The Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA) is a society based in the United States with the aim of fostering an international community of writers and readers interested in poetry pertaining to the genres of

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 unive ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), 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 ...

, and/or horror. The SFPA oversees the quarterly production of literary journals dedicated to

speculative poetry Speculative poetry is a genre of poetry that focusses on fantastic, science fictional and mythological themes. It is also known as science fiction poetry or fantastic poetry. It is distinguished from other poetic genres by being categorized by it ...

and the annual publication of anthologies associated with awards administered by the organization, i.e. the

Rhysling Awards __NOTOC__ The Rhysling Awards are an annual award given for the best speculative poetry, science fiction, fantasy, or horror poem of the year. Unlike most literary awards, which are named for the creator of the award, the subject of the award, or ...

for year's best speculative poems in two length categories and the

Dwarf Stars Award The Dwarf Stars Award is an annual award presented by the Science Fiction Poetry Association to the author of the best horror, fantasy, or science fiction poem of ten lines or fewer published in the previous year. The award was established in 20 ...

for year's best very short speculative poem. Every year since 2013, the SFPA has additionally administered the Elgin Awards for best full-length speculative poetry collection and best speculative chapbook.

History

The SFPA was established as the Science Fiction Poetry Association in 1978 by author and linguist Suzette Haden Elgin. Elizabeth Chater served as the first president of the SFPA, followed by Gene Wolf. Other SFPA presidents have included Deborah P Kolodji,

David C. Kopaska-Merkel David C. Kopaska-Merkel is an American geologist, poet, and editor. Education and career Kopaska-Merkel holds a doctorate in geology. He has worked for the Geological Survey of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and has co-authored numerous articles on topic ...

, Bryan D. Dietrich, and, most recently,

Bryan Thao Worra Bryan Thao Worra (born January 1, 1973) is a Laotian American writer. His books include ''On The Other Side Of The Eye'', ''Touching Detonations'', ''Winter Ink'', ''Barrow'' and ''The Tuk Tuk Diaries: My Dinner With Cluster Bombs''. He is the fir ...

. In 2017, members of the SFPA voted to rename the organization the "Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association," while maintaining the acronym "SFPA." Since 1978, the organization has overseen the production of the speculative poetry journal ''Star*Line,'' currently edited by Jean-Paul Garnier. In addition to publishing poetry and reviews of books released in the relevant genres, ''Star*Line'' provides SFPA members and other subscribers with market listings and industry news bulletins. Past editors include

Vince Gotera Vince Gotera (; born June 20, 1952) is an American poet and writer, best known as Editor of the ''North American Review''. In 1996, Nick Carbó called him a "leading Filipino-American poet of this generation"; later, in 2004, Carbó described hi ...

, F. J. Bergmann,

Marge Simon Marge Baliff Simon (born 1942) is an American artist and a writer of speculative poetry and fiction. Biography Early life Marge Simon was born in Bethesda, Maryland, but grew up in Boulder, Colorado. Education and career She received her ...

, and founder Suzette Haden Elgin. Since 2011, the SFPA has additionally published the online poetry magazine ''

Eye to the Telescope ''Eye to the Telescope'' is the debut studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, originally released on 13 December 2004 and re-released 10 January 2005 by Relentless Records. On 19 July 2005, it was nominated for the 2005 Mercury ...

.'' In order to broaden the scope of the organization's literary footprint, ''Eye to the Telescope'' has a rotating editorship, with a different editor responsible for selecting the theme and contents of each issue of the journal.

Publications

Journals

*
Star*Line
' (1978- ) *
Eye to the Telescope
' (2011- )

Annual anthologies

*

' (1981- ) *

' (2006- )Science Fiction Poetry Association

(accessed 16 Sept. 2016)

Books

* ''The Science Fiction Poetry Handbook'' by Suzette Haden Elgin (2005, Sam's Dot Publishing) * ''The Alchemy of Stars,'' ed. Roger Dutcher and Mike Allen (2005, Prime Books) * ''The Alchemy of Stars II,'' ed. Sandra J. Lindow (2019, SFPA)

Awards

Since its inception in 1978,Kress, Nancy, "Rhysling Winners," ''Nebula Awards Showcase 2003,'' Penguin, 2003 (, 9781101191071)

Tom Easton Thomas A. Easton (born 17 July 1944) is a teacher and well-known science fiction critic and author. He retired as a professor from Thomas College of Maine in 2014 and now teaches part-time at Mount Ida College in Newton, MA. Easton holds a Bachelo ...

"The Reference Library"
, ''Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact'', June 2006 (accessed 16 Sept. 2016) the organization has administered the

Rhysling Award __NOTOC__ The Rhysling Awards are an annual award given for the best science fiction, fantasy, or horror poem of the year. Unlike most literary awards, which are named for the creator of the award, the subject of the award, or a noted member of t ...

for best science fiction poetry of the year. The award is given in two categories: "Best Long Poem" for works of 50 or more lines and "Best Short Poem" for works of 49 or fewer lines. The SFPA also bestows the

for short poem (up to ten lines). Since the 1980s the Rhysling-winning poems are included in the

Nebula Awards The Nebula Awards annually recognize the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States. The awards are organized and awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), a nonprofit association of profe ...

anthology published by 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. While ...

, along with (since 2008) the Dwarf Stars winning poems. The two awards involve the publication of annual anthologies of nominated works. In 2013, SFPA inaugurated the Elgin Awards for poetry collections, named after SFPA founder Suzette Haden Elgin. Two awards are given annually, for best speculative chapbook and best full-length speculative poetry collection. Since 1999, the SFPA has intermittently conferred ''Grand Master'' status on select poets who "for a period of no fewer than 20 years" have been actively publishing speculative poetry deemed "exceptional in merit, scope, vision and innovation." Poets must be living to be considered for the honor. Recipients of the award include

Ray Bradbury Ray Douglas Bradbury (; August 22, 1920June 5, 2012) was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of modes, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, and r ...

in 2008 and

Jane Yolen Jane Hyatt Yolen (born February 11, 1939) is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, and children's books. She is the author or editor of more than 350 books, of which the best known is '' The Devil's Arithmetic'', a Holocaust novella. H ...

in 2010.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Science fiction organizations Poetry organizations Arts organizations established in 1978 American writers' organizations