The NESFA gives the Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction award each year to a science fiction writer . The award is for their work and for acting like `` Doc '' Smith . The Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction ( the Skylark ) is presented annually by NESFA to some person , who , in the opinion of the membership , has contributed significantly to science fiction , both through work in the field and by exemplifying the personal qualities which made the late `` Doc '' Smith well-loved by those who knew him .