The Eaton Collection

UC Riverside's Eaton Science Fiction Conference is a premier academic conference devoted to the study of science fiction and the interrelations of science and the humanities. Its stated purpose was to establish science fiction studies as a serious academic discipline, and to introduce prominent academic critics to SF literature, film and culture. Towards that end the conference brings together academics from all disciplinary areas, scientists, writers, and editors.

The conference was begun in 1979 as a brainchild of Eaton Curator George Slusser, who over years has been aided by a steady group of advisors shaping the conference's program and intelectual profile. This group includes: Gregory Benford, writer and Professor of Physics at UC Irvine; Eric Rabkin, Professor of English at University of Michigan; Joseph Miller, Professor of Pharmacology at University of Southern California Medical School; Howard Hendrix, writer; and the late Frank McConnell, Professor of English at UC Santa Barbara.

Of past conferences, nineteen have been held in Riverside, other have taken place at international venues, co-sponsored by UCR and various host institutions: London Polytechnic University,1984; The Sorbonne-Nouvelle, 1986; University of Leeds, 1989; Texas A&M University, 1990; the Maison d'Ailleurs, Yverdon-les-bains, and the Université de Neuchâtel, 1991; Imperial College, London, 1995; the Chinese University of Hong-Kong, 2000, and the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle in 2005. After a three-year gap, the conference resumed at UCR campus in 2008.

The conference has hosted such luminaries as: Harry Levin, Harold Bloom, Leslie Fiedler, Robert Scholes, Frederic Jameson, Gerald Prince, Bruce Franklin, Tom Shippey, Frank McConnell, Patrick Parrinder, Edward James, Mark Rose, and many others. Writer-guests include Ray Bradbury, Brian Aldiss, Theodore Sturgeon, Roger Zelazny, Tom Disch, David Brin, Greg Bear, Arthur C. Clarke (via satellite), Samuel R. Delany, Lewis Shiner, Larry Niven, and Robert Silverberg. Scientist guests have included Harold Bloom, Leslie Fiedler, Fredric Jameson, Harry Levin, Marvin Minsky and Robert Scholes. All of the above guests of honor have contributed significant papers to conference volumes.

The Eaton Conference has produced or contributed to nearly 30 publications. These have been issued by various academic presses, and have essentially put science fiction studies on the academic map. Most of these volumes are still in print today, and continue to shape the field.

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UC Riverside's Eaton Science Fiction Conference is a premier academic conference devoted to the study of science fiction and the interrelations of science and the humanities. Its stated purpose was to establish science fiction studies as a serious academic discipline, and to introduce prominent academic critics to SF literature, film and culture. Towards that end the conference brings together academics from all disciplinary areas, scientists, writers, and editors. The conference was begun in 1979 as a brainchild of Eaton Curator George Slusser, who over years has been aided by a steady group of advisors shaping the conference's program and intelectual profile. This group includes: Gregory Benford, writer and Professor of Physics at UC Irvine; Eric Rabkin, Professor of English at University of Michigan; Joseph Miller, Professor of Pharmacology at University of Southern California Medical School; Howard Hendrix, writer; and the late Frank McConnell, Professor of English at UC Santa Barbara. Of past conferences, nineteen have been held in Riverside, other have taken place at international venues, co-sponsored by UCR and various host institutions: London Polytechnic University,1984; The Sorbonne-Nouvelle, 1986; University of Leeds, 1989; Texas A&M University, 1990; the Maison d'Ailleurs, Yverdon-les-bains, and the Université de Neuchâtel, 1991; Imperial College, London, 1995; the Chinese University of Hong-Kong, 2000, and the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle in 2005. After a three-year gap, the conference resumed at UCR campus in 2008. The conference has hosted such luminaries as: Harry Levin, Harold Bloom, Leslie Fiedler, Robert Scholes, Frederic Jameson, Gerald Prince, Bruce Franklin, Tom Shippey, Frank McConnell, Patrick Parrinder, Edward James, Mark Rose, and many others. Writer-guests include Ray Bradbury, Brian Aldiss, Theodore Sturgeon, Roger Zelazny, Tom Disch, David Brin, Greg Bear, Arthur C. Clarke (via satellite), Samuel R. Delany, Lewis Shiner, Larry Niven, and Robert Silverberg. Scientist guests have included Harold Bloom, Leslie Fiedler, Fredric Jameson, Harry Levin, Marvin Minsky and Robert Scholes. All of the above guests of honor have contributed significant papers to conference volumes. The Eaton Conference has produced or contributed to nearly 30 publications. These have been issued by various academic presses, and have essentially put science fiction studies on the academic map. Most of these volumes are still in print today, and continue to shape the field. Recent conferences: The 2005 Eaton Conference The 2008 Eaton Science Fiction Conference: Chronicling Mars The 2009 Eaton Science Fiction Conference: Extrordinary Voyages - Jules Verne and beyond... Next Conference: