AUTHOR JOHN UPDIKE TO LECTURE AT SIU-CARBONDALE OCT. 8

CARBONDALE -- Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Updike will appear at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Oct. 8 as a Glassman University Honors Lecturer.

He will appear at 8 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium, where he will read from his latest work, "Toward the End of Time." A free public reception will follow in the Student Center Gallery Lounge.

Updike, a versatile and prolific author, has produced a near-constant stream of novels, short stories, poetry and essays for more than 50 years. The 65-year old writer has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Pulitzer Prizes and an Ambassador Book Award for exceptional contributions to the interpretation of American life and culture. He is famous for his poetic evocations of small details in the everyday lives of ordinary people. Most of his works have centered around the themes of sex, death and love.

He also has just completed an on-line story for which he wrote the opening 300 words and the conclusion. Forty-four writers are listed as co-authors in this story, which is located at the website address Amazon.com.

The Glassman lecturer series was established by Michael and Nancy Glassman, alumni of the university, to bring nationally or internationally prominent figures to campus. The late Michael Glassman earned a bachelor's degree in 1961 and a master's degree in 1962. He was co-founder of Glassman-Oliver Economic Consultants Inc. Nancy Glassman graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1963 and practices family law in Washington, D.C.