Algis Budrys, known as "AJ" by his numerous friends and writing students, was one of the formative influences in the enormously successful Writers of the Future Contest, where he served as judge, coordinator, and chief instructor for many years. In addition, he was also an instructor at the Clarion Writers Workshop. Also known for his fiction, Budrys wrote the Hugo-Award nominated Rogue Moon, as well as Who?, The Falling Torch, Hard Landing, Michaelmas, and others. He was also a critic for Galaxy Science Fiction and a book editor for Playboy. He passed away in 2008.