The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America has announced that C.J. Cherryh will be honored with the organization’s Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award at this year’s Nebula Awards. Past grand masters have included Ursula K. Le Guin, Samuel R. Delany, Gene Wolfe, and Anne McCaffrey, among others.
Cherryh’s lifetime of achievements, with works ranging from space opera to historical fantasy, began with winning the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1977. A three-time Hugo Award winner (including Best Novel for Cyteen and Downbelow Station), she was the Guest of Honor at the World Science Fiction Convention in 1998. Cherryh will be honored at the 51st annual Nebula Awards Weekend held May 12-15 in Chicago, Illinois, at the Palmer House Hilton.
SFWA President Cat Rambo praised Cherryh’s influence on sci-fi and fantasy:
As a longtime reader and re-reader of Cherryh’s works, I am thrilled beyond measure to be able to recognize her contribution to the field in this way. She is a master of long-running series involving worlds and characters that the reader can visit and revisit with a true sense of wonder each and every time.
Cherryh shared her surprise and delight at the honor:
I never expected this. I’m honored to join the ranks of so many illustrious writers. I have a lot of books left to write, a lot of books I want to write, stories I want to tell. I thank my publishers, who keep me in print—I thank my agent, as well. I thank everybody, profoundly, who gives me the chance to do that. And I plan to keep the books coming.
Congratulations to Cherryh! More information on SFWA’s website.
