Damon Knight, a science fiction author who helped push the genre into the mainstream, died Monday.

Knight, 79, had taught for 27 years at the annual Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop at MSU. He resided in Eugene, Oregon.

Although Knight had not taught there in recent years, Lister Matheson, director of the workshop and an MSU English professor, said he had hoped the writer would come to this year’s workshop because it is the 35th anniversary.

“He was a writer, an editor and a teacher,” Matheson said. “He wrote about the teaching of science fiction and about the writing of science fiction. He was one of the founders of Clarion.”

Matheson said the news about Knight’s death came from a family member of the author.

“We’re all going to miss Damon,” he said. “He was a great gift to everyone.”

The workshop will be on campus this year from June 9 to July 20.