Gregory Benford Wins 2019 Robert A. Heinlein Award

Gregory Benford, science fiction author and astrophysicist, is the 2019 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space. This award is in recognition of Benford’s body of work, including his 32 novels, over 218 short stories, and many non-fiction articles. 

Benford will receive the award on Friday, May 24 at opening ceremonies during Balticon 53, the 53rd Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention. Balticon and the Robert A. Heinlein Award are both managed and sponsored by The Baltimore Science Fiction Society. A grant from the Heinlein Society funds half of the costs associated with the award and the family of the late author Dr. Yoji Kondo provides additional funding for the award.

The Robert A. Heinlein Award is a sterling silver medallion bearing the image of Robert A. Heinlein, as depicted by artist Arlin Robins. The medallion is matched with a red-white-blue lanyard. In addition, the winner receives two lapel pins for use when a large medallion is impractical, and a plaque describing the award, suitable for home or office wall display. 

The Robert A. Heinlein Award selection committee consists of science fiction writers and was founded by Dr. Yoji Kondo, a long-time friend of Robert and Virginia Heinlein. Members of the original committee were approved by Virginia Heinlein. The current Chairman of the Selection Committee is Michael F. Flynn.

Virginia Heinlein authorized multiple awards in memory of her husband, other awards include the Heinlein Prize, which is fully funded by Virginia Heinlein’s estate, and a National Space Society award for volunteer projects.

More information on the Robert A. Heinlein Award, including past winners, can be found here.

11 thoughts on “Gregory Benford Wins 2019 Robert A. Heinlein Award

  1. This should allay his dissapointment at losing the Coolest Jacket award to, um, everyone else. (Hi, Gregory!)

  2. I like it. You see someone walking down the street wearing that color combination, you know they don’t give a damn what anyone thinks.

  3. Dr. Benford, “Artifact” remains one of my favorite works of science fiction. Congratulations to you!

  4. Congratulations, Greg Benford. It’s years ago that I read a couple of your books – I remember them as very interesting and exciting. But what I associate most with the name Gregory Benford is your contribution to the young SF-fandom in Germany more than 60 years ago about which I only learned recently.

  5. Pingback: Links: 2019-01-11 | Featured Futures

  6. Pingback: AMAZING NEWS FROM FANDOM: 1-13-19 - Amazing Stories

  7. Congratulations, Greg Benford, and thank you again for being a visionary and an “out of the closet” cryonicist member of Alcor. I just read your poem bemoaning the many sci-fi / scientists who could have and should have been signed up for cryonics.
    Perhaps we’ll meet in the year 2734…I understand that will be an interesting one, as they all are.
    For happy days and centuries,
    Rudi Hoffman
    Port Orange, FL

  8. Pingback: Gregory Benford gana el premio Robert A. Heinlein – Fantástica – Ficción

  9. Good to hear about this, and congratulations to Mr. Benford for this win.

Comments are closed.