James Edwin Gunn was an influential American science fiction writer, editor, scholar, and anthologist whose career spanned several decades. Born in 1923, Gunn made significant contributions to the genre not only through his creative fiction but also through his extensive academic work. He served as a professor emeritus of English at the University of Kansas, where he also established himself as the founding director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction, cementing his role as a pioneer in the academic study of the genre.\n\nAs a novelist, Gunn is perhaps best known for his book The Immortals, which was adapted into a television series during the 1970–1971 season. His creative output was matched by his scholarly and editorial endeavors. He edited the acclaimed six-volume anthology series The Road to Science Fiction, which traced the evolution of the genre. In 1983, he won the Hugo Award for Best Related Work for his critical study of the science fiction author Isaac Asimov, alongside numerous other nominations for his non-fiction contributions.\n\nOver his long career, Gunn received some of the highest honors in the science fiction community. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named him its 24th Grand Master in 2007, recognizing his lifetime achievements. He was later inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2015. Gunn passed away in December 2020, leaving behind a rich legacy as both a creator and a preservationist of science fiction history.
