Last Friday I made a trek to the Jack Williamson Lectureship at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.  Even though the GoH wasn’t someone I was familiar with (film maker Alex Rivera), I wanted to make sure I went this year.  I’d had an interview at a different university the previous week and felt I had a good shot at the position.  (I learned a few days ago the dean and the provost decided not to fill the position but to split it into two positions next year.Oh, well.  I’m under no pressure to leave where I’m at.  The other position would have put me closer to family, which was the main reason I applied.)

The guest of honor presentation was fine, but he had to leave and catch a plane in Amarillo, so the rest of the day was taken  up with other things.  There was a double track of panels similar to last year.

The big highlight for me was that this year the special collections area of the library was open.  Last year it had been closed for renovation.  Jack’s office was in what is now the special collections area and has been preserved.  It contained his typewriter and some of his awards.  In addition to getting to see Jack’s office, there books, more books, and BOOKS to browse.  Rather than blather at length, I’ll just post some photos with a few captions.  Click to enlarge images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some of the books in the collection.  There were a lot of titles there that I have, but there were some rarities as well.