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NIU Libraries’ Lynne M. Thomas wins Hugo

August 31, 2011
Lynne M. Thomas

Lynne M. Thomas

Lynne M. Thomas, curator of Rare Books and Special Collections at NIU Libraries, garnered international acclaim from the science fiction world this month for her editing work on the book, “Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It”(Mad Norwegian Press).

Thomas and her editing colleague, Tara O’Shea, received the coveted Hugo Award in the Best Related Work category from the World Science Fiction Society at the World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) in Reno, Nev.

“When they announced that we had won, I was humbled and flattered, and in deep shock,” she said. “This is great, an unbelievable honor. It’s the first time that a nonfiction work about a fictional media property (television series or film) has ever won the Hugo. The only other work about media to win a Hugo in the Best Nonfiction category (the previous name for Best Related Work) was the companion book to Carl Sagan’s ‘Cosmos’ documentary series. We are in august company, indeed.”

Other winners of the Hugo in the Best Related Works category include Stephen King, James Gunn, Judith Merrill and Farah Mendelsohn.

Hugo Award Winner 2011 - Best Related WorkThe book is a collection of essays by award-winning female novelists, academics and actresses from across the world, celebrating the long-running British television series “Doctor Who” and its fandom.

“The book is about loving the show, but it is also about the experience of being active in fandom, not just specific to ‘Doctor Who.’ We are deeply flattered that it resonated so deeply with the science fiction community,” Thomas said.

Thomas, a DeKalb resident, has been the curator of Rare Books and Special Collections at NIU’s Founders Memorial Library since 2004.

“Doctor Who” tells of the ongoing adventures of The Doctor, an alien who travels through time and space, righting wrongs and saving civilizations. It holds the distinction of being the world’s longest-running science fiction television show.

It debuted in 1963 and ran until 1989. The series came out of hiatus in 2005 and is currently in its sixth season since the re-launch.

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