(Reprinted from Thornhill Month, January 1999)

By SEAN B. PASTERNAK

Thornhill's Robert J. Sawyer made headlines in the world of science fiction again last month, winning the world's largest cash prize for the genre. For two years in a row now, he has nabbed Spain's prestigious Premio UPC de Ciencia Ficcion, this time for an excerpt from his upcoming novel Flashforward.

"It's interesting that the work of a Canadian writer is going down so well in Spain," Sawyer said while at a writing retreat in upstate New York. "Science fiction writing really is an international phenomenon."

The writing award, announced on December 2nd at a University in Barcelona, carries a cash prize of one million pesetas (approximately $11,000 Cdn.). For the 38-year-old Sawyer, success has come to him in many forms. A slew of international awards in Canada, the United States, Japan and France reinforce his popular brand of writing.

With ten published novels to his credit and an eleventh (Flashforward) scheduled for a June release, Sawyer certainly knows what his readers want. How does the man behind such novels as the best-selling Frameshift, Factoring Humanity and Illegal Alien constantly come up with ideas?

"It's a difficult thing to do," Sawyer admitted. "I actually read the newspapers to see what people are concerned about today. "You get the ideas for the future by looking at the present."

Frameshift, for example, came from the media's focus on genetics and cloning, whereas Illegal Alien stemmed from the future of the justice system.

Strangely enough, Sawyer holds the distinction of being Canada's only full-time native born science fiction writer. With so many talented Canadian authors out there, it's a wonder more haven't broken in to the genre.

"In general, Canada has not done what is should to promote an interest in science," explained Sawyer.

"We as a country turn out a lot of lawyers and doctors, but we don't turn out a lot of scientists."

As well, European countries tend to favour the writing of North American science fiction authors over their own, according to Sawyer.

In addition to his written works, Sawyer is also president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, a 1400 member strong advocacy group which spans over 23 countries.

"What we do is lobby publishers and governments, protest changes in copyright laws, that type of thing," he said.

For example, the group is currently fighting an endeavour by the company TSR (Dungeons & Dragons) to reissue 250 copies of its old magazines, which will include stories and novellas by the original writers.

These writers are looking for compensation for the republication of material and, as Sawyer said, "We're going to fight to say 'No, you can't do that'."

If he wasn't already busy enough, Sawyer is already hard at work on a book which is slated for publication in the summer of 2000.

The book, which has a working title of Up To Code, will be about "Aliens inviting Earth to join a galactic commonwealth".

Just another door to open in The Sawyer Zone.