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Wheeler's Book Nominated for Science Fiction Poetry Prize

Congratulations to Lesley Wheeler, the Henry S. Fox Professor of English. Her well-reviewed recent book, “The Receptionist and Other Tales,” has won even more acclaim: a nomination for the Elgin Award from the Science Fiction Poetry Association.

As we described the book upon its publication last fall, it’s “a novella written in verse . . . a category of literature known as speculative fiction, an umbrella term for genre fiction encompassing fantasy, science fiction and horror.”

Lesley told us then that “more than any other book that I’ve ever written, . . . this one was written entirely to please myself. I’ve always loved fantasy and science fiction.”

In March, the title poem, “The Receptionist”” also made the Tiptree Award Honor List for 2012 for its “splendidly drawn characters and pitch-perfect language.” The list is a feature of the James Tiptree Jr. Literary Award Council, and we blogged about it at the time.

The Elgin Awards honor two categories, chapbooks (10 to 39 pages of poetry) and books (40 or more pages of poetry). Only members of the Science Fiction Poetry Association may nominate and vote on books. The deadline is Aug. 15, so if any members of the W&L community belong to the association . . .

If you know any W&L faculty who would be great profile subjects, tell us about them! Nominate them for a web profile.