A. Turzillo reading the epilogue from the Frederik Pohl novel Beyond the Blue Event Horizon, which was first published in 1980.

Mary A. Turzillo has published numerous works of fiction and poetry.  Her story “Mars Is No Place for Children” won the 2000 Nebula award for best novelette, and her novel An Old-Fashioned Martian Girl was serialized in Analog from July to November in 2004.  Mary’s 2007 collection of poetry, Your Cat & Other Space Aliens, published by VanZeno Press, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

This epilogue from Frederik Pohl’s novel Beyond the Blue Event Horizon was read by Mary as part of the festivities at the 2011 Campbell Conference.

Episode 012 of the AboutSF podcast is a recording of Robin Wayne Bailey reading the Frederik Pohl short story “Let the Ants Try,” which was first published in the November, 1949 issue of Planet Stories, and has since been included in several collections and anthologies. 

Mr. Bailey is the author of numerous fantasy and science fiction works, including the bestselling DragonKin series, the Frost series, the Brothers of the Dragon series, and Mr. Bailey’s Fritz Leiber-inspired Fafhrd and the Gray Mouse novel, Swords Against the Shadowland.  In addition to his numerous publications, Mr. Bailey has also dedicated years of service to the genres of fantasy and science fiction, having served on the board of directors, and as president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA).  Mr. Bailey was also instrumental in the creation of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Hall of Fame.

This Frederik Pohl short story was read by Mr. Bailey as part of the festivities at the 2011 Campbell Conference.