Science Fiction Fandom
| Synonyms: | SFF |
| See also: | Fandom, Media Fandom, Science Fiction |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Science fiction fandom formed in the 1920s around American pulp magazines[1] and has expanded in scope since its humble beginnings with the development of sf novels, television, and movies. The fandom was born in the letter columns of the first sf-only magazine, Amazing Stories; Hugo Gernsback, the magazine's publisher, is credited by many with creating science fiction as a genre in its own right.[1][2]
Since the letter column included the letter writers' addresses, early SF fans found it easy to get in touch with each other.[3] Soon, fans were writing letters directly to each other, then (in some cases) forming local fan clubs[4], then creating fanzines to trade with each other, then having conventions so they could talk in person.
The practice of making fanzines originated in science fiction fandom in the 1930s. The first printed fanzine was "The Comet," a fanzine published in 1930 by Raymond Arthur Palmer and published by the Science Correspondence Club in Chicago. [5]
Conventions
Fan conventions, also known as cons, were and remain an important way for fans to meet in person. Science fiction writer Frederick Pohl claims that the first con was a trip that he and seven other New York-area fans took to meet a similar group of fans in Philadelphia in 1936. However, the title of first ever con is disputed; a group of British science fiction fans had a more carefully planned public event in Leeds on January 3, 1937.[6] The first World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) was held over the July 4, 1939 weekend in New York City and, aside from a few breaks during the second world war, Worldcons have been held annually ever since.[7] As have plenty of other sf conventions, of course - the closest thing to a full list of current science fiction conventions can be found on Wikipedia.[8]
The first Worldcon also wrote fannish history because Morojo made her appearance in the so-called futuricostume, the first known hall costume, at the event.
Since the 1960s, producers of science fiction movies and television have used science fiction conventions to promote their work. Gene Roddenberry brought the pilot episode of Star Trek to a Worldcon before it aired on television. Nevertheless, TV and movie SF have stayed a small part of 'classic' non-profit SF/fantasy conventions such as Worldcon and others.
Eventually commercial organizations started putting on larger for-profit sf/media/gaming/comic conventions that combined many fannish interests, including TV and movie SF, under one large, expensive roof. The two largest of these in the US are Dragon*Con and Comic-Con. Interestingly, both media fans and classic SF are just two small tracks of the larger whole, gamers are another, etc.
Science Fiction Fanzines
There are thousands of science fiction fanzines. You can see a list of over 500 at ZineWiki, more at eFanzines, and a few are documented here on Fanlore:
- Astra's Tower (1947-1961)
- Dynatron (1960-1991)
- Granfalloon #1-20 (Feb 1968-1976)
- Lift-Off (1978-?)
- Luna Monthly #1-? (Jan 1972-?)
- Minus 273
- Nargothrond (1968-?)
- Niekas (1962-c.1998)
- Caveat Emptor (1956-1959)
- Vor-Zap (1976-1979)
Science Fiction Fandom History Resources
- Fancyclopedia 3
- Fanac Fan History Project
- Fan History Archive (a Timebinders project).
- Wikipedia:Science fiction fandom
- MIMOSA - archives of MIMOSA, a fanzine about recent SF fan history
- First Fandom
SF Fandom and Media Fandom
Before SF was made into films and television shows, SF fandom was by definition a literary fandom. Later, when SF moved to the big and little screen, new fans wanted to join fandom who were unfamiliar with fannish tradition and liked things that Fandom scorned. Many of these new fans were women. Tension ensued.
Meta & Further Reading
- A History of Canadian SF Fandom
- Broken, a Science Fiction Fanlore Project
References
- ^ a b Gary Westfahl, "The Popular Tradition of Science Fiction Criticism," Science Fiction Studies 26.2 (July 1999). Online version here.
- ^ See also Hugo Gernsback: The man who invented the future, Archived version (offline, archived url) by Michael A. Banks, October 1, 2004.
- ^ Sam Moskowitz, The Immortal Storm: A History of Science Fiction Fandom (Atlanta, GA: The Atlanta Science Fiction Organization Press, 1954; reprint, Westport, Conn.: Hyperion Press, 1974), 5.
- ^ Sam Moskowitz, The Immortal Storm: A History of Science Fiction Fandom (Atlanta, GA: The Atlanta Science Fiction Organization Press, 1954; reprint, Westport, Conn.: Hyperion Press, 1974). The Immortal Storm describes the activities of several early fan societies that also published fanzines (8-12). The "first professionally sponsored club for fantasy fans" was The Science Fiction League, formed in 1934 (32).
- ^ Zine Wiki, accessed 14 May 2012
- ^ THE FIRST EVER CONVENTION. ROB HANSEN'S FAN STUFF website. text reproduction of THE STORY SO FAR, a 1987 Worldcon publication. See also photographs from the Leeds convention. (Accessed 4 January 2012)
- ^ Francesca Coppa, "A Brief History of Media Fandom." In: K. Hellekson, K. Busse (eds.) Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet. New Essays McFarland, 2006. p 43.
- ^ Wikipedia List of Science Fiction Conventions.