Sci-fi Writer and Austin Literary Institution Howard Waldrop Dead at 77

Howard Waldrop in 2017 (photo by John Anderson)

Howard Waldrop – a mainstay of Austin's literary scene, a leviathan of sci-fi short stories, one of the very first writers for the Austin Chronicle, and a beloved mentor to many in the city and the wider literary sci-fi scene – has died.

His death, on Jan. 14 after a stroke, was confirmed by his longtime writing partner Lawrence Person. He was 77.

Born in 1946 in Houston, Mississippi, Waldrop may not have been born in Texas but he got here as fast as possible. His family moved to Weatherford when he was four, and then he moved to Austin and remained here (bar a few years in Washington). Here he perfected his mastery of the short story and perfected his style: incisive, thoughtful, often acerbic yet compassionate, usually humorous, and unabashedly Southern. His work evoked both the wryness of his Austin precursor, O. Henry, and the genre mashup of his friend and contemporary, Joe Lansdale, while remaining unique and instantly recognizable.

The very first Austin Chronicle cover and its very first cover story (an interview with The Rocky Horror Picture Show creator Richard O'Brien), just one star in the galaxy of work left behind by science fiction author and advocate Howard Waldrop, who died last weekend at the age of 77.

While he published longer works, including the Philip K. Dick Award-nominated novel Them Bones, he was best known for his short stories, most especially "The Ugly Chickens," which won both the Nebula Award for best novelette and the World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction.

However, Waldrop was a polymath, endlessly excited by literature, films, and his favorite hobby, fly fishing. Indeed, he played a pivotal role in the history of The Austin Chronicle, as he penned the very first cover feature in the paper's history: an interview with filmmaker Richard O'Brien about The Rocky Horror Picture Show and its followup, Shock Treatment.

Waldrop was also famous for his work behind the scenes in the literary science-fiction and fantasy scene, especially in Austin, and his willingness to support and mentor other writers. In 1973 he – alongside fellow writers including Lisa Tuttle, Steve Utley, and Tom Reamy – founded the Turkey City Writers Workshop as a way for professional writers to support each other. It hosted, and played a key role in the careers of, dozens of authors including Stina Leicht (Persephone Station), Rick Klaw (Geek Confidential: Echoes From the 21st Century), comics creator Chris Roberson, godfather of cyberpunk and future South by Southwest regular Bruce Sterling, and George R.R. Martin. The Game of Thrones creator was one of many close friends of Waldrop: As Person noted, “Howard was universally loved by pretty much everyone he knew and the science-fiction field as a whole.”

Waldrop was also the toastmaster at the very first ArmadilloCon in 1979, returning to the role in 2007, and remaining a fixture at the annual literary gathering in Austin. Indeed, for many, it wasn't ArmadilloCon without the closing reading by Waldrop.

However, his influence was far more than local. Even while the short story market became increasingly brutal for authors, Waldrop was still a friend and inspiration to many writers, and in 2021 he received the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement.

For more on Waldrop's life and career, read Elizabeth Banicki's 2017 Chronicle profile, "Howard Waldrop, Upright & Writing."