Clarence Howard "Bud" Webster (July 27, 1952 – February 13, 2016) was an American

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

and

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

writer who is also known for his essays on both the history of science fiction and sf/fantasy anthologies as well. He is perhaps best known for the ''Bubba Pritchert'' series, which have won two Analytical Laboratory readers' awards from '' Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' magazine. Farewell Blues was featured on the cover of the January/February 2015 issue of ''

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Press. Editors Anthony Boucher ...

.'' Webster is also known for his survey of Groff Conklin's contribution to science fiction in ''41 Above the Rest: An Index and Checklist for the Anthologies of Groff Conklin''. Webster was a contributing editor and columnist for the

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, doing business as Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, commonly known as SFWA ( or ) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. Whil ...

''Bulletin'' and published a collection of those columns titled ''Anthropology 101: Reflections, Inspections and Dissections of SF Anthologies'' through Merry Blacksmith Press. His ''Bulletin'' column, "Anthropology 101", examines the history of science fiction and fantasy through classic anthologies and anthologists, frequently pairing books by different editors but also presenting two or more books by the same anthologist. The column has included multi-installment pieces on Frederik Pohl,

Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg (born January 15, 1935) is an American author and editor, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple winner of both Hugo and Nebula Awards, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, and a Gr ...

, Harry Harrison and more recently,

Terry Carr Terry Gene Carr (February 19, 1937 – April 7, 1987) was an American science fiction fan, author, editor, and writing instructor. Background and discovery of fandom Carr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon. He attended the City College of San ...

. In addition, he has co-wrote three ''Bulletin'' articles with Dr.

Jerry Pournelle Jerry Eugene Pournelle (; August 7, 1933 – September 8, 2017) was an American scientist in the area of operations research and human factors research, a science fiction writer, essayist, journalist, and one of the first bloggers. In the 1960s ...

. He was also a frequent contributor to the "Curiosity" page of ''

''. He was the poetry editor and columnist for '' Helix SF'', an online speculative fiction quarterly. After ''Helix SF'' ceased publication, he took his column, "Past Masters", to ''Jim Baen's Universe'', and when that closed, to

Eric Flint Eric Flint (February 6, 1947 – July 17, 2022) was an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are Alternate history (fiction), alternate history science fiction, but he also wrote humorous fantasy adventures. ...

's '' Grantville Gazette''. The "Past Masters" columns are retrospective appraisals of so-called "classic" science fiction and fantasy authors, and include extensive bibliographies. Some of the authors covered in the "Past Masters" series include Zenna Henderson,

Fredric Brown Fredric Brown (October 29, 1906 – March 11, 1972) was an American science fiction, fantasy, and mystery writer.D. J. McReynolds, "The Short Fiction of Fredric Brown" in Frank N. Magill, (ed.) ''Survey of Science Fiction Literature'', Vol. 4 ...

, Edgar Pangborn, and

Murray Leinster Murray Leinster (June 16, 1896 – June 8, 1975) was a pen name of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an American writer of genre fiction, particularly of science fiction. He wrote and published more than 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie ...

. Webster was poetry editor at '' Black Gate'', a print fantasy magazine, for which he also wrote a column about little-known authors titled "Who?!" The only one of the columns appeared in ''Black Gate'' 15 and discussed author Tom Reamy. In 2007, the

(SFWA) appointed Webster Estates Liaison, placing him in charge of their Estates Project, which makes it possible for publishers to contact the agents or individuals who represent the literary estates of deceased science-fiction and fantasy writers so that material by those authors can be reprinted. The Estates database currently contains information on more than 450 sf/fantasy authors. In March 2012, SFWA announced that Webster would be given their Service to SFWA Award at the Nebula Awards banquet in May for his work on the SFWA Estates Project. In June 2013, Merry Blacksmith Press published a collection of Webster's essays about science fiction and fantasy authors and books titled ''Past Masters and Other Bookish Natterings'', including articles on Clifford D. Simak. R. A. Lafferty,

Judith Merril Judith Josephine Grossman (January 21, 1923 – September 12, 1997), who took the pen-name Judith Merril around 1945, was an American and then Canadian science fiction writer, editor and political activist, and one of the first women to be wid ...

and others. This volume also includes short-short essays originally published in

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Press. Editors Anthony Boucher ...

as part of their "Curiosities" column, as well as three articles co-written with

. Webster was also a collector of science fiction books, and is the author of ''The Joy of Booking: Webster's Guide to Buying and Selling Used SF and Fantasy Books''.

Personal life

Webster was born in

Roanoke, Virginia Roanoke ( ) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 100,011, making it the 8th most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the largest city in Virginia west of Richmond. It is ...

to Edna Urquhart Webster and Clarence H. Webster. He attended Crystal Spring Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High and Patrick Henry high schools. In 1970 he graduated from Hermitage High School in Richmond. He studied music at

Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a public research university in Richmond, Virginia. VCU was founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College, becoming the Medical College of Virginia in 1854. In 1968, the Virginia ...

, majoring in composition. He was active in the Richmond music scene in the 1970s and 1980s performing in several bands, writing music reviews for various free newspapers, working as

disc jockey A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile ...

on local radio, and managing a used record store. He also produced the CD ''Not Necessarily Serious'' of original folk-rock music by Richmond musician-songwriter Christie Oglesby in 2000. Raised a Baptist, he subsequently became an agnostic. At the time of his death, he was living in Richmond, Virginia, with his long-time companion, Mary Horton; whom he married May 26, 2013.

Bibliography

Short fiction

;StoriesShort stories unless otherwise noted.

Critical studies and reviews of Webster's work

Interviews

References

External links

*
Book Think: Interview with Bud Webster about ''41 Above the Rest: An Index and Checklist for the Anthologies of Groff Conklin''
* ttp://www.sfwa.org/bulletin/ SFWA Bulletin
Original "Past Masters" columns from Helix SF and Jim Baen's Universe
now at Galactic Central

from Merry Blacksmith Press.
SFWA Estate Project
at SFWA.org
Official Announcement
of the 2012 Service to SFWA Award
Past Masters and Other Bookish Natterings
from Merry Blacksmith Press {{DEFAULTSORT:Webster, Bud 1952 births 2016 deaths American essayists American male essayists American male novelists American male short story writers American science fiction writers American short story writers Analog Science Fiction and Fact people Virginia Commonwealth University alumni Writers from Richmond, Virginia Writers from Roanoke, Virginia Novelists from Virginia