Andrew Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Andy" Sawyer is a librarian
, critic
and editor
, as well as an active part of science fiction fandom
(although he himself has not written much science fiction
). Sawyer is the full-time Librarian/Administrator of the Science Fiction Foundation
Collection in the Special Collections Department in the Sydney Jones Library at the University of Liverpool
, as well as Course Director of the University's M.A. in Science Fiction Studies program. He also serves as Reviews Editor for Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction
. For his work and commitment to the science fiction community, the Science Fiction Research Association
awarded him their Thomas D. Clareson Award for Distinguished Service
in 2008.
As a critic and editor he writes especially on science fiction
and fantasy
, but also on other topics of popular literature
and popular culture
. In addition to Speaking Science Fiction: Dialogues and Interpretations, which he co-edited with David Seed (Liverpool University Press
, 2000), his publications include:
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
, critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
and editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, as well as an active part of science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
(although he himself has not written much science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
). Sawyer is the full-time Librarian/Administrator of the Science Fiction Foundation
Science Fiction Foundation
The Science Fiction Foundation is a Registered Charity established 1970 in England by George Hay and others. Its purpose is to "promote science fiction and bring together those who read, write, study, teach, research or archive science fiction in Britain and the rest of the world." Science fiction...
Collection in the Special Collections Department in the Sydney Jones Library at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, as well as Course Director of the University's M.A. in Science Fiction Studies program. He also serves as Reviews Editor for Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction
Foundation - The International Review of Science Fiction
Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction is a critical peer-reviewed literary journal founded in 1972 that publishes articles and reviews about science fiction. It is published triannually by the Science Fiction Foundation and the editor in chief is Graham Sleight.-See...
. For his work and commitment to the science fiction community, the Science Fiction Research Association
Science Fiction Research Association
The Science Fiction Research Association , founded in 1970, is the oldest, non-profit professional organization committed to encouraging, facilitating, and rewarding the study of science fiction and fantasy literature, film, and other media...
awarded him their Thomas D. Clareson Award for Distinguished Service
Thomas D. Clareson Award for Distinguished Service
The Thomas D. Clareson Award for Distinguished Service is presented by the Science Fiction Research Association for outstanding service activities...
in 2008.
As a critic and editor he writes especially on science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, but also on other topics of popular literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and popular culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
. In addition to Speaking Science Fiction: Dialogues and Interpretations, which he co-edited with David Seed (Liverpool University Press
Liverpool University Press
Liverpool University Press, founded in 1899, is the third oldest university press in England after Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press....
, 2000), his publications include:
- "The Mechanical Art" (short story) in the anthology Digital Dreams (1990)
- "M.R. James in China"
- "'Backward, Turn Backward': Narratives of Reversed Time in Science Fiction"
- "The Shadows out of Time: H. P. LovecraftH. P. LovecraftHoward Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
ian Echoes in Babylon 5Babylon 5Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
" - "Back with Bunter" (about Frank RichardsCharles Hamilton (writer)Charles Harold St. John Hamilton , was an English writer, specializing in writing long-running series of stories for weekly magazines about recurrent casts of characters, his most frequent and famous genre being boys' public school stories, though he also dealt with other genres...
) - "Re-assessing one of the earliest books about popular fiction: Q. D. LeavisQ. D. LeavisQueenie Dorothy Leavis , née Roth, was an English literary critic and essayist.Born in Edmonton, England, she wrote about the historical sociology of reading and the development of the English, the European, and the American novel...
’s famous tirade against bestsellers" - "Fairy-Tale Horror" (about V. C. Andrews)
- "Far Seeing?" (about Joan GrantJoan GrantJoan Grant was an author of historical novels and reincarnationist. Her first and most famous novel was Winged Pharaoh . Grant shot to unexpected fame upon publication...
) - "John WyndhamJohn WyndhamJohn Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was an English science fiction writer who usually used the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes...
and the Fantastic" - "Magnolia Blossom and Whiplash" (about Kyle OnstottKyle OnstottKyle Onstott was an American novelist, best-remembered for his best-selling novel Mandingo , which deals with slavery on an Alabama plantation in the 1830s.- References :Contemporary Authors: Biography - Onstott, Kyle...
and Lance Horner)