The Special Collections Library at UC Riverside, home to the Eaton Collection of science fiction literature and memorabilia, will hold “Chronicling Mars: the 2008 Eaton Conference” at UCR May 16-18.  They’re selling it as “a scholarly conference with a touch of fun,” and invitees [not all of whom have accepted yet] include the Killer Bee’s — David Brin and Gregs Benford & Bear — along with Kim Stanley Robinson and Ben Bova.  Should be a wild time; register here.

The conference includes a Short Story contest open to all UC registered students, undergraduate and graduate, with a $500 first prize and $250 second prize.  The story, of up to 6K words, “must engage directly with the topic of Mars and be recognizable as Science Fiction.”  Howard Hendrix will judge the contest, and also attend the conference.