Award-winning science fiction writer Gene Wolfe, who attended Texas A&M University, will be recognized by the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame with the first Henry Blake Fuller Award.

While attending Texas A&M more than 60 years ago, Wolfe published his first speculative fiction in The Commentator, a student literary journal. He dropped out of school during his junior year in 1952 to serve in the military during the Korean War.

According to Donald G. Evans, executive director of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, the Henry Blake Fuller Award is a “lifetime achievement award honoring great living writings in the Chicago area.” Wolfe was chosen because of his “critically acclaimed collection of work in various genres, such as science fiction and fantasy.” Wolfe will be presented the award March 17.

Wolfe is known as a prolific short story writer and novelist, as well as for his dense, allusive prose and the strong influence of his Catholic faith. He is best known for his The Book of the New Sun series and has written more than 100 books and short stories spanning a career that began in the 1970s. At 80 years of age, he is still writing and is currently on his third draft of his newest novel The Land Across.

Among his many other awards, Wolfe has won the Nebula Award for Best Novel, Best World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, the Edward E. Smith Memorial Award (or "Skylark") and is a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.

When Wolfe returned to Texas after his military service, he settled in Houston and completed his college education at the University of Houston. He now lives in a suburb of Chicago.