Things have been crazy this past month, and I’ve been too busy with other projects and/or just wiped out to get this up sooner.

COVID killed the lectureship in 2020. Last year’s was all online. That was better than nothing, but everyone agreed it was less than satisfactory. Fortunately, this year’s event was held in person. It was good to be back in Portales again. I’d attended in 2018 and 2019 and had a fantastic time.

The guest of honor was Walter Jon Williams. I’ve crossed paths with Walter over the years, mostly but not exclusively at Armadillocon. He’s a regular at the Lectureship. Connie Willis was Toastmistress, as usual. This year I got a room at a local  hotel and made it to the interview Willis did with Williams.

They are both entertaining and interesting speakers on their own. When Connie Willis interviewed Walter Jon, the result was a fascinating retrospective of his career.

For the guest of honor reading, Williams read a section from Quillifer the Knight, in which Quillifer leads a group to kill a dragon.  This is the second book in the series. I got the first in 2019 but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. That book has moved up in my TBR piles.

After lunch, Willis gave her Toastmistress address, which is always funny. Then Walter spoke about the impact Jack Williamson had on his life.

I only attended  one panel that afternoon. I spent the rest of the time poking around in the library. The books there are amazing. I ended the day at a dinner at the UNMU President’s house. I’d like to thank Dr. Patrice Caldwell for her hospitality. All too soon the evening came to an end, and I drove home home to Texas.