Van Ikin

Van Ikin (born 25 November 1951) is an academic and science fiction writer and editor. A Professor in English at the University of Western Australia, he retired from teaching in 2015 and is now a Senior Honorary Research Fellow. He has acted as supervisor for several Australian writers completing their post-graduate degrees and doctorates — including science fiction and fantasy writers Terry Dowling, Stephen Dedman, and Dave Luckett — and received the University's Excellence in Teaching Award for Postgraduate Research Supervision in 2000.

Ikin is probably best known for his editorship of the long-running critical journal Science Fiction - A Review of Speculative Fiction. He has reviewed science fiction and fantasy for The Sydney Morning Herald since 1984.

Critical works

• Strange Constellations: A History of Australian Science Fiction (with Russell Blackford & Sean McMullen) Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998.
• Warriors of the Tao: The Best of Science Fiction, A Review of Speculative Fiction (with Damien Broderick) (Borgo Press, 2011).
• Xeno Fiction: More Best of Science Fiction, A Review of Speculative Literature —with Damien Broderick (Wildside/Borgo, 2013)
• Fantastika at the Edge of Reality: Yet More Best of Science Fiction, A Review of Speculative Literature —with Damien Broderick (Wildside, 2014)
• Other Spacetimes: Interviews with Speculative Fiction Writers —with Damien Broderick (Wildside, forthcoming 2015)

Magazines edited

• Enigma (University of Sydney SF Association, 1972–79)
• Science Fiction: A Review of Speculative Literature (Issues 1-46, 1977–2009)

Anthologies edited

• Australian Science Fiction (University of Queensland Press, 1981; reprint, Academy Editions, US, 1984).
• Glass Reptile Breakout (Centre for Studies in Aust Literature, University of WA, 1990)
• Mortal Fire: Best Australian SF (with Terry Dowling) (Hodder/Coronet, 1993).

Awards

• Australian Science Fiction Foundation, Chandler Award for his contribution to Australian science fiction (1992).

References

• Paul Collins (ed). The MUP Encyclopedia of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy Melbourne, Vic: Melbourne University Press, 1998, p. 94.

External links

• Van Ikin's Home page
• Van Ikin at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database