Grand Old Fan
| Original Fiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Grand Old Fan |
| Author(s): | Sam Moskowitz |
| Date(s): | March 1939 |
| Length: | 4 pages |
| Genre: | Metafiction/pseudo-RPF |
| External Links: | Hosted online by fanac.org; Fantascience Digest #9 pp. 4-8 (March 1939) |
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Grand Old Fan was a short story published by Sam Moskowitz in the March 1939 issue of Fantascience Digest. It tells the story of Jack Adams, the top fan in all of fandom, who is offered a job editing a new fantasy magazine based on his status and reputation. Adams finds himself torn between the fan field and his dreams of professional work.
When his friend Bill Davids contacts him begging for help with the Fifth National Science Fiction Convention, Adams advises Jackson, the publisher, to delay issuing the new magazine until after the convention, where he can announce it and expect a huge boost in sales. Adams also tells Jackson to avoid mentioning the editor's name just yet. The con goes off without a hitch, and Adams is relieved until Bill Davids lets him know that Jackson has now offered him the job as editor because the con went so well. Davids mentions that his father was disabled in an accident recently, and says that Jackson will only give him the job if "the other fellow" refuses. Adams makes the painful choice to withdraw from the job to help his friend.
Featuring:
- Moskowitz's friend Jimmy Taurasi, editor of Fantasy-News, as Jimmy Withers, editor of Science Fantasy News
- Hugo Gernsback and/or T. O'Conor Sloane as J. Mortimer Hancock, "publisher of the first 'slick' science fiction magazine"
- Raymond A. Palmer, current editor of Amazing Stories, as Robert Halmer, editor of Stupendous Stories
The circumstances match up to the fact that Moskowitz and the other two Triumvirs were planning the first-ever Worldcon at the time, and Jack Adams is clearly an aspirational figure for Moskowitz. But despite the appearance of James V. Taurasi, Adams and Davids don't match up to Moskowitz and William S. Sykora during the leadup to Worldcon. Jack Adams, age 24, has already presented two successful conventions, including "a world convention", which are most likely supposed to be the Newark Convention and Worldcon 1939. Adams may be intended as a future version of Moskowitz (then 18), or as Sykora, who was one of the oldest members of First Fandom.
Excerpts
"I think you understand the circumstances of this offer," jackson had said. "I know that the science fiction fan field trusts and respects you. You have proved that your influence extends even beyond the fan world and that most editors and authors of science fiction, realize that when you speak you voice the sentiments of the entire science fiction world. That is why I ask you to accept my offer. I want you to edit this new fantasy magazine of mine. With your influence in the fan world you have already assured me that I can expect a base of 20,000 readers, no matter how poor the magazine is. But with your added influence upon many of the most prominent authors of science fiction, we can arrange to squeeze the life out of the other magazines and take over the field without competition. Let me know if you decide to accept the offer."
It would probably mean that he would have to drop out of the fan field. Too much work to take care of both of them. Still, he hated to do that. He had been around so long. How many years now? Oh yes; six years of steady, unremitting activity. He was a veritable fixture in the field now; a pillar that supported a thousand-and-one activities of the fan world. He remembered now. It was in his second year of activity that he had been voted in some sort of "poll" as "top" fan. Since that time, such a similar prill had proved unnecessary. He held to that designation with the tenacity of a bull-dog. He had won for himself an enviable position in the scheme of things. Even his enemies respected him and his word.It was only two years back that some fan had dubbed him with the title of "Grand Old Fan." Grand OLD Fan, eh? He was only twenty-four and they considered him "old." "Old!" They regarded 'him as a venerable patriarch with the gathered wisdom of the centuries, and a heart as big as a house. Chicken-hearted, some would call it. But he couldn’t help himself. Even when an avowed enemy of his heeded help badly, he was always among the first to proffer it. New fans had not found him aloof. He always had time to write a note of encouragement to a newcomer, or see that he got established right.
Hell! It was worth it. Of course, not all of them appreciated what you did for them, but there was always a group who read beneath his sometimes gruff mask and found him out for what he really was. They were worth all the double-cross and double-dealing the fan field could produce. They made up for all the nasty things that sometimes took place behind the scenes.
Jack, I'm in a terrible fix. I didn't realize the work necessary for a successful convention when l took over the job of presenting the Fifth National Science Fiction Convention. I don't know where to turn. My committees are falling all over one another, and make one mistake after another. Aw! What's the use, everything is shot to pieces. What makes it worse is that I've collected money from most of the fans in the country to pay for the affair, and I've spent more than I can afford to return out of my own pocket. You've got to help me jack! You've presented two successful conventions and one of them was a world convention. I've got to pull out of this mess somehow or I'll never dare show my face to a fan again. There's only six weeks until the date of the convention left." Jack Adams read no further. Bill Davids was in a fix. Bill Davids, one of his best friends. It wasn't only Bill, it was also all the other fans. They'd skimped and saved and contributed liberally to make the affair a success and now----. Hell! he'd given more than twenty-five dollars himself and he could not affaord it.
Three weeks passed by relentlessly. Jack Adams worked like a madman whipping the convention into presentable shape.Six weeks in which to do it! Six lousy weeks to untangle a mess it had taken his friend nine months to work himself into, But Jack Adams worked! Worked hard! He sacrificed friendship in some cases, money, pleasure; in fact, everything! They called him "Grand Old Fan." Well, he would show them. He'd never let the fans down yet and he didn’t propose to do it now. In keeping with his nature, Jack let his friend, Bill Davids, take all the credit for the work he was doing. Fans in the know realized that Jack was the brains behind the affair, but to the ordinary onlooker it will all Bill Davids. Jack Adams had obtained all the glory he desired long ago, and he didn't aim to hog the lime-light.
Bill Davids up on the platform was certainly doing a masterful job. He certainly was a good master of ceremonies. It was fixed so thatBill took all the credit for the affair, and the affair seemed to border upon the miraculous to many of those present. Jackson was somewhere in the audience. There was plenty of time for him to talk later; the job was sewed up. What other fan in the field was capable of doing what he just did, even if it did seem egotistical to say so himself?Jimmy Withers, editor of the prominent news-weekly, SCIENCE FANTASY NEWS, was giving a talk now. It had been plenty of fun helping Jimmy and he would continue to send him scoops on the new magazine he was going to edit....
Then it was Jackson's turn. Jackson played up his proposed magazine in grand, style, much to the chagrin of many other editors and publishers present. Especially Robert Halmer of STUPENDOUS STORIES, who, being the emotional sort, rose from his seat and dashed out of the hall to telephone his boss the news, arousing laughter from all....
"...I hope I get that Job, Jack. My father was crippled in an auto accident a few months ago and we need every penny we can get. Gosh! I'll never be able to thank you for what you've done for me, Jack. You're the grandest pal a guy ever had.""A-a-and Jackson offered you a job, Bill?" Jack barely whispered between clenched teeth.
"He sure did. He said he'd never seen a convention run like this one, and that if the other fellow to whom he offered a job refuses, he would give it to me. You've got to help me, Jack. You've got a lot of influence with the editors. Put in a good word for me, will you----please?"
"Sure, sure. Anything you say Bill. Got to go now. Got to meet a fellow. See you later," Jack barely blurted. He turned quickly, his throat suddenly choked by an emotion he could not fathom. Quickly he lost himslef in the crowd...
Responses
The bset thing in the current issue was Sam Moskowitz’s "Grand Old Fan" and, of course, I know who he was referring to as the Grand Old Fan. Which makes it all the more enjoyable, I have read it twice allready and I would like to congragulate Sam on a beauty of a story-article.John Giunta, letter printed in Fantascience Digest #10 pg. 27 (May 1939)
"Grand Old Fan" - very hackneyed, Make the fan a theatrical producer, and this story appears about three times a month in our "20-Story Magazine". The style is quite good, though.John F. Burke, letter printed in Fantascience Digest #10 pg. 27 (May 1939)