Richard Tuerk on Science Fiction Fandom

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Joe Sanders, ed.. Science Fiction Fandom. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1994. xii + 293 pp. $59.95, cloth, ISBN 978-0-313-23380-7. Reviewed by Richard Tuerk Published on H-PCAACA (July, 1995) Science Fiction Fandom is a collection of es‐ The book contains an annotated bibliography says about the history of fandom and present-day and a "Glossary of Fanspeak." Even with the glos‐ fandom, including conventions and fanzines. The sary, some of the essays are so full of fanspeak book is not a study of science fction, although it that they are difficult to read. Some also refer contains interesting insights about that feld. It fo‐ without explanation to events possibly familiar to cuses on fans, most of whom read science fction, most fans--such as when Richard Bergeron "(figu‐ collect it, read fanzines, and associate with other ratively) shot himself in the foot"--but incompre‐ fans, and on fandom, which the authors call "a hensible to most non-fans. way of life," "a subculture," and "a microcosm." Science Fiction Fandom is interesting for the Yet this is not an anthropological study but a se‐ science-fiction fan. Although not scholarly, it ries of essays by fans. should also prove useful to one interested in writ‐ Non-fans think of fandom as a breeding ing a scholarly study of fandom. ground for professional writers and critics of sci‐ Copyright (c) 1995 by H-Net and PCAACA, all ence fction. Such writers as Sam Moskowitz (who rights reserved. This work may be copied for non- contributes a chapter to this book), A. Merritt, profit educational use if proper credit is given to Arthur C. Clarke, and Isaac Asimov made the the author and the list. For other permission, switch from fandom to professional ranks. Sci‐ please contact [email protected]. ence Fiction Fandom, however, indicates that most fans, if they write, do so as amateurs. They are, instead, interested in things like discussing science fction and the future, collecting science fiction, reading fanzines, and attending conven‐ tions. H-Net Reviews If there is additional discussion of this review, you may access it through the network, at https://networks.h-net.org/h-pcaaca Citation: Richard Tuerk. Review of Sanders, Joe, ed. Science Fiction Fandom. H-PCAACA, H-Net Reviews. July, 1995. URL: https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=102 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 2.

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