The Defender is a near-indestructible robot whose brain contains the extensive scientific and military knowledge of five men. Created by the smart, beautiful Megan Drake, the Defender longs for Megan’s love as he works to implement Megan’s dream: planting and nurturing the human race on far-off planets. Along the way he battles previous colonizers – human and robot alike – and discovers the limits of being indestructible. "...masterly characterization, close attention to dramatic development and a warm sense of humanity." - Clifford D. Simak on MANSEED
"In MANSEED, Jack Williamson ventures into unfamiliar ground, the melding of humans and robots... The concepts are joined by masterly characterization, close attention to dramatic development and a warm sense of humanity. Jack continues in the old tradition - the telling of good stories with a deft, sure touch."
- Clifford D. Simak
"On looking back over his long and influential career, I have no hesitation in placing Jack Williamson on a level with the two other American giants, Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein."
- Arthur C. Clarke
"Not only is he (Jack Williamson) one of the best-loved figures in the field of science fiction, he has been a pioneering writer, breaking ground in new areas long before most of us had learned how to read."
- Ben Bova
"For most of a century, Jack Williamson has been exploring the edges of what human destiny might become."
- David Brin
"A giant in the field of science fiction...When you're the acknowledged Dean of Science Fiction, you're allowed to coast a little. Jack is the only writer around who has demonstrably improved with every passing decade."
- Mike Resnick
Jack Williamson (1907-2006) was one of the most important and influential figures in science fiction. Born in 1907, he came to New Mexico with his family in a covered wagon in 1915. His first science fiction story appeared in a professional magazine in 1928, and he kept writing new novels and stories through 2005 when his last novel THE STONEHENGE GATE was published. His updated autobiography WONDER'S CHILD is available. Jack Williamson coined many words that became staples in science fiction and in the world at large: genetic engineering, terraforming, psionics, spaceport, prime directive, ion drive, Tellurian, neutronium. He is the only writer to receive both SFWA's Grand Master Award and the Horror Writer of America's Lifetime Achievement Award. The University of Eastern New Mexico, where he taught for many years, has a Jack Williamson library wing.
