[December 07, 2008]

Albuquerque Journal, N.M., David Steinberg column: Astronaut, sci-fi writer chat it up

Dec 07, 2008 (Albuquerque Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Famous science-fiction author Walter Jon Williams of Belen has fans in high places. High, as in outer space.

NASA contacted Williams last August about chatting with astronaut Michael Fincke, who was going to be based at the International Space Station.

"They're always looking for ways to keep the the astronauts entertained. Fincke was on a four-month mission," Williams said.

Because the teleconference was a private conversation, no prior publicity announcing the chat was permitted, he said.

"We talked about my books. He was reading my book 'Implied Spaces,' " Williams said.
"Implied Spaces," his latest book, was described in a Journal review last August as "an actionpacked adventure against the 'post-singularity' background made popular by science fiction writers such as Vernor Vinge and Charles Stross. In post-singularity sci-fi, technology and artificial intelligence have advanced to such a point that it would seem like magic to present-day readers."

Williams said they talked about how novels are structured because Fincke told him he was a fan of structuring and Williams thinks he's pretty good at that.

"One of the things that came out of the conversation was that we both chose our careers early in life. I decided to be a writer before I could read or write. And I've been working my whole life towards that," Williams said.

"He was the same about being an astronaut ... after he saw the moon landing."
One of the amusing aspects of the conversation, Williams said, was that Fincke told him he was turning cartwheels, spinning around in a weightless state while they were speaking.

The two sides of the conversations were on a slight delay even though the space station is only 220 miles up. "That's because communications had to be relayed to a communications satellite that was 22,000 miles up," he said.

Williams and Fincke are in touch by e-mail.
AT BOOKWORKS: Bookworks, 4022 Rio Grande NW, is hosting a remembrance and celebration of the life and work of the late mystery writer Tony Hillerman at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. Some of Hillerman's special friends will attend.

AUTHOR AT TWO HASTINGS: Mark David Gerson of Albuquerque signs copies of his book "The MoonQuest" from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at Hastings, Tramway and Candelaria NE, and 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Hastings, Lomas and Juan Tabo NE.

AT BORDERS: Marianne Broyles
of Rio Rancho talks about and signs copies of her new book of poems, "The Red Window," at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at Borders, 10420 Coors Bypass NW. The poems reflect her effort to understand the world while seeking to improve it.

IN SANTA FE: James Enyeart discusses his book "Willard Van Dyke: Changing the World Through Photography and Film" at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at photo eye, 327 Garcia St., No. A, Santa Fe. Van Dyke's colleagues included Ansel Adams and Edward Weston.

In this biography, Enyeart, a scholar and photographer, looks at the qualities in Van Dyke -- including his love of adventure, his social consciousness and artistic integrity -- that made him a visionary artist and filmmaker.

MORE IN SANTA FE: Robert Torrez will talk about his book "Myth of the Hanging Tree: Stories of Crime and Punishment in Territorial New Mexico" at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the School of Advanced Research, 660 Garcia St., Santa Fe.

IN OLD TOWN: Kim Ashley signs his book "Photographing Albuquerque" from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Treasure House Books & Gifts, 2012 South Plaza NW.

To see more of the Albuquerque Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.abqjournal.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
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