File 770:112 2 File 770:112 once upon a time in reality
out entirely. Campbell, the influential editor of Analog, File 770: 112 is edited by Mike Glyer at P.O. Box 1056, answered everyone’s letters. In my last year of high school, I Sierra Madre, CA 91025. File 770 is available for news, wrote to pick a bone with him about an editorial and our artwork, arranged trades (primarily with other newzines debate produced a flurry of mail for a short while ending and clubzines), or by subscription. Subscriptions: $8.00 about a year before his death in 1971. I can even relive that for 5 issues, $15.00 for 10 issues, mailed first class in experience by pulling his letters out of my desk drawer. North America or surface mail rates overseas. Air printed matter is available for $2.50 per issue. A version of this editorial will appear in L.A.con III PR#5. In the PR, I explain that I never met Elsie Wollheim in person Telephone: (818) 355-3090 and I feel even more strongly that I have "missed" meeting E-mail address: [email protected] her, because I actually had opportunities. Then, reflecting on Campbell and Elsie Wollheim, I also started to wonder what was the significance my missing him then, and missing Elsie Editor’s Notes by Mike Glyer now? I never sold them any stories, was never mentored by them. I decided it’s rooted in the stuff that makes us fans. Generation to Generation: While Elsie Wollheim’s passing has made a big impact on those of us involved with L.A.con A characteristic of science fiction fans is how insubstantial we III, it’s one of a tragic wave of deaths that has enveloped the feel the boundary is that separates the stories we enjoy from SF community, including two writers often seen at worldcons. the people who create (or illustrate or edit) them. Our first John Brunner passed away the day after Intersection’s opening relationship is with the stories themselves, so influential on ceremonies. Bob Shaw, Loscon’s guest of honor last Novem our way of thinking about the world. Our second relationship ber, was taken in February (a terrible event, coming weeks is with other people who share our interest in SF, after after his marriage to Nancy Tucker.) Others who have died discovering that we are not alone. since the beginning of 1996 include novelists Brian Daley and Walter Miller Jr., and Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel. When A certain kind of logic says it all should stop there. We’re I talked to Locus editor Charlie Brown, he called January and interacting with written words, after all: our enjoyment of February "The worst two months we’ve ever experienced.” I, Robot depends on what’s in the story, not whether we know Isaac Asimov. Why does it go further? By interacting with the Charlie was rocked not just by the loss of all these people, but ideas in an author’s universe, we’ve joined a literary conversa the blow it dealt to his self-identification as part of SF’s tion -- as listeners - and it’s our desire to speak back that "younger generation." He now laughs to remember a day in propels some readers to become fans, and others to become the early 1950’s when he and a friend discovered a 1945 writers (and some to become both). Astounding: to them it seemed an ancient relic. But I thought I was the "younger generation" -- after all, Charlie was already The history of the sf field is another subset of that literary in fandom when I was bom and started publishing Locus the conversation. When I read the thumbnail biographies in books year before I went to my first con. by Moskowitz and Lundwall about teenaged Futurians becoming prozine editors and the fusion of Campbell’s editing I have been lucky to have lived through this particular era of genius with a new generation of talented writers, it evoked in fandom. SF historians credit Hugo Gemsback with launching me the peculiarly fannish sensation called "a nostalgia for the modem era of science fiction with Amazing Stories in things never experienced." If the people who made that history 1926. I published my first fanzine in 1969 and started attend are still around, you haven’t totally lost the chance to join in ing conventions in 1972. So, from SF’s genesis to L.A.Con I, that conversation. Perhaps that’s what made me feel I had my first worldcon, was a span of less than 50 years and that "missed" Campbell, not only regretted his death. And it’s what helps explain why so many of the field’s historic figures were colors my response to the passing of Elsie Wollheim, a not merely alive but still professionally active and attending significant part of sf history, who was loved by those who worldcons in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Of all the writers worked with her and knew her. who populated the SF shelf of the local library, I was fortu nate enough to meet most of them at a convention. There are really only two of my literary heroes I never had the chance Art Credits to meet: John W. Campbell (d. 1971) and E.E. "Doc" Smith (d. 1965). The treasure of these times will have to last forever, R’ykandar Korra’ti: Cover, 3 as death has scythed through our field to deprive us of so Bill Rotsler: 4 many human connections to the original Golden Age. Alan White: 7
If I missed meeting John W. Campbell in person, I didn’t miss 4 j File 770:112 ♦
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Fandom Mourns Shaw, Wollheim
Bob Shaw (1931-1996) Elsie Wollheim (1910-1996)
Bob Shaw, enjoying to the last his dual role as a top Elsie Wollheim, co-founder of DAW books, "my other fanhumorist and pro writer (he authored the classic "Light mother" to its family of authors, and a special guest of of Other Days"), died in his sleep on February 11 after L.A.con III, died February 9 of a sudden illness at the end weeks of severe medical problems. But on his last evening, of a five-year struggle with cancer. Elsie had been undergo Bob was still able to visit the Red Lion pub in Stockton ing chemotherapy and, according to Marsha Jones, the Heath and tip a pint with his old friends. treatment was actually progressing. She was considerably better, and was very much looking forward to L.A.con III. Shaw moved to the US in December and married Michigan She was hospitalized with symptoms that her daughter, fan Nancy Tucker. On January 31 he suffered cardiac arrest Betsy Wollheim, feared might add bronchitis on top of complicated by pneumonia and complete liver shutdown. everything. Elsie died a few hours later. Shaw left the hospital and returned to England with Nancy. Family friend Misti Ansiin’s report of his death states, Elsie and Donald A. Wollheim had already been married for "Shaw died in his sleep...in Manchester, England where he 28 years when they co-founded DAW Books in 1971. had just arrived to seek medical treatment." Donald Wollheim had left his position as editor-in-chief of Ace Books (where his work included co-editing a series of Ross Pavlac observed, "What is perhaps most tragic about best-of-the-year collections with Terry Carr, a tradition each this is that he was only recently married to longtime would continue individually) and no longer wanted to work Michigan fan Nancy Tucker. I saw the two of them at for a large corporation. With Elsie’s active help in conduct Loscon this past December, and she positively glowed with ing the affairs of the business, the Wollheims launched the excitement about the marriage and the relationship. I feel first publishing company devoted solely to fantasy and very sad that this glow has been extinguished." science fiction. Elsie not only typed DAW’s very first boiler plate contract, drawing on her background working for a Los Angeles fans were treated a visit by Shaw in November law firm, paid the royalties and devoted herself to her [Please turn to page 4] [Please turn to page 5] 4 April 1996 i
anecdotes, but by the end of the evening they couldn’t wait to get through the next award so Shaw could tell another story.
Shaw defined his success as a humorist: "It is a well- known fact that if you want to write something funny, you remember the worst thing that ever happened to you, the kind of thing you’d never want to remember, and write about it in detail. Human nature being what it is...."
Shaw’s funeral was held February 19 at St. Thomas church in Stockton Heath, Warrington, Cheshire. Ann Skelhom attended the funeral and reception. Skelhom wrote:
"The best thing I can say about Monday, February 19 is that Bob would have really enjoyed it, the religious part of the day lasted 45 minutes, the important part of the day lasted eight hours. Many of Bob’s friends met in Bob’s pub, The Red Lion in Stockton Heath, Warrington and talked about Bob. There was a lot of laughter and joy, one of his friends at the age of 35 had bought his first suit to go to the funeral (he is the archetypal hippie) and some of us could hear Bob Bob Shaw, continued.... laughing at the fact that he had managed to get so many atheists in a church. Nancy felt like she had come home when he was Loscon 22’s guest of honor. If anyone was because she was surrounded by people who loved Bob. I’m surprised that Shaw didn’t look like his photo, they soon still choked up by everything that has happened." learned the reason was that the photo in the Program Book Letters can be sent to Nancy Shaw at 695 Judd Road, Saline, had been lifted from Science Fiction: the Illustrated Ency MI 48176. Memorial donations, cards and letters to Bob’s clopedia which mistakenly published artist Eddie Jones’ picture with Shaw’s name. children can be sent care of c/o Bob’s daughter: Denise Shaw, 17 Victoria Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington, Cheshire, U.K. The family requests donations to the Hope House Hospice in My favorite memory of Loscon was going to dinner with Bob and Nancy, fan guest of honor Larry Stewart (from Ottawa), lieu of flowers. Checks made out to the hospice and sent to the family in England will be forwarded. and other guests and committee including chair, Robbie Cantor. Larry Stewart is an incredible comedian and gifted An interment service for Bob was scheduled at St. Lukes impersonator. Like most such talents in the presence of Episcopal Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan on March 9. someone with an even bigger reputation for humor, Stewart could not resist spending the entire time making Bob laugh, Bob Shaw Speeches in Print: Ansible 104 reminds all that and the banter between the two of them was a treat. many of Shaw’s celebrated convention speeches are in print as A Load of Old BoSh from Beccon Publications, 75 Roslyn Shaw’s life was full of accomplishments. Bob was bom Ave., Harold Wood, Essex, RM3 ORG, United Kingdom. The December 31, 1931 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up price in pounds is 5.50 (which Dave Langford estimates is as part of famous Irish Fandom. His greatest achievement as about $10), post free. Profits go to RNIB Talking Books. The a fan was co-authoring The Enchanted Duplicator with Walt same issue contains Christopher Priest’s appreciation of Shaw Willis. Mike Glicksohn has said that Shaw’s speech at the which reveals, "His ’serious scientific talks’, so popular with 1975 Eastercon was paid the highest possible compliment: convention fans, had a downside for Bob. He found the talks British fans left the bar to hear it. Shaw won Hugos as Best difficult to write, often struggled with them for weeks, and Fan Writer at the 1979 and 1980 worldcons, and was a guest sometimes even hesitated to register for conventions, lest he of honor at the 1986 Worldcon in Atlanta. Bob emceed the be expected to perform his famous party-piece." Hugo Award ceremonies. At the start of the evening, Ameri cans unfamiliar with Shaw wondered who this Irishman thought he was, halting the ceremony with his interminable File 770:112 5
Elsie 'Wollheim continued... writers in a hundred ways — she also answered the phone. OBITUARIES
And did so the day in 1993 that I called to invite her to be a special guest of L.A.con III. She always looked out for her writers. The next thing she did, after accepting for herself, was to ask whether we might pick C.J. Cherryh as pro guest of Danny Curran honor, for Cherryh had just resumed her connection with Report by Robert Lichtman DAW Books. (We had already selected a guest, but it was a good idea and she was invited by the 1998 Worldcon.) Elsie I’ve unhappy news to report: Pat Ellington called me to let me also immediately made useful suggestions about things DAW know she’d just heard that Danny Curran died on January 12. could do at L.A.con III. More exactly, he was found dead on the side of a trail, apparently of natural causes. Danny was about 58. For the past A tradition in sf convention fandom is that a guest of honor fifteen years, Pat reported, Danny has lived a hermit-like life who passes away is not replaced. L.A.con III will still have all in the hills of Placer County, and was known to hike some the tributes, panels and exhibits for Elsie, who deserved them distance to get his food and other supplies. She said that steps all. I’m sorry that Elsie will miss them. We will certainly miss were being taken to secure his body and arrange for cremation, her. and she referred to some sort of announcement that might follow. Elsie Balter, bom June 26, 1910 was the daughter of Russian immigrants. In the late 1920’s, Elsie took academic courses at As you may already know, Danny Curran was a friend of Bill Hunter College. Her father was a jeweler, and after the market Donaho’s dating back to the Nunnery days in New York. I crash of 1929 she took over his bookkeeper’s job for $10 a first met Danny at Donaho parties during my many visits to week until he couldn’t even afford to pay that. Then she the Bay Area in the early 60’s before moving here in 1965. answered an ad in the paper from someone offering to teach My own memories of Danny date back to June 1961, when I stenography in exchange for work. She wound up working in moved to Berkeley the first time (for six months). Danny and a law office for Rosalind Cohen who introduced her to the Bill shared a funky old house at 1441 Eighth Street in Futurians, a famous (in the sf field) circle of fans and profes Berkeley along with Habakkuk (the fanzine’s namesake) and sionals including Frederik Pohl, Cyril Kombluth, Damon various other large cats. It was my observation that Danny Knight, Donald A. Wollheim, Judith Merril, Isaac Asimov, drank to excess and smoked cigarettes a lot — but aside from James Blish, Robert W. Lowndes and others. Elsie married that I found him an interesting and enjoyable person. Donald Wollheim in 1943. While Don worked for magazine and paperback publishers, Elsie managed her father’s factory Aubrey MacDermott where he manufactured platinum fittings and produced custom diamond jewelry. She gave birth to Betsy in 1951. Though she stayed home from work from then until the founding of Aubrey MacDermott, a Bay Area fan since 1919, died January DAW Books, during these years she was active in the League 21 of cancer. The 1987 Westerconfan guest of honor’s career of Women Voters and an avid follower of theater, opera and included co-founding an sf club in Oakland in 1928 and, with poetry. his wife, Beatrice, organizing a tour to the Soviet Union in 1982 to meet its writers and fans. In 1991, New York’s Lunarians sf club honored the memory of Donald A. Wollheim by renaming its annual scholarship Marisa Golini award after him. The award is given to help someone from the by Lloyd Penney New York metropolitan area attend the Clarion or Clarion West Writer’s Workshop. Club member Stu Hellinger reports Marisa Golini was a popular Ottawa fan who died after a long that Elsie’s name is likely to be added to Don’s in the near battle with cervical cancer. She died on Memorial Day, 1995, future. He wrote, "I really wanted her to stay healthy enough and she left behind many friends in fandom in Ottawa, to make it to L.A.con. It would have made a wonderful, fitting Toronto and Montreal. She was also an important name in tribute to one of the great ladies of the field at the end of her broadcasting in Ottawa, and she was programme director of time. Personally, I will miss her. Especially when we would the station at which she worked. Her interests also took her get together for lunch and just talk about anything. If my through small theatre in Ottawa and area. Many of us still relatives had been like her..." miss her, so we thought we’d remember her with our little con, Science Fiction Saturday. She loved to party, so we’ll party for her. We’ve already gone through our mourning, so 6 April 1996 we’ll remember with a smile and a drink. All the profits will DC Comics. The writer is survived by his wife, Joanne, who go to the Canadian Cancer Society, as will a good percentage was the model for Lois Lane.” of each night’s room costs. Maybe such a gathering is also a good way to remember the good people who have passed Brian Daley away lately.
Author Brian Daley, who wrote The Doomfarers of Coramon- Bume Hogarth de and other works of fantasy and science fiction, including three "Star Wars" novels, died February 18 at his home in Bume Hogarth, best known for his work in the 30’s and 40s Arnold, MD, near Annapolis. He was 48. The cause was on the Tarzan comic strip, his co-founding of the School of pancreatic cancer, said his wife, Lucia St. Clair Robson. Visual Arts, and several instructional books on drawing, died January 28 in Paris at age 84. No cause of death was given. He worked as a house painter, waiter and welfare case worker He had just returned from a guest of honor stint at the before publishing The Doomfarers of Coramonde (1977), Angouleme comics festival in western France. about an Army unit that is transported from Vietnam to an alternate universe, where it must slay a dragon. The book’s Jerry Siegel success led to a sequel, The Starfollowers of Coramonde (1979). From the Los Angeles Times Daley wrote three novels based on the film "Star Wars": Han "Jerry Siegel, the teenage co-creator of Superman, an interna Solo at Stars’ End, (1979), Han Solo’s Revenge (1979) and tionally beloved and lucrative comic book character faster than Han Solo and the Lost Legacy (1982). He also wrote radio a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able versions of "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back" for to leap tall buildings in a single bound, has died January 28 of National Public Radio. [[Source: The Denver Post]] heart failure. Siegel was 81."
The Los Angeles Times reports he died at Los Angeles’ Daniel Rick Dunning Freeman Memorial Hospital, according to the announcement by DC Comics, which publishes Superman comics. Long-time Nashville fan Rick Dunning died January 27 of congestive heart failure following a second heart bypass "Siegel and classmate Joe Shuster were students at Cleveland’s operation. Dunning was widely known for the Satum-like Glenville High School when they began conjuring the proto awards he produced for Kubla Khan’s Frank R. Paul Awards. type of comic book superheroes in 1933. Siegel was the writer He drew many of the caricatures that appears on the con’s and Shuster, who died in Los Angeles in 1992 at the age of publicity flyers over the years. He was also involved with the 78, was the artist. con’s art show. Dunning had his first bypass operation five years ago. He requested that memorials be made to the "Initially, Superman was bald and villanous with mental rather American Heart Association. There will be an auction of his than physical powers. But within a year’s time, the duo unsold artworks to help meet medical expenses and support his developed him into his current muscular version, modeled, fiancee, Jody Day. [[Source: The NASFA Shuttle 2/96]] they said, on their movie hero Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Siegel put the "S" on Superman’s chest to make him instantly recognizable and gave him the red cape to add drama. ...Siegel Changes of Address and Shuster sold the characterto DC Comics in 1937, signing away their rights for $130. Superman debuted in Action Comics 1 in June 1938 and proliferated, with Siegel and Alan White Shuster writing and drawing the comic for the first decade. 6244 Chinook Way, Las Vegas, NV 89103 Janice Eisen "...When the creators sued for more money in 1947, DC 1424 Emmett Dr., Johnstown, PA 15905; Comics fired them. Siegel was reduced the supporting himself [email protected] as a mail room typist and Shuster worked as a janitor. In the Elliot & Carole Weinstein late 1970s, after the first of four Superman films starring 2717 San Angelo Dr., Claremont, CA 91711; e-mail: Christopher Reeve proved a box office hit, DC agreed to give [email protected] Siegel and Shuster $20,000 annual stipends for life (later Kevin Standlee increased to $30,000) and restored their creators’ credits. P.O. Box 64128, Sunnyvale CA 94088-4128 Mike Kingsley "Siegel also created the Spectre, which is still published by 1447 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38104-2987 File 770:112 7
News of Fandom
MidAmeriCon, was demolished on February 18 in a television-worthy explosion. The 1976 Worldcon, also known as Big MAC, suffered the birth pains of the modem era of large worldcons. Worldcons just about doubled in attendance between 1972 and 1974 and they seemed to have unlimited potential for growth, given that this was also the era of huge Trek fan conventions. So much controversy surrounded MidAmeriCon’s efforts to manage its anticipated record attendance that many members were deterred from coming and the actual turnout proved to be smaller than in 1974. At least as much of the controversy was about the growth and changes within fandom for which MAC was a convenient target of protest as it was about specific planning choices.
Betty Hull for Congress
which operate the legs and the lower Betty Hull, long time SF fan and wife Walt Wills Update body. This constriction causes acute of Frederik PohV ran in the primaries sciatica and numbness. However, bed as a write-in candidate for the U.S. Walt Willis came home from the rest arrested its progress and the Congress in the 8th Congressional hospital on Saturday, February 2^ after hospital fought shy of an operation, district, reports Karen Mermel of the spending several weeks there with which is difficult and dangerous, and National Space Society. This district is mobility problems. All that time, sent me home to see how I got on. I in the NW suburbs of Chicago. concerned fans followed his progress can now get up the stairs on my own online through Geri Sullivan, who two feet, whereas before I had to go up Hull, a college professor and writer, is posted what James White learned from on my hands and knees, and down on a Democratic candidate for Congress Madeleine Willis about the doctors’ my bottom, and as you see I can now opposing long-time incumbent Phillip latest thinking. hobble over to the Amstrad. So, so far Crane. Her issues are: women’s rights, so good. What I have to do now is making the tax laws fair and taking Walt Willis wrote to File 770 soon after convince Madeleine and the doctor that guns away from children. his release: "I was sent to hospital by I can drive." my GP to have an operation for spinal She ran as a write-in candidate because stenosis, which means a narrowing of ’76 Worldcon Site Leveled the Democratic party asked her to run at the gap in the lower backbone through the last minute. which pass all the muscles and nerves Kansas City’s Muelbach Hotel, site of 8 April 1996
FAPA Waitlist Evaporates after a huge blizzard blanketed the area house was not gutted. In fact, it wasn’t in two feet of snow. After four stressful even touched. Bastards!" Robert Lichtman reports that for the days coping with mother nature, mov first time since 1992, the Fantasy ers, delivery people, and transfer of our Canvassing for Art Amateur Press Association (FAPA), possessions (including two bewildered fandom’s first apa, has no waiting list. cats) from the apartment, we spent our Alex Eisenstein, editorial director of "This occasional state of affairs means first night in our new home on January Signature Books, is doing a book that interested parties can get in fairly 19." ...For the rest of the story, read the devoted to the sf art of Ed Emshwiller quicky," he emphasizes, and the mean forthcoming issue of Mimosa. (Emsh, as he was known). He is scour ing is both clear and a bit awe-inspiring ing the sf community for examples of to someone like me, who spent two In that issue, look for Part 3 of Forry Emsh artwork. While Eisenstein has years on the waitlist before becoming a Ackerman’s remembrances of times and access to the Emsh estate (Carol Emsh member in the 1970s (and remaining places past, this time about the post-war willer has given her permission for the one until about 1980). 1940s up to the 1952 Worldcon, when book) and a few well-known collec he was presented (very briefly) with the tions, he’s certain there’s a lot of good FAPA has a 65-member limit, which very first Hugo Award. Richard Brandt stuff in the hands of people who picked explains why there’s usually a waiting has an article about the filming of one it up in the 50s and 60s. He even has a list to get in. FAPA requires 8 pages a of the worst science fiction movies of wish-list if you’re interested. Contact year minimum activity. Annual dues are all time, by a resident of his home city Eisenstein at: 6208 N. Campbell, $15. To qualify for membership, one of El Paso. Lester Cole, one of the Chicago IL 60659. His phone is (312) must have published a fanzine within chairs of the 1954 Worldcon, makes his 274-7064. the past year (apazines qualify) or have first fanzine appearance in decades with published contributions in two fanzines a piece of fan history about the Little It Is The End, My Friend not published in the same metropolitan Men’s Club of the San Francisco area. Walter Willis continues his series of area. Anyone interested can apply to The GEnie online service, known for its Robert Lichtman (P.O. Box 30, Glen personal recollections with the story of the discovery of the ‘ATom’ (i.e., fan large population of SF writers and fans, Ellen, CA 95442). A FAPA mailing was acquired by Yovelle Renaissance ranges in size from 250-550 pages of artist Arthur Thomson). Besides those, we will also have articles by Kev Mc Corporation in late January. On the material: a back-issue FAPA mailing evening of January 31, the new owners can be purchased from the Official Veigh, Dave Kyle, Sharon Farber, Fred Lerner, and Vincent Clarke. gave subscribers less than five hours Editor Seth Goldberg (P.O. Box 27- notice that the monthly subscription rate 1986, Concord, CA 94527) for $4 (plus A copy of the last issue of Mimosa can would double at midnight. Many postage: $2.50 for US addresses, $3.50 subscribers jumped ship immediately, for non-US addresses). be purchased for $3.00 from: Nicki and Richard Lynch, P.O. Box 1350, Ger and many more canceled at the end of February. Mimosa: Neither Snow, mantown, MD 20875. Their e-mail address is: [email protected] Nor Sleet Endpapers Near Miss Nicki and Richard Lynch, editors of the Instant Message editor Mark Hertel Hugo-winning fanzine Mimosa, joyfully Paul Skelton (that is to say, Skel), continues the traditional irony of announced they have escaped the small bitterly complains that he has nothing to NESFA Clerks in IM 584. After record two-bedroom apartmentthat’s been their report in File 770. "Just to demonstrate ing someone’s request at the March 10 home since fire forced them from their how fannish fate conspires to kick me meeting that NESFA discussion groups townhouse a year ago. The townhouse in the teeth and prevent me from being be planned so they can be listed on the was completely rebuilt by last Novem ’newsworthy’ (like for instance the last page of the clubzine, Hertel added, ber, but by then the Lynches had Lynchae), we too had a fire in the "Discussion of the importance of the decided they didn’t want to live there house next door, in the very bedroom last page of the IM occurred all after again. They sold the place in December that shares an adjoining wall with the noon. Maybe a discussion group could and bought a larger, single family house den in which I am typing these words. look at 'The Impact of IM on Society they liked. The new house, they wrote Prompt action by the Fire Brigade, and Fannish Culture? ’ But then again, online, "is located on a quiet street, and responding from a depot on our estate, this will never be read because only the borders in the back on a section of meant that the blaze was extinguished last page of the IM is ever read." So parkland that cannot be developed in the before the adjoining wall did more than true. future. We were able to start moving in get slightly warm on our side. Our on January 16, which was the week File 770:112 9
Fannish Squirrel Revival mid-March. It features material by Greg Fandom in Aotearoa/ Benford, Richard Brandt, Sidney Cole man, Gary Hubbard, Christina Lake, New Zealand Henry L. "Knarley" Welch went small by Tim Jones game hunting in the February issue of Dave Langford, Dale Speirs, Steve his fanzine. "Last Tuesday night I Stiles and Paul Williams. He’s also entered our storage room to file some working on his next issue of Trap Door. Want to know where to find a science documents. I quickly realized I was not (Ah, I love the smell of toner in the fiction fan in New Zealand? Just ring alone when a decidedly rodent-like face morning....) your local political party. The latest hot peered up at me from behind the chairs. trend in New Zealand fandom is stand ...Upon soliciting advice I was told that Fan Fund News ing for public office. Well, perhaps I the Humane Society rents ’Have-a- exaggerate a little, but in my home city Heart’ traps specifically designed for Voters in the Down Under Fan Fund of Wellington, the nation’s capital, two squirrels. So on Thursday, Letha [Hen race will choose among Stephen Ded fen recently stood in the local body ry’s wife] obtained a trap and baited it man, Danny Heap and Perry Middle- elections, one for the city and one for with two peanut butter covered Ritz miss to be the delegate to L.A.con III. the regional council. Another stood in crackers. By Friday morning, the trap Ballots must be postmarked by April 15 nearby Dunedin. The bad news: none of had been raided of the crackers without and reach an administrator by April 22. them were voted in. Maybe the fannish being tripped. The squirrel also found Australian administrator is Alan Stew revolution in NZ politics is still just that it could range a little farther by art. North American administrators are around the comer. using the drop ceiling and spent a Pat and Roger Sims, 34 Creekwood portion of the day scolding Letha in the Square, Cincinnati, OH 45246-3811. One of these candidates in particular has laundry room. ...We decided to bring in an illustrious place in the recent history a professional. He indicated that the The Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund offers of New Zealand fandom. Frank Macs- squirrel had probably come down the voters a choice between ’Simo’ Simp kasy, Jr. co-founded the National Asso chimney and crawled through the son and Martin Tudor as a delegate to ciation for Science Fiction in 1976. The furnace’s heat exchanger. He set up a L.A.con III. Ballots must be received by founding of NASF, the first organisa trap with more aromatic bait. The an administrator by May 4. European tion to bring together the scattered poc squirrel chose instead to find the deco administrator is Abigail Frost. North kets of science fiction fandom in our rative com." At last report, Henry was American administrator is Dan Steffan, long, narrow country, enabled a coordi still chasing the squirrel by pounding on 3804 S. 9th Street, Arlington, VA nation of effort which led to our first ceiling tiles in hopes of driving it out 22204. And can it be? Installments of national SF convention in 1979. NZ through an open window. Dan Steffan’s trip report have already Natcons have been held every year appeared in Andy Hooper’s Apparatchik since, with the arguable exception of N3F Awards Given #53 and #54. 1985 (and let’s not get into that tangled debate here), and generally attract be tween one and two hundred fans, de The National Fantasy Fan Federation Robert Lichtman, 1989 TAFF winner, is pending on location, calibre or renown has been giving the Kayrnar Award adding installments to his report, too: of GoHs, and competing attractions in since 1959 to a hardworking N3F see his letter in The Fanivore (p. 16) for the form of other cons - although I member. This year’s winner is Craig information about how to get a copy of don’t believe there have ever been more Boyd, for his excellent work over the the work in progress. than five here in any one year. past three years on the club’s official FFANZ Vote results zine, The National Fantasy Fan. Past Natcon venues oscillate between the Kayrnar winners include Marianne four principal fannish centres, and the Turlington, Tim Gatewood, Catherine FFANZ’ (Fan Fund of Australia/New character of their conventions, viewed Mintz, William Center, Fred Jakobcic, Zealand) Australian administrator, from south to north, perhaps tells some Howard DeVore, K. Martin Carlson Donna Heenan, has announced the vote thing of the character of the fans in (from whom the award derives its tallies from the FFANZ race. (Thanks each. Dunedin conventions are generally name), Frank Denton, Harry Warner Jr., to Tim Jones for relaying them to File the smallest, attended by the ’hard core’ Sheryl Birkhead and Don Franson. 770.) Wrote Heenan, "Evan McCarthy of fans who go to cons primarily to will be going to Perth to represent NZ renew old acquaintances, and are more Fanthology ’92 Fandom as its new ambassador, winning concerned about the social life than the outright with an overwhelming majority programme; Dunedin conventions cater Robert Lichtman produced Fanthology of 20 votes out of 23." to them by taking a relaxed attitude to '92 for the Nashville Corflu, held in programming, although the Saturday 10 April 1996 evening variety shows put on by Dune relative lack of genzines, clubzines have later this year. Warp is likely to become din’s multi-talented fans have become a carried material well beyond the usual a bimonthly, two-page/electronic news highlight. minutes, club news, doings and wooings sheet modelled on Dave Langford’s and the like. NASF’s clubzine, Warp, Ansible; what will happen to the Na Christchurch conventions are generally has just passed Issue 100, and to mark tional SF and Fantasy Awards, adminis well-programmed, but it is a rare Chris the occasion released an all-fiction tered by NASF and presented at each tchurch convention committee which issue, with stories published in the mag year’s Natcon, is yet to be determined. does not undergo two or three schisms azine throughout its almost twenty during the organising process, as the years. A number of those who started What lies ahead? More enjoyable Nat- politics which make Christchurch the by contributing fiction to Warp and cons - Christchurch in ’96, Wellington Byzantium of NZ fandom are played other fanzines (fiction in fanzines does in ’97 (this latter convention being out. Harry Turtledove would be happy n’t carry the same stigma here that it organised by a number of younger fen there. Wellington, which hosted the does in the US) have gone on to profes- . with both media and literary back Natcon for four straight years in the sional publication both in NZ and over ground, and representing something of early 90s, puts on cons with a touch of seas. New Zealand’s best-known SF a passing of the torch from the ’70s to both Christchurch programming and writer is Phillip Mann, who didn’t come the ’90s generation). A major New Dunedin sociability; NZ’s largest con up through our fannish ranks (although Zealand presence if Australia wins the vention, DefCon, attracted 350 people he has subsequently contributed stories 1999 Worldcon. More NZ writers being in 1993, many of them neofans who to Phlogiston), but of those who have published professionally. And an in came to hear its roster of media and come up through fandom, Lyn McCon- creasing New Zealand fannish presence literary guests. DefCon’s main organis chie has recently had her first novel on the Internet, helping to breach the er, Lana Brown, is one of our most published in the US, and Peter Friend barriers of distance which are our main accomplished convention organisers. has started selling in the UK and US. obstacle to participating in the wider And Auckland, the largest city, with a Following several small-press SF/F world of fandom. background of having conventions evict anthologies, the recent launch of a com ed from their hotels for insulting the mercial New Zealand SF anthology ++ Tim Jones manager, came up trumps in 1995 with marks a breakthrough in the attitude of Conquest, a well-organised, enjoyable the publishing industry that ’no-one convention which was one of the last to wants to read New Zealand SF’. World Fantasy Awards be graced by Roger Zelazny. Writing isn’t the only artform in which Special Award, Non-Professional: Bryan That first Natcon, in 1979, was soon fans are making their mark. The New Cholfin, Broken Mirrors Press followed by the establishment of Aote- Zealand film industry, with The Piano, Special Award, Professional: Ellen arapa (derived from the Maori, and Once Were Warriors, and Heavenly Datlow alternative official, name for the coun Creatures leading the way, is on an Best Artist: Jacek Yerka try, Aotearoa), still the only New-Zeal- upsurge right now. The latter’s director Best Collection: Bradley Denton, The and based apa, and the Great New Zea Peter Jackson and his Wingnut Films Calvin Coolidge Home for Dead Come land Fanzine Boom. For three short have particularly strong links with the dians and A Conflagration Artist years, the country’s plentiful pine for fannish community; a number of fans Best Anthology: Ellen Datlow, Little ests were logged at a frantic rate to have either acted in or worked on spe Deaths furnish paper for clubzines, crudzines, cial effects for his movies, and Jackson Best Short Fiction: Stephen King, "The and such more enduring titles as Tom and his special effects chiefs, Richard Man in the Black Suit" Cardy’s Worlds Beyond and Rex Thom Taylor (models) and George Port (com Best Novella: Elizabeth Hand, "Last pson’s Paradox. The boom has subsid puters), have been guests at several Summer at Mars Hill" ed, but quality fanzines are still pro conventions. Best Novel: James Morrow, Towing duced in this country, the flagship being Jehovah Alex Heatley’s sercon genzine Phlog I’ve mentioned NASF several times Life Achievement: Ursula LeGuin iston, produced four times per year and already in this article. As a former now past Issue 40. My own genzine, Treasurer and President of the Associa Timbre, appears to gasps of surprise tion, I may be biased, but I believe it’s every three years or so. played an important role in unifying the country’s fandom (although it’s also Clubs, both media and general, have played a major role in several important played an unusually strong role in New feuds!). It appears, however, that NASF Zealand fandom, and because of the in its present form may be wound up File 770:112 11
World Fantasy Convention certainly a large number of pros there, amount of original fiction, including a and no doubt they did a lot of business. novella by GoH Lucius Shepard. The Baltimore, MD But this fan spent his weekend chatting con offered quite a substantial feast, October 26-29, 1995 with other fans, and had a lovely time. including quiche for breakfast and Bri Report by Martin Morse Since costumers, gamers, media fans mstone, a very good local beer. And the Wooster and punks with boomboxes were all dealer’s room had a large number of barred from the con, the people who did expensive goodies. Stuart Schiff, for show up were intelligent, sophisticated example, had a Lovecraft letter for sale, and literate. This was a refreshing as well as HPL’s copy of The Worm I hadn’t been to a World Fantasy change from many recent local conven Ouroboros. Another dealer had a copy Convention for over a decade, but 1 tions. of a jacketed hardcover edition of Pohl knew the con’s reputation well. It's just and Kombluth’s A Town is Drowning — for pros! Powerful writers and editors The World Fantasy Convention was which, given how rare any edition of will spend a weekend crushing each expensive, but gave good value for this book is, is a very significant dis other! You can't afford to buy anything money. The 700 members each got a covery. The Art Show had quite a range in the dealer’s room! large bag of goodies, including four of interesting art, including drawings paperbacks, one hardcover, four semi- from Howard Wandrei that were shown This is no doubt heresy, but the World prozoines, and a program book (attrac for the first time in fifty years. Fantasy Convention seemed like an tively designed by Science Fiction Eye’s upscale relaxacon to me. There were Steven Brown) with a substantial The programming 1 saw was mixed in 12 April 1996 quality. A session on "The Classical Saturday afternoon freezing rain began John Lorentz. (Gourmet chocolate and Roots of Fantasy" was a highly sophisti to fall, causing most of what few busi smoked salmon were regular features in cated panel that, in one hour, featured nesses were open in downtown Portland the suite.) Kate Yule, who styled herself references to Martin Amis, Jane Smiley, on a weekend evening to shut their Opinionated Local, compiled a local Toni Morrison, Edward O. Wilson and doors, fortunately not so early as to guide which I’ll keep using as my regu many other mainstream and fantastic prevent most of the attendees from lar resource on Portland, a city whose writers. The best way to sum up the getting a good dinner as we fanned out restaurant situation in particular I’ve panel came from this exchange, when to various restaurants. Sunday was just always had a hard time getting a grasp the panelists were discussing Gilga warmer enough to melt all trace of on. The dealer’s room spaciously ac mesh: friction off the ice coating the city. A commodated four voluminous book few of us ventured out to play skidding dealers. The best-seller of the weekend Nancy Kress: Which version of games on the sidewalk while watching was probably John Clute’s new collec Gilgamesh - the city trucks spread gravel on the streets. tion of reviews, Look at the Evidence Sumerian or the Bab The worst victims of the weather that I (Serconia Press). John D. Berry, who ylonian? knew of were locals Michelle and Harry designed the volume, brought copies David Drake: Why, the Sumerian, Howard, whose car battery died of the down from Seattle, displayed them of course. cold after they left Friday evening. It proudly, and gave plenty to Wrigley- took them 3 hours and 2 tow trucks to Cross Books to sell. But a memorial service for Roger Zel get home, and they never managed to azny was less successful, with the few get back to the convention at all. Mid But my vote for the best work goes to participants who knew Zelazny well westerners might scoff at the weather the program committee, Jane Hawkins (Jack Haldeman, George R.R. Martin) (and some did), but it was certainly and Luke McGuff. They took a scrap of interspersed with mawkish reminiscenc memorable by Portland standards. an idea I sent them, fashioned it into a es from people who knew him slightly panel titled "Creativity: The Quantity or not at all. Other than that, though, it was a terrific and the Process", talked me into moder convention. I’ve attended all of the ating it and gave plenty of help choos The banquet showcased the World Fan Potlatch series of literary sf conventions ing panelists, and we ended up with tasy Awards, which were given away in Seattle and Oakland/Berkeley. All of something several people told me was efficiently by Toastmaster Edward Bry them have been first-rate but none bet one of the best panels they’d ever at ant, who felt compelled to pass along ter than this, its first visit to Portland. tended. David Hartwell discoursed lear some peculiar news stories, such as the nedly on the shape of Philip K. Dick’s fate of thieves who broke into a fire Start with the hotel. The Imperial Hotel later career; Tom Whitmore, aided by works factory with a blowtorch. was a bargain and a great find. Though Vonda McIntyre from the audience, most of the rooms were small, and the gently corrected my interpretation of The World Fantasy Convention commit desk staff were not as familiar as they what happened to Roger Zelazny; Amy tee announced that the 1998 convention should have been with the habits of the Thomson talked about beginning as a would be in Monterey, CA. The con airport shuttles, the service was top- novelist today; and Ursula K. Le Guin vention will be in Schaumburg, IL in notch (especially the speedy maids), the introduced the concept of the "cranford" 1996 and in London in 1997. checkout time was 2 p.m., the food was (after a book by Mrs. Gaskell) for a good, the bar at the dance had no set-up collection of connected short stories — charge, the pictures of many years’ a broader concept than the "fixup", and Potlatch 5 Pendleton Rodeo Queens on the walls with less negative connotation. near the con suite made a great conver Portland, OR sation piece, and we were only four The other four panels on Potlatch’s February 2-4, 1996 blocks from Powell’s, Portland’s city— single-track Saturday program were Report by David Bratman block-sized bookstore. What more could equally fascinating. In "What Fantasy anyone want? Does For Us”, Karen Voorhees read a Potlatch 5 will be remembered for, lucid ten-minute summary of the histori among other things, a disaster that was The committee, led by the tremendously cal roots of speculative fiction, followed no fault of the committee nor even of witty and energetic David Levine, did a by views from the contemporary per the hotel. It was the weather. The Pacif superb job and were always in good spective by Sarah Goodman, Mike Mar ic Northwest had been suffering from humor. All of the operations went well, ano, and Suzy McKee Chamas. Jerry an unusual cold spell, and the high for which credit should go especially to Kaufman’s panel on the unwritten bar temperature in Portland on Friday, Feb hotel liaison Debbie Cross, registrar gain between writer and reader was a ruary 2, was about 20 degrees F. Late Ruth Sachter, and tireless con suite host free-flowing dialogue involving the File 770:112 13
L. A. Con III Site Selection Press Release by Covert Beach
As of the deadline on March 2, 1996 two groups have successfully filed to bid for the 57th World Science Fiction Convention to be held in 1999. The bids are (in order of filing):
Name: Worldcon in Zagreb 1999 (a.k.a. PRO- Australia in ’99 JEKT SF) Date: Not announced in the filing. September 1-5, 1999 (Wed - Sun) Committee: Krsto A. Mazuranic, Maja Cetineo, Rea Stephen Boucher, Donna Heenan, Eric Lindsay, Steiner. Perry Middlemiss, Dick Smith, Leah Zeldes Smith, and Alan Stewart. Site: Zagreb, Croatia. Melbourne, Australia Facilities: Zagreb Inter-Continental Hotel, Stu World Congress Centre, Centra on the Yarra dent’s Convention Centre, the Cibona Hotel. Dome, and the Technical Museum. Contact: Worldcon in Zagreb; c/o ATLAS; Suite Ain99; P.O. Box 99; Bayswater; Vic 3153; 1999; Lastovska 23; 10000 Zagreb; Australia Croatia
The bids have agreed upon a voting fee of US$35. Voting fees will only be accepted in US funds. Conversion to at tending on the ballot is not anticipated at this time.
audience as much as panelists Debbie ble items. This was followed by the of ingenious entries, including the anon Notkin and Steve Swartz. game "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", ymous one whose artist turned the pic where Mark, Ellen, David Levine, and ture upside down and drew anti-grav Dave Howell, formerly of the book D Potter improvised stories in the style boots around the characters’ feet, but division at Wizards of the Coast, was of famous authors, impersonated aliens, the winner was my own Berni Phillips, on Jane Hawkins’ panel, "Future Fic found new uses for strange objects, and who took one gray crayon and drew tion", wisely comparing the balance otherwise greatly entertained the audi "The ’Lathe of Heaven’ version". between structure and freedom in role ence. Page Fuller moderated and kept playing games to the same balance in the performers in line. But the best line at Potlatch was heard musical improvisation. Elise Mathesen by just a few people in the elevator one pointed out the advantages online story On Friday evening, after the mock trial afternoon. Several of us were riding up, telling workshops can offer the disabled, of R.L. Fanthorpe (which I missed), listening to the hotel’s sound system shut-in, and those with awkward person Jane showed a videotape she had man play the Blue Danube Waltz. "Does this al schedules. The last panel was "Every aged to track down of the rare PBS film remind anybody of the spaceship in thing You Know Is Wrong", where a of Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven. 2001?", I asked as the elevator glided to now time-honored collection of Potlatch Afterwards, Ursula herself answered a stop at one floor. "We need to talk gonzos, including Eileen Gunn, Pat audience questions about the adaptation, about this, Dave," responded Karen Murphy, and the ever-inventive Ellen whether a commercial video will ever Voorhees, ducking out just before the Klages, dared the audience to pose any be released (the owners of the rights, doors closed. truism about writing, publishing, and WNET-TV, don’t seem interested), her marketing, determined to refute any appearance in the film as an extra, and Except for the weather-based misfor thing. her opinions of Philip K. Dick. tunes, this convention was just about perfect, and I’ll treasure its memory Much the same spirit prevailed on Sun Another oddity of this Potlatch was a permanently. day, where Mark Bourne, assisted by do-it-ourselves artshow. The committee Ellen, Tom Whitmore, and others, provided several photocopies of a Stu raised a heap of dough for Clarion West Shiffrnan cartoon, plus a box of cray (about $3900) by auctioning off Harlan ons, and Stu judged a contest for best Ellison’s pipe, a nude sculpture of Amy colored version. There were a number Thomson in chocolate, and other nota 14 April 1996
The Fanivore
Harlan Ellison transparent agenda of meanspiritedness. Henri, long-distance ’twixt LA/Sweden. So, as has been my policy for two de On two widely separated occasions cades, Mr. Priest can continue to beat subsequent to the announcement that What is this, actually the first letter I’ve off, and by doing so stay in the public Platt and Andy Porter and Gregory ever written to File 770? If not the first, eye, like a smudge of dirt blown by the Feeley and the others who proudly not far from it. I just don’t respond to much of what mentions I get in your wind, not by the fruits of his talent, but announced themselves as Enemies of by riding my coat-tails. Ellison had block-lobbied to get Priest’s pages, I try to stay removed from worthless screed on the ballot in charm fandom and all of the "Chinese What I will respond to, are your com whispers" gossip that garbles as a ing hope it would humiliate me. ments that both Norman and John-Henri condition of existence. (Increased a Holmberg had been assigned by me to The phone conversations began with thousandfold in frequency, vituperation, knock Priest’s block off, if he won. As one or the other of us commenting on and simple wrongness by the Internet.) those who remember will attest, I am this aberration, and one or the other of more than capable of traveling great Also don’t write, because we have a us saying, "He ought to be punched in distances to knock the block off evildo free-flow of telephonic verification the snoot" (it was likely I who said it, between us, not only because we live ers. Hasn’t Chas. Platt held the grudge but who can remember such useless nearby each other, but because we don’t for years? Isn’t that in fact one of the triviata), and both Norman and John- reasons Mr. Platt and his Ellison-hating Henri remarking on their intended atten seem to have a problem calling for chums (prominent among whom is that dance, and one or another of us suggest clarification. So it is with a teensy dollop of bewilderment that 1 read the same Mr. Christopher Priest, named in ing that Mr. Priest should be hit in the snippet in your Glasgow con report the Enemies of Ellison Newsletter as its head with the Hugo implement even as about my alleged "commission to punch "Overseas Representative" or somesuch he raised it aloft in victory. There was also, as I recall imperfectly, mention of out Christopher Priest if he wins a silly designation) began their gang-ven- Hugo" for that pukey little diatribe of detta several years ago? Is there anyone Laws Rockets, bamboo slivers in sushi, his. out there who knows me at all, who enemas with a roto-rooter, and even the doubts that I would think no more about programmed decay of space junk orbits So enough is quite enough. getting on a plan and going to Glasgow so an enormous weight might descend to do such a deed if I felt so moved, on the Darting Priest at his moment of Please note that in the more than twenty than I would about squashing between glory, such weight dropping, pro forma, years that Priest’s cavils against me thumb and forefinger a roach that had from a great height. have floated out there - either by gotten into my cornflakes? I sweep the crap out of my Augean stables personal poisonous word of mouth, by letter, by It was chatter, Mike. It was about as ly. I don’t hire mercenaries. fanzine article, or in the several serious as most of the harebrained incarnations of his pamphlet -- which he dream-scenarios you, and I, and certain (And if I were hiring mercenaries, even pathetically admitted to Norman Spinrad ly many of your readers have every day as contumelious as my old pal Norman with their close friends. and others at Glasgow had "sold more can be when he’s aroused, I would try copies than any of my own [Priest’s, to do a lot more lean and mean than Now. Why do I bother replying? And in that is] books" - I have never either Norman or the gentle, good- writing? responded. Not a line. Nor will I now. hearted and soft-spoken John-Henri Those who are involved with The Last Holmberg. Do we begin to see a faint Because left unchallenged, this would Dangerous Visions, and those who light of reason penetrating the domain be one more arrow in the Enemies of know me, will separate truth and of this "Chinese whisper"?) Ellison quiver. Like this: "Did you hear circumstance from "truth" cast in a false the latest? That monster Ellison tried to light to denigrate and impair. Even It was a gag, Mike. It was an idle wool kill poor, impaired Chris Priest just Galen Tripp -- who has my deep thanks gathering of cheery chat between me because he told the ugly truth about - in the same issue with your and Norman, long-distance telecon Ellison’s war crimes!" Priest and Platt comments, points out Priest’s ’twixt LA/Paris, between me and John- and Feeley and Porter and their minions File 770:112 15 already employ a sufficiently hardy thug On the Dramatic Hugo question, you Henry L. Welch bunch in their ongoing efforts to paint should probably have added my later post (Sept. 25): me dark; they don’t need help from my Thanks for File 770:111. The copy has friends. been sitting around my office for about I recently talked to Joe Ross, who intro a week waiting for two minutes to rub duced the 1971 change in the Dramatic together to dash off an e-loc. I liked Evelyn C. Leeper Hugo. As he recalls it, the sponsors some of the behind-the-scenes informa were aware that their wording would tion from Intersection. 1 suspected dif slightly restrict the range of eligibility, Having read what Carole Resnick said ferences in venue arrangements, but I and considered this a felicitous side to Mike Resnick as his final chance for had no idea it was as different as you effect. (I gather they felt that things like a Hugo came up at Intersection (re: describe. Then again, the two hotels in the Apollo 11 TV coverage extended Stableford having a novella nominated), Milwaukee I’ve worked with use very the range too far.) However, this point I am now a believer in reincarnation, different booking policies. seems not to have come up at the Busi because I am convinced that in a previ ness Meeting. ous life Carole was the person who, as In regard to Harry Warner, Jr.’s com the Roman conqueror rode in triumph ments about the SF Portrait Gallery, I Am 1 correct in guessing that "He was through the streets of the city, crouched was wondering how much of an overlap basically a her" (p. 15) should have read in the chariot whispering, "Thou art there is between the Portrait Gallery and mortal." (This of course conjures up "a hermfr"? the already printed book The Faces of visions of Mike Resnick as a Roman Science Fiction? I’ve only glanced at conqueror, whereas I have it on good [[You ’re right.]] the two briefly over the years and coul authority — i.e., some nameless fan -- dn’t really say myself. that wearing all his Hugo pins he is more aptly compared to a South Ameri Allan D. Burrows can general in full regalia.) Harry Warner Jr. I do wish to comment on the redoubt On another note, I would like to clarify able Mr. Wamer’sreply to my dismissal You are undoubtedly perspiring at this of Trufandom. He seems to have missed my complaint about the Hugo nominees moment over your worldcon issue of party. I was saying that it was tacky the point. The problem with Trufandom File 770. I was perspiring without wor is not that it isn’t popular: compared to (actually I said it was "a bit tacky") that king on a newzine when your August the mundane, no aspect of fandom is beverages were not provided. "Drinks" issue arrived because the stupendously often implies alcoholic and I was not popular (except possibly Star Trek, and hot summer in the northeast was still I wouldn’t even bet on that). The prob objecting to the lack of free booze. I going strong. Finally I’m able to write lem is that with a few notable excep would add that my avoidance of meat some Iocs in bearable temperatures, undoubtedly contributed to my response tions (the self-same Mr. Warner, Geri because the hottest summer in the past -- most of the hot dishes seemed to Sullivan, and of course, yourself) Tru- century in Hagerstown has finally eased contain meat in some form. As we say fans do their best to remain as unpopu up. on the Net, your mileage may vary. lar -- indeed, as unknown -- as possible! Mr. Warner’s very reply is an excellent The August issue was to me the equiva example of this. According to him, lent of a story in which many bad Trufandom is "real fandom" and the rest George Flynn things happen but there is an unexpect of fandom is just a bunch of spinoffs, ed happy ending. I don’t know if you while only illiterates are unaware of the Hey, even if you didn’t get your World- planned it that way, but the existence of true heart and soul of sf/f! It hardly con report out til New Year’s, you still those three conreports at the end written takes much of a leap of imagination to beat SF Chronicle by at least two by persons who were happy about their picture him looking down his nose at weeks. experiences provided a good feeling to Those Others and sneering, (although, replace the distress I feel over some of as we both know, he’s really far too Actually, the rule allowing an autono the previous things described. much the gentleman to do that). My mous Hugo subcommittee first passed in experience with Trufandom is that this 1974. 1 don’t recall how they finessed It’s too bad Irwin Allen is dead. From annoying attitude is the norm, not the the issue in 1973, but in 1971 Hal Cle those accounts of Dragon*Con, 1 gather exception. It’s little wonder then, that ment resigned from the concom (he’d that its sponsors could have sold film those few fans who do hear of fanzine been the treasurer) so Star Light would rights to him for a huge sum. fandom are quickly turned off by it. be eligible. Ross Pavlac’s description of the [NAS- 16 April 1996
fiC] art show and dealers’ room made this do to the organization’s income? anything running to more than two or me wonder if fans in wheelchairs were Presumably it will mean a lowered three pages of type." But the sort of able to get around in them. It must have number of votes and donations from typical current fanzine he describes - been very difficult if not impossible, fanzine fandom. Will conventions allot containing "short editorials, condensed judging by his estimates of the size of more money to TAFF to take up the reviews of books and movies, columns the aisles. Isn’t there some sort of regu slack? of chatter about this or that, short-short- lation that requires facilities for the short fiction" - is a type that’s always handicapped in public events? The Star Trek reprint gives me further been with us under various titles and confidence that ST enthusiasts inhabit a editorships, from various parts of the I hope when I die I get an obituary like slightly different universe from the rest world, forever. I don’t think, however, the one Ross wrote for Curt Clemmer. of us. Star Trek "is perhaps the most that the percentage of fanzines I see that Since I don’t go to cons, I never knew successful entertainment franchise in contain meaty material of some length Curt but he must have been a very fine history"? I think Disney went ahead of varies beyond a certain range from person and he couldn’t have hoped for ST a half-century ago and has been decade to decade. Such fanzines are also a better sendoff in File 770 than this increasing its lead ever since. Chances always with us. Certainly Harry’s Spac one. Besides, Ross preserves in print in are that even Superman has been the eways would be one such exception, as this manner the story of the day he cause of more spinoffs and publicity would my Trap Door — and this very wore an aardvark costume to a friend’s and fans. TV Guide says Baywatch is issue of File 770 in which Harry’s letter wedding, an anecdote I haven’t seen in the leading syndicated television show appears features your 10-page Intersec print before and one which deserves on a worldwide basis. Star Trek hasn’t tion report. inclusion in the large volume which will done well on a non-syndicated basis: its someday appear containing the history first three years on a commercial net Harry mentions this in the context of of fandom in the 1980s. work drew low ratings, and its most "possible reasons for the shortage of recent network manifestation, Star Trek: TAFF reports in recent years," and as Guy Lillian III had previously informed Voyager, ended up tied for 87th place one of those whose report has been me of the sad news about Harry Moore among network offerings last season absent, might I offer an additional rea through his SFPAzine. I suppose we’ll with a 7.9 rating, out of 132 series son to the ones Harry lists. In my case, never know the details about Harry’s shown during the 1994-1995 season. I was a very active fan prior to my final years. I can only assume that he TAFF trip and remained nearly as ac wasn’t functioning well mentally as he I liked very much John Hertz’ article on tive in my regular fanac following the grew older and this accounted for the the article in The Nation. The warning trip, in addition to taking on three years neglect of his science fiction treasures, with which Mark Twain prefaced Huck of administration. Actually, it’s not like rather than a deliberate revulsion against leberry Finn should be printed on a I haven’t done a report at all. It’s more the field. flyleaf of every novel that comes off the like I haven’t gotten around to finishing presses, unless the author specifically it. Every time I find myself writing a TAFF continues to maintain its reputa thinks he has achieved propaganda for little bit of the report in a letter to an tion as one of the most fertile spawning some issue or other in his story. other fan, I move that text into the grounds for arguments in fandom. I appropriate part of my report-in-prog shouldn’t discuss the latest brouhaha ress. I offered copies of this r-i-p (hm- since I stopped contributed to fan funds Robert Lichtman mm, interesting acronym) in the first during the decline of interest rates and issue of my TAFF newsletter. At that their recent rise won’t affect my invest time it was around 6,000 words; now The issues of File 770 continue to roll ment income for a more years. it’s up to nearly 8,500. Anyone who couple in, the one-one-oneth being the latest. But I do wonder how much contact sends me a $3 donation to TAFF (pay Enjoyed your report on Intersection, and able to me) and a long SASE can get a with fanzine fandom most of the recent was pleased to read that you were with trip winners have had. Do they make a copy. This offer has appeared in various drawing from contention for this year’s specific effort to visit fanzine fans when places since I stopped publishing a Hugos. If I were in your position, I TAFF newsletter, but damn’ few have traveling around the host country? Do would cite the same discomfort you taken me up on it. For all the occasional they hang out with fanzine fans at the were experiencing. convention? Most of them do little or clamor over the lack of recent TAFF nothing about writing accounts of their reports, it’s a little odd that more have In the lettercol, Harry Warner Jr. opines n’t sent for mine. Meanwhile, I offer up travels for fanzines. that fanzine fandom has drifted away my continued activity in fandom by from long pieces of writing in fanzines way of lagniappe: my genzine, partici But if convention fans are the new over the past couple of decades. "Very pation in four apas (an official in two of choice to receive TAFF trips, what will few fanzines today," he alleges, "publish File 770:112 17 them), attendance at numerous conven vention Centre’s Hall 4, if I’d been Teddy Harvia tions since my TAFF trip. there. From this distance, the descrip tions I’ve read about it have made me Diana and I after the con went to visit suspect I would have been happy be British fan Terry Hornsby in Leeds, cause it apparently was quite similar to Madeleine Willis who’d expressed an interest in seeing a how things used to be on the midway of Hugo rocket. Just happening to have the Great Hagerstown Fair with booth Thank you for your notes re Intersec one with me, I obliged. But on the way vendors shouting at individuals in the tion, especially the remarks about John we first went sightseeing in York. I crowd, kids screaming on the rides, a Brunner. Walter and I have always had carried the heavy rocket in the Roman barker at a sideshow using a public a proprietary interest in John since his baths, on the Viking exhibit ride and up address system to attract customers, and first story was published in Slant. 275 steps to the top of York Minster at least three people you hadn’t seen for tower. Whew! years simultaneously trying to converse Reading Harry’s letter about the short with you. I used to love that and alas, I length of today’s published fannish won’t be able to find it in Hagerstown articles prompts me to put forward my Lloyd Penney own theory. Today fans’ attention span any longer. The fair died several years is being assaulted on all sides ~ the ago and now the group that owns the grounds has decided to tear down most As you say, balancing the chairing of a Internet, television, etc. - and many are of the buildings and sell off portions of Worldcon and the editing of a newzine affected with the C.R.A.F.T. syndrome isn’t easy, but it looks like the jobs are (Can’t Remember An Effing Thing). the big fairgrounds to anyone interested. getting done. Add to that the rigors of a I don’t think the SECC will have as job and everyday married life, and I’d wonder when you sleep. (I’m sure Harry Warner, Jr. neighbor a convention center "resem bling the Sydney opera house." It’s you’re wondering, too.) against all the laws of probability that This is a very painful letter to write. humanity will ever construct another I’m looking forward to BucConeer, but No, I have no information for you on building looking like that structure. The first, we have to scrape up the bucks to the death of a fan or a pro, and I am only real imitations of it have been gifts convert presupports. The high conver not about to unleash a savage attack at I’ve bought people for Christmas after sion rates surprised us, and I may have you. Instead, it’s my fingers that hurt I’ve finished wrapping them. to wait until L.A.con III to buy our like fury with every push at a key, memberships. (Ghod, I hope I can af thanks to the dreadful winter weather Nobody had told me about Gil Gaier’s ford that, too!) this part of the nation has experienced death until I read Rex Winn’s good since early January. Lotions that prom obituary notice. It’s sad but at least Gil In 1989, when the Canvention was held ise to heal chapped hands aren’t ade differed from most deceased fans by in Ottawa, there was some fuss when quate for such a spell of cold, ice and living a normal lifespan. All too many Paul Valcour, a member of the concom wind. fans have been dying in or just short of and the Aurora Awards subcom, also middle age. Gil was very active at the won an Aurora for his work on the Of course, 1 enjoyed your 111th issue height of his involvement in fanzine convention. This happenstance didn’t (and just think, never again will you fandom, although I suppose half of quite have an above-board appearance, publish an issue whose number con today’s fans have never heard of him, so a rule prohibiting award adminis sumes as little ink as that one) and because of his inactivity in recent years. trators from being eligible for an award didn’t mind at all the lateness of the We got along very well on paper, al was instituted at a CanVention business worldcon report. It followed the usual though I felt a sense of shock when he meeting the next year, and this has pattern of conreports by telling me either revealed or made up his main unofficially become known as the Val some things I hadn’t read before about reason for being in fandom. cour rule. the event, no matter how many other * accounts of the Scotland con I’ve seen I assume the sketches on your penulti I know press relations are a necessary in recent months. You were particularly mate page are of recently deceased pros. part of any large con [like Intersection], strong in the detailed reporting of the Asimov and Wollheim are easily recog especially something as different as a death of John Brunner and of the trib nizable, and I think Bob Bloch is there, science fiction con, but why does the utes paid to his memory in Glasgow. too, but I’m not sure of several of them. press feel the need to dump on us? Being a trained journalist, I’ve tried to Of course, I don’t know how I would [[I didn't recognize one of them, myself figure it out, but besides the need for a have reacted to the cacophony that perhaps Ray Capella will answer your flashy picture of a ridgy-headed Kling existed in the Scottish Exhibition Con question?]] on to make people smile, I don’t know 18 April 1996 why the press automatically hates sf 1995 worldcon you did not buy a voting son to be a liar and procrastinator of people. Maybe Harry Warner can shed membership in the 1998 con, or presup Olympian proportions is merely a con some light on this. I’m sure the topic’s port the Baltimore bid. Then you proba sequence of the facts. been rehashed many times, but it always bly wouldn 't have been contacted by the seems to be current. The press coverage 1998 site selection winners. It's not Evidently, Galen Tripp is lucky enough in Winnipeg was actually good, but 1 customary for a new worldcon to do an not to be one of the dozens of profes think the con being one of the biggest extra mailing to the members of the sionals who have had stories tied up by money events in Winnipeg had some just-concluded worldcon who have been Ellison for long periods of time (in thing to do with it. getting PR's with bid advertising and some cases more than two decades) so site selection information all along. perhaps he doesn’t realize just how [[Although John Mansfield enjoyed the Admittedly, a few potential members aggravating Ellison’s inability to com advantage that his Worldcon was the may fall between the cracks.]] plete the project has been to a sizeable province’s biggest conference of the percentage of the science fiction com year, ConAdian 's good press had more And if Intersection mailed out their munity. Priest did not write his history to do with his extensive contacts to program books by now, that never got in order to make people dislike Ellison. prepare media representatives in ad here either. I’ve written to them about it (Harlan had done that very nicely by vance of the event and the attentive but haven’t received an answer or book himself.) He wrote it so that those who support they received when they covered as yet. weren’t directly involved with the pro the con. A Worldcon theoretically can ject would have a better understanding identify reporters in advance as they [[T.R. Smith, Intersection’s Vice Chair of just what a screwed-up mess the apply for press credentials (which jour and Division Head for North American whole thing had been. nalists are likely to do whether that Operations, announced online that "...- year's Worldcon actually gives passes). the US and Canadian programme books If a committee can spare the people to went out [February 22] via 4th class Christopher Priest work with reporters it can have a lot of (bound printed matter) for US and via influence over the tone of what is pub ValuePost for most of the Canadians (I I have seen a copy of File 770:111. I’d lished. I know Intersection did some of was short 5 sacks for the eastern prov like to say that during the Glasgow this, but my impression from seeing the inces and they didn’t have arty at the worldcon I had cordial encounters with committee’s e-mail is that they couldn 't post office, so they just put those 11 both John-Henri Holmberg and Norman programme books in with 1st class mail afford to assign very many people to Spinrad. I have always been on friendly shepherdjournalists. And in the case of to CDN...boy, are
should be on the Hugo ballot was one 1 the post office counter." (A quasi-quote Tom Endrey rather shared. He should ask the fans because I didn’t want to look through who nominated it, and later voted for it, 259 issues of Yandro to see just which I just got # 110 and have to comment on why they did this thing he finds so one we published it in and make sure the part related to the NASFiC. I much amazing. He should also realize that the it’s perfectly correct.) Or that he would enjoyed Ross Pavlac’s well-written word "feud" is regularly used by Harlan write and sell two or three potboilers article and consider it a complimentary Ellison and his apologists about the while he was working on a good novel. comment. Janice Gelb’s comment is Book on the Edge of Forever, because (Didn’t matter; I liked most of his pot hostile, bitchy, even bending the truth so long as they can convince themselves boilers, too, and when I didn’t, he did for her own purposes (whatever they it’s a feud they don’t have to admit the n’t argue the matter.) I think his best are.) awkward facts it lists, or address the novel was probably The Great Steam serious issue it raises. Mr. Tripp should boat Race, but then I like good histori [[You’ve got to be kidding....]] read my book with an open mind, and cal fiction as well as science fiction. then see if the emotional language he So your "two thumbs down" are not two uses in his letter ("dislike", "petty bick The Book on the Edge of Forever is thumbs down at all. Considering the ering", "embarrassment", "sleazy", and indeed anti-Harlan -- making fun of amount of entertainment they provided so on) is still appropriate. Harlan would be more accurate. But has for the amount of money it cost, they anyone, including Harlan, found any came through with flying colors. ...To While I’m writing, let me impart to you specific errors of fact? The presentation comment on SMoF worries: they are a couple of fragments of my own news. could be regarded as tasteless (it is well placed, the NASFiC had more My new novel, The Prestige, has just tasteless, but it’s also exceedingly fun events and more fun, than many World- been awarded the James Tait Black ny), but the facts haven’t been chal cons in recent years; for less than half Memorial Prize for Fiction, for 1995. It lenged, as far as I know, and I don’t at the door price ($60). The bottom line is also shortlisted for this year’s Arthur believe Harlan has ever apologized to in somewhat stronger language: there is C. Clarke Award. The Prestige will be the authors whose work he kept unpub something VERY, VERY wrong with published by St. Martin’s Press later lished. (He’s been accused of lying to Worldcon finances, if membership fees this year. them, which I don’t believe; I think he are so high. Gross incompetence, waste fully intended to do everything he pro and personal greed comes to mind. mised. But he didn’t do it, and you Buck Coulson know the phrase about good intentions.) That Baltimore won is due to the fact that many common fen still perceived Interesting to see Gytha North listed as Juanita and I ended a forty-plus year Atlanta’s bid as a Dragon*Con bid and "event organizer" for the Hugo Awards; record in January. For the first time in they equated Dragon*Con with a gam 1 recall her vividly as an excellent filk- our convention-attending, we had to ing con. (Which hasn’t been true for 4- singer at the 1979 Brighton Worldcon. stay over a day because of bad weather. 5 years.) At least that was the opinion The irony is that the con was Musicon, of the people I talked to in Glasgow. Amateur writers saying "but it’s a true in Nashville, TN, and the specific wea story" are fairly common, from what ther was a snowstorm. If you can’t trust I’ve heard from various writing instruc the Sunny South for good convention Tom Feller tors. The real point isn’t whether it’s weather, what can you trust? We might true or not, but whether it’s presented have tried it; I think we could have got out of Nashville. But Kentucky had I guess I don’t qualify as a Worldcon believably in the story. Robert L. Ripley Smof. I never thought that the Atlanta used to present hundreds of facts in his closed and barricaded highways at the state border, so we had no way of get in 1998 bid was a serious contender. "Believe It or Not" column that it For years, certain fans have been telling would take an exceptionally talented ting home without an extra night some where; possibly sleeping in the car next me that Dragon*Con is better than a author to make "believable" in a story. Worldcon. However, these fans are (I trust that Delany pointed this out to to the police barricade. So we and a lot of other fans stayed in the hotel, which oriented primarily toward gaming, com the would-be author, as well as discov was nice enough to extend the conven ics and media. In addition, they never ering that the story wasn’t true after tion rate for an extra night. (Why not? seem to have any money. For them to all.) Nobody was coming in from outside, spend money on the possibility that certainly.) Odd hotel; the lobby and Atlanta would win the Worldcon and Mostly 1 recall Brunner by the things he entrance from the parking lot was on hold it three years in the future was said. Such as "The problem with being the second floor. The first floor was in inconceivable. The only ones I expected a starving artist is that eventually you the basement. to vote for Atlanta are those that vote get too weak to lift the manuscript up to strictly on geography. 20 April 1996
Between Ross Pavlac’s report and the I think it’s incumbent upon you to Jeude, and I think raking up both in the info you assembled, your coverage of check your facts when attacking the same sentence is inflammatory at best Dragon*Con was very thorough. Like winner of TAFF. And I think you can and serves no genuinely useful purpose, most people, I was surprised at the poor very easily tell Dan and me apart. unless you think inflaming a quasi-war organization, except for registration. between "convention fans" and the rest After all, Dragon*Cons routinely draw [[We agree that it’s very easy to tell of us is useful. more people than the largest-ever Worl- you and Dan apart. Since we know that, dcon. I had presumed that Drag- and we know that half the people who I have chaired conventions (including a on*Con’s committee would function get File 770 also get Blat!, no one Worldcon) and I’ve been attending like a well-lubricated machine. I was could be persuaded that Dan actually conventions since 1955. Some of my disappointed, because it at times looked wrote your part of the zine, so why best friends are primarily focussed on like a convention run by neofans. For pretend that’s what I attempted? As conventions rather than fanzines. So instance, the one-way aisles in the art Blat! 's co-publisher, Dan bears respon what? We’re all fans. show discouraged me from going sibility for Blat! 's attacks on Samanda through more than once. Jeude. That is the point. And 1 strongly I don’t care to be pigeonholed as a disliked seeing a TAFF candidate sink "fanzine fan" if by so doing it is any 1 asked one of my friends who goes to to the level of associating himself with one’s intent to diminish my participa Dragon*Con every year if the dealer’s attacks on another Taff candidate.]] tion in the rest of fandom. But fanzines room was always in the basement of the are the glue that binds fandom together, Hilton. He replied that it was, but that For what it’s worth, I don’t think I gives us a voice and brings us into our the art show is usually in one of the "ridiculed" Jeude’s TAFF platform so first contact with each other. Were it meeting rooms on the second floor. He much as I took it apart and exposedto not for fanzines I might not have met thought they were showing videos in the ridicule. The basic problem with Jeude’s Franz Miklis in Scotland - or, if I had, rooms usually utilized by the art show. candidacy was that most of fanzine it would have been as a second-string (At the 1986 Worldcon, the dealer’s fandom, and almost all of British fan contributor to the art show. room was in the Hilton basement as dom, had never before heard of her, and well, but the art show was across the thus we were all forced to form whatev [[It's true that fanzines are the glue that street in the basement of the Marriott er opinions we might based on her binds my fannish experience and have Marquis.) platform. I have not yet had the oppor given me a voice. But I never assumed tunity to meet Jeude, nor has any of her my subjective experience superseded Samanda Jeude’s treatment by support supporters filled me in on what sort of that of other people engaged in what we ers of Dan Steffan in this year’s TAFF person she really is (beyond what I would call "mainstream fanac" for race has really ticked me off. I’ve de quoted from the Lynches in that editori whom fanzines are unimportant. The cided that I’m not going to support the al). (Indeed, none of her supporters has number offanhistory-conscious conven fund in future years unless a friend of even written a letter in support of her, tion-running fans has grown even faster mine is running. I don’t recall Dan despite my request for a dialogue on the than the number of genzine/clubzine/- himself saying nasty things about Sam subject.) And her platform alienatedme. newzine publishers over the past two anda, but I did receive Blat! #4 in I thought it was too-coy, oddly sexist decades. (Unfortunately, either number which Ted White unfairly dissected (the reference to her apparently abun is a tiny fraction of the people who call Samanda’s platform. dant breasts), and betrayed not even a themselves sffans.)]] nascent fannishness. I don’t believe I’m the only one who had this reaction, and Finally, just to talk for a moment about Ted White I don’t think anyone but Jeude herself is a convention, I hardly recognized the to blame for it. Disclave I attended from Wooster’s report. I can understand that he over Without getting into the actual merits [[So you felt that Jeude’s lousy TAFF looked the attendance of John and Eve discussed in those "sharp attacks" on platform licensedyou to write contemp Harvey (British fans), but I’m amazed "their very right to participate" in tuously about her and her husband, her he was able to overlook the looming TAFF, I am annoyed by the breezy way physical disabilities and her integrity, presence of the Alt.Bondage party -- you dismiss any right to controversy and quibble whether that was "ridi which took up half a floor of rooms and over the candidacies of Martha Beck cule"?]] could easily be said to have dominated and Samanda Jeude -- in which you the convention. (If you know what I misspell Jeude’s name (as "Samantha") For what it’s worth, my same editorial mean.) "Goths" indeed! and attribute a section of my editorial in dismissed any genuine parallel between Blat! #4 to Dan solely in order to con the TAFF candidacies of Beck and demn him for it. File 770:112 21
Dave Rike cudgels on behalf of something called U.K. (we only found out about it be "the wimpy zone." Further, Martha cause a ’Martha Beck for TAFF’ flyer Beck wasn’t even on the formal ballot: was ’leaked’ by someone who thought Re: Martin Morse Wooster’s Disclave her candidacy had to be promoted as a we ought to know about it). This arro report in File 770:110 - I don’t know write-in, which had the useful side gant attempt to disenfranchise us, to why calling "people in black" "Goths" is effect of exposing the scope for abuse politically incorrect (at least in the make a British voice in that race entire of the ballot (in this instance, the appro ly irrelevant, caused immense offence Washington DC area) but 30+ years ago priation of TAFF to pursue another over here and led to a large scale mobi here on the West Coast we called them, agenda entirely, which is why her can lization to defeat the Beck candidacy at within a fannish social context, "Bruces" didacy was "sharply attacked in fanzine all costs. But the battle wasn’t about or "Pelzes". Does he still dress that editorials and letter columns"), and thus Martha Beck; UK fandom would have way? In wash-and-wear black with Wel a later tightening up of the rules. mobilized against whoever was put up lington boots (as I recall him from the in those circumstances. However, given 1962 Westercon). Here in the Bay Area In any case, I think there must be an the bitterness this caused (I still bum to dress in black isn’t so much a fashion error in the second sentence of the first with anger when I think about it), and statement as to blend as inconspicuously paragraph of the article: the Glasgow our realization that TAFF wouldn’t as possible with the hordes of others Worldcon couldn’t have offered free survive a repeat performance, we added who do so. A friend told me it had accommodations to DUFF because a new rule that in order to win a TAFF something to do with rock music. DUFF has nothing to do with Britain. race you had to secure at least 20% of It’s GUFF which links us with Austra the total vote in both the sending and [[Bruce Pelz' preferencefor black bare lia, as you later acknowledge. the host countries. Though I had some ly lasted until I joined LASFS in 1970, problems with her platform (which and I noticed he dispensed with it soon [[My mistake: I obviously had L.A.con seemed to be about bringing enlighten thereafter. In Los Angeles, the trend of 111 on my mind when 1 wrote about fan wearing black streetwear began a few ment about disabled access to the hea funds connected with the worldcon. then Brits), Samanda B. Jeude stood on years ago when students decided that Turning to the 1984 TAFF race... the basis of the 20% rule like every wearing Raiders and Kings parapher other candidate and, had she won on nalia was a cool way to disguise the [[You 're right to emphasize that Topic that basis, would’ve been a perfectly real reason they had stopped wearing A was at heart a struggle for ideologi valid winner, IMHO. colors like red or blue, which was from cal control of TAFF rather than a dif fear of being targeted by the rival gangs ference of opinion about Martha Beck’s who wear those colors.]] qualifications. However, if you reread Buck Coulson the material (as I recently did) you ’ll find many of Causgrove’s opponents Joseph Nicholas I didn’t know Harry Moore, but did took a shotgun approach, having appar know Curt Clemmer; his death came at ently decided as long as they were at it the end of a long string of bad news in A tiny contribution to your piece in File they would make a personal dissection June, and late May. Beverly DeWeese 770:110 on TAFF: obviously TAFF, of Martha, too. They disapproved of her was rooming with us at Wiscon, and on and all other fan funds, should be open under any and all circumstances, and I Saturday we were in the huckster room to all fans irrespective of their particular feel that part of the story resonates with when a concom member came in and sphere of activity, and the apparent Jeude’s ordeal in the 1995 TAFF asked, "Did you know they had to take contradiction between claiming that fan race.]] Bev to the hospital?" Turned out to be funds are for the benefit of all fans a gall bladder attack, she was treated in while in practice restricting them -- Madison, shipped back to Milwaukee, albeit by default - to fanzine fans is Rob Hansen and successfully operated on. We hung something on which I’ve commented in around at Gene and Bev’s house until the past. But Martha Beck didn’t lose For the record, I, Rob Hansen, former the good news arrived, and then headed TAFF in 1984 because she was a con TAFF administrator, did not oppose the home. On June 3, we drove to Colum vention fan running against fanzine candidacy of Samanda B. Jeude, whom bus, OH for the funeral of long-time fan fans, standing as a candidate in her own I’d actually heard of previously but and friend, Betty Gaines, one of the right: she lost because her candidacy knew nothing about. In the 1985 race, a old-timers of Columbus fandom. June 5, was being promoted by a faction -- in group of fans in the Midwest tried to our dog was hit by a car and killed. particular, Jackie Causgrove and Dave use sheer numbers to win TAFF for June 15, we heard about the deaths of Locke - which had initially sided with their candidate, Martha Beck, with no Curt Clemmer and Roger Zelazny. 1 can Richard Bergeron in the TAFF Wars of reference to the host fandom, we in the do without any more periods like that. that year and subsequently took up the 22 April 1996
I remember at the 1993 Windy con, we who can participate in TAFF elections hadn’t been notified of any panels to be goes back to Bob Madle’s candidacy. Letter of Comment Addresses on, which was unusual, so as soon as He won in 1957. we got in our room we went down to Allan D. Burrows, 320 Maple Grove Ops to see what was going on; normal Ave., Mississauga, ONT L5A ly, since the con paid for our room, we Henry L. Welch 1Y2 Canada expected to be on some panels in ex Renita Cassano, 638 Dauphine St., New change. Curt tossed us a program sched The fanzine versus convention fandom Orleans, LA 70112 ule and asked what panels we wanted to issue and TAFF I find interesting. First Buck Coulson, 2677W-500N, Hartford be on. We said we didn’t want to be on I see no reason why ANY fan shouldn’t City, IN 47348 any; we were willing to be on some. be eligible to run provided they have Tom Feller, P.O. Box 13636, Jackson, Curt said something like, "Thank God" some established track record in fan MS 39236-3626 and explained that all afternoon he’d dom. All the TAFF candidates this year George Flynn, P.O. Box 1069 Kendall been deluged by people insisting that had that qualification. However, that Sq. Stn., Cambridge, MA they had to be on one panel or another; aside I would expect the fanzine fan to 02142 one particular individual (who I won’t have the advantage. Not because their Nola Frame-Gray, PO Box 465, Ingle name, though Curt named him) insisted fanac is any more pure or deserving wood, CA 90307-0465, on being on a good many of the panels. than the convention fan, but because the [email protected] He was happy to see somebody who fanzine fan is likely to have more expo Mike Glicksohn, 508 Windermere Ave., wouldn’t be insulted if they weren’t on sure in the overseas electorate. Having Toronto, ONT M6S 3L6 anything, and told us to go away and never paid too much attention to final Canada enjoy the con. vote results or voting demographics I Teddy Harvia, 701 Regency Drive, may be completely out in left field here, Hurst, TX 76054-2307 Juanita and I appreciate your comments but I was not surprised that Dan Steffan Rob Hansen, c/o [email protected] on convention fans running for TAFF. won for TAFF since he probably carried link.co.uk We’re at the point where we will not the majority of the European vote. Evelyn C Leeper, [email protected] contribute to TAFF unless a personal com friend happens to be running, and Mar Robert Lichtman, P.O. Box 30, Glen tha and Samanda were both personal Nola Frame-Gray Ellen, CA 95442 friends. And even then, we won’t con Joseph Nicholas, 15 Jansons Rd., South tribute any more than we need to in Tottenham, London, N15 4JU, order to vote. If Dan Steffan does a That sobbing sound you hear in the U.K. TAFF Report, we won’t spend the mon background is the sound of a heartbro Lloyd Penney, 412-4 Lisa St., Brampton ey to buy it. ken fan who is wondering what ever ONT L6T 4B6 Canada happened to File 770 — especially since Christopher Priest, 32 Elphinstone Rd., she had written them a Letter of Com Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2 ment in the recent past. EQ, U.K. Dick Smith Dave Rike, P.O. Box 11, Crockett, CA Nola also wants to know that if you are 94525 no longer publishing File 770, could I’m not convinced that there is a fix for Dick Smith, [email protected] you please, at the very least, mail her a Harry Warner Jr., 423 Summit Ave., the problem that a small sub-segment of 10-pound box of See’s candy (milk fanzine fandom have brought on TAFF Hagerstown, MD 21740 chocolate with the soft centers...). One Henry L. Welch, [email protected] by attempting to control it. Many Mid of the sysops of K&L, the bulletin western fans have not participated in Ted White, 1014 N. Tuckahoe St., Falls board through which she gets her e- Church, VA 22046 TAFF voting or fundraising since the mail, has informed Nola that he is per unfortunate disqualification of Martha Madeleine Willis, 32 Warren Rd., Don- fecting the technique of sending choco aghadee, BT21 0PD, Northern Beck from the ballot ten years ago. This late by e-mail.... year’s bitter race can only be bad for Ireland TAFF, and probably the other funds as well. Unfortunately, when we were DUFF administrators, we had to spend a fair amount of effort explaining that DUFF is not TAFF.
Leah points out that the argument over