The First Fandom Report 2 ScientiFiction Winter, 1994 Winter, 1994 ScientiFiction 3 LCTSA NEWS

RICHARDSON PIG KISSING AXED Table of Contents HONORED HUMANS GOT GERMS! RECEIVES BAPTIST The Associated Press repor­ AWARD ted that the annual kiss-the-pig ImportantNews...... 3 On June 28 Dr. Darrell C. contest at the Kouts, Indiana Pork Fest was cancelled this year. MembershipNews...... 3 Richardson was awarded the Good Shepherd Award of the The cancellation occurred Deadlines...... 4 Southern Baptist Convention in a because the organizers could not Book Renew by Mark Schulzinger...... 4 special program. find a pig to be osculated. It seems that farmers are worried Necrology...... 5 Darrell was awarded the honor, which is sponsored by the about their pigs getting sick if Revenge of The Sci-Fan, the editor raves on...... 5 Baptist Committee on Scouting, kissed by humans since people carry staphylococcus and strepto­ Mythology of the Hugo by Ben Jason...... 7 for his over 60 years of work for the Boy Scouts of America. He is coccus bugs. Young pigs are Dinosaur Droppings, letters from our members...... ,...... 16 an Eagle Scout and recipient of particularly susceptible to such infections. President’s Message...... 19 the Silver Beaver Award. He led the American deligation to the There also appears to be a psychological component to the On the cover: Julie Schwartz (right) accepts the Posthumous Hall of concern; separating the pigs from Fame award for Mort Weisinger from Secretary-Treasurer Mark BUILDING NAMED the herd depresses them. Schulzinger (left) at Archon, 1995. AFTER WILLIAMSON UNIVERSITY HONORS NEW MEMBERS Photo by Sustaining Patron John L. Coker, III, Orlando, Florida HOF WINNER On Friday, October 6, Eastern The following associate mem­ New Mexico University in Portales ber has been accepted: dedicated its liberal arts building Arlan K. Andrews, Sr. The name "First Fandom”, the title ScientiFiction, the term "dinosaurs to Jack Williamson. Jack, who of science fiction”, and the First Fandom logo are all Trade Marks of earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees P.O. Box 13402 First Fandom and may not be used without express premission of the from the university, is a professor organization. ScientiFictiorP* the First Fandom report is an official emeritus of English at the institu­ Albuquerque, NM 87192 publication of First Fandom™, and is published four times per year by tion and still co-teaches classes President Ray Beam, 2209 S. Webster, Kokomo, IN 46902. The Welcome Dinosaur! there on creative writing and Editor is Secretary-Treasurer Mark Schulzinger, 4 Nevada Circle, science fiction. Jack reports that Gallup, NM 87301-5469. E-Mail: [email protected] the honor was a total surprise to Subscriptions are $5.00 per year, and should be sent to Mark. him. Comments can be sent to either Ray or Mark.

•T" ~~ ' ' ------4 ScientiFiction Winter, 1994 Winter, 1994 ScientiFiction 5

SUSTAINING July 20, 1996 -- Closing date for The basic premise of the story from 'Dr. Mabuse, Der Spieler? Autumn, 1996 ish. is simple: how does one commit Some just emerge from the PATRONS murder in a world where telepaths f(r)abulous imagination of Alfie October 19, 1996 - Closing date We have a new sustaining exist? What a lovely idea, it in­ Bester. But they’re all molded into for Winter, 1996 ish patron, to wit: trigues the reader from the begin­ a vast Freudian canvas that holds ning. Then, to make the concept one’s attention until the chocolaty Jeff Olson even more intriguing, that same ending with all the ends neatly Welcome aboard! reader watches Ben Reich lov­ tied and s@ isfied. BOOK RENEW ingly craft the murder, build an To recall that this story was first esper shield, obtain the murder published in Galaxy during its first by Mark Schulzinger weapon, and finally carry out the few years of existence is to crime, but without any valid remind oneself how Horace Gold motivei DUES THE DEMOLISHED MAN, by remade science fiction in the im­ And so the story progresses. ages of Freud, and Kraft-Ebbing. Dues in First Fandom remain Alfred Bester, Shasta, 1953 Seven pages after the murder, on But he couldn’t have done it $5.00 per year. The number on page 55, Lincoln Powell without those marvelous creations your mailing label will tell you to of which this is an outstanding the end of which year your dues In this age of angst-ridden “A peeper C by the pol example. are paid. Please keep your dues characters with convoluted lives current if you possibly can. and emotional disabilities so ice to peep @ all the severe as to lead to chronic people..." soliloquizing, it’s a pleasure to NECROLOGY re-read this economical master­ knows that Ben Reich killed Craye piece by one of the gr8 writers of D’Courtney. He can prove it, all DEADLINES science fiction’s Ag age. the tracks lead inexorably to J. Ben Stark Reich. But neither he nor we can The deadlines for First Fandom The pages are filled with mar­ discern the all-important motive. events and ^/^are as follows: velous characters, sparsely described, but wonderfully fleshed It’s that overriding *why" that First Fandom: out by their behaviors: the avari­ drives this story. Reich is driven to murder. Why? The murder goes REVENGE OF THE December 31, 1995 -- Last date cious and h8-driven Ben Reich, SCI-FAN ballots for HoF voting will be the greedy Gus T8, the warped horribly awry in a way Reich accepted. and tormented Jeremy Church, never imagined. Why? Reich finds the sexually starved but sexually himself compelled to continue to May 31, 1996 -- last date for fearful Duffy Wyg&, the vampyri- murder, to isolate himself more CONVENTIONS OF nominations for 1996 Hall of Fame cally lecherous Maria Beaumont and more from all he has worked DISCONTENT award. (the Gilt Corpse), the terminally and killed for. Why? ScientiFiction. tormented Craye D’Courtney, the While reading this story the f(r)abulous Chooka Frood, and We keep having difficulties January 20, 1996 -- Closing date reader may see close parallels the anguished Lincoln Powell who with Worldcon; Glasgow was no for Spring, 1996 ish. with “M" in Reich’s driven beha­ is compelled to compensate for vior. Some of the images conjured exception. Despite every attempt April 20, 1996 -- Closing date for his soul-destroying work by mov­ up seem to derive from "The to communicate with the Hugo Summer, 1996 ish. ing from time to time into a world Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," some awards committee and to discuss of outrageous lies. our own award requirements, we 6 Scienti Fiction Winter, 1994 Winter, 1994 Scienti Fiction 7 continue to be ignored until a grandbaby photos. While we do kowitz who wants to start making MYTHOLOGY OF month or so prior to the con. We this we also share some back­ Hall of Fame award presentations THE HUGO continue to be exhorted to “keep it ground information concerning the at regional cons. This might not short” and we continue to have recipients and, in the case of the have been a reasonable conside­ posthumous awards, we attempt ration in the past because we difficulty when we find we have to by make some last-minute changes. to educate the newer fen as to the would have had to find some con accomplishments of these that would have us, and wind up Ben Jason Ethel Lindsay did a wonderful deceased giants. begging all over again. Now, job of coordinating the presen­ however, we are the ones who tation despite the fact that she is So we lose out to the pro­ are solicited. We have been The idea of achievement Andy Porter’s British agent and moters, the press agents, the guests at three regional cons, and awards within fandom is definitely had to spend most of her time marketers, but we still want to have had two posthumous pre­ not a new one. As far back as the manning the Science Fiction keep our little family sharing of sentation ceremonies. We will be 1930s Ray Palmer proposed the Chronicle booth. Nonetheless she honors going. guests at yet another con in 1996, Jules Verne Prize Club, but lack felt rushed and harried because of It turns out that the regional and the trend appears to be on its of interest and donations led to its the difficulties in communicating cons like our Hall of Fame pre­ way to becoming a habit. demise. I believe that the Mystery with an essentially unsympathetic sentations. We offer them some­ I’ve discussed the possibility Writers of America came up with and disinterested award cere­ thing they would never manage to of a change with Ray Beam, and the "Edgar” which is still being mony committee. offer their attendees for a reason­ he thinks it’s a good idea. Now we awarded. The problem, I fear, is that we able outlay of money. The more want your input. Would you like to Now, when we come to are pitting acknowledgement motivated a regional con is to see the Hall of Fame awards science fiction awards, we have a against money, and money will have First Fandom share its presented at a regional con where totally different picture. In 1951 win out every time. The Hugos awards with others, the more we are appreciated, where we our British cousins beat us to the were set up to serve as a way for successful the presentations can take some time to honor our punch. Four fans, Leslie Flood, fen to acknowledge the best of the become. I wrote about the cere­ recipients, and where we can John Benyon Harris (John Wynd­ past year, but it certainly didn’t mony at Archon in the last ish, share our /zscvteswith others? Let ham), G. Ken Chapman, and take long for some of the reci­ and those of you who attended us know. Frank Cooper, formed the Inter­ pients to translate acknowledge­ know how enjoyable the award national Fantasy Award which las­ ment into a kind of popularity/ ceremony was. Strange mail department: We ted until 1957. The trophy was a monetary rating. As a result the got a brochure from PEN Pro­ One of the nicest parts about metal spaceship and cigarette Hugo awards ceremony has taken ducts about their stackable chairs. making our presentations at a lighter (?) mounted on a base. In on the aura of the motion picture Turns out that PEN is the acro­ regional con is that we never have retrospect I still wish that this Academy Awards with the winners nym for Prison Enterprises Net­ to beg for time, and we are never award would have continued; it often (but not always) seeing their work, a wholly-owned subsidiary urged to “keep it short” so the of the Indiana Department of Cor­ looked attractive and I never Hugos translated into big bucks dollar bills can begin their parade. rection. Somehow it strikes us as heard any complaints about its with the next contract. We can take as much time as we comforting to know that if we get manufacture. It would have saved The Hall of Fame award has wish, and we’re usually given a sent to the slammer in Indiana we a lot of headaches for Jack never become commercialized. more than adequate venue in won’t have to languish on the McKnight and myself. First Fandom has kept it a family which to make the presentations. license plate line; we can always honor which we wish to share with First let us go back to 1953 to By now you know where this graduate to the office furniture others, much the same way a pair Philadelphia and Milton A. Roth­ editorial is headed; I am more and department. of proud grandparents share man’s version of how the first more in agreement with Sam Mos­ Hugo was made. What follows are Winter, 1994 8 Scienti Fiction Winter, 1994 Scienti Fiction 9 direct quotes for the sake of told he would make some brass smithing business. This guy in had been.” or “trophy metal” ships and silver- turn took me to some attic where accuracy. Rothman’s quote is At this point we leave these from the “Noreascon Program plate them. So several they had some slave at a work bench who got all excited about trail-blazers and move on to the Book,” and the second quote is months went by -- early spring to year 1954, with San Francisco from correspondence between early summer. Then pow! right in my idea of little space ships. He’d turn the things on a lathe, see, cut hosting the convention. Strangely, Hal Lynch and myself. the kisser! he told us that after their committee chose not to use trying many methods he was un­ 'em out of brass, and then put the Rothman: “There was a ban­ the awards. For many years this able, using his equipment, to mold fins on and silverplate the whole quet with Isaac Asimov as toast­ troubled me, and it wasn’t until anything large enough to be seen thing. How long? Oh, maybe a master, giving his usual rouser of 1993 at Confrancisco that I found from six feet away (his line is week. I forget what the charge a speech. At the banquet we the answer. During a panel dis­ silver rings, earrings, and brace­ was, but we figured it was high, presented the Hugo awards for cussion reminiscing about the lets). but not too high, and after all, the first time. Earlier in the year what else could we do? So the 1954 convention someone from we had created the space-rocket “So I went to the trophy attic genius was left with our the audience asked Esther Cole design (copied from Willy Ley) for houses. Let me advise you - problem as I departed for the why they had decided not to use the award statuette. We had DON’T waste time on the trophy West on my business trip. the awards. Her reply was (as assigned the task of producing the houses. They were so eager to closely as I can remember it): statuettes to one of our committee help - showed me all kinds of “I flew back, arriving in Philly “We thought it would be a one members. Comes the end of sum­ track-and-field medals, little gold at four the morning our convention time presentation.” Another ques­ mer and we find that the person in baseballs, footballs, basketballs, opened. Several characters tion from the audience followed: charge of the awards was away big silver baseball players, football looked at me as if I had the Black “Did you regret that decision?” and unreachable, and apparently players, and basketball players. Plague. What happened?? Three The answer was in the affirmative. had never even started the pro­ Lots of loving cups -- only forty to days before somebody had checked our boy in the attic. He Now we move on to 1955 cess of getting them made. And sixty bucks per. And while they hadn’t done a thing - we had when Cleveland was hosting the we had less than a week to go. It didn’t have any spaceships or nothing. Not one trophy to award convention and we pick up right was Jack McKnight who came to rocketships of anything like that in to anybody. Something was wrong after Hal Lynch’s reply to me. the rescue. An expert machinist, stock if I’d just let them send an with his lathe. With a hearty curse he turned the little rockets out of inquiry back to their factory in Repeated letters to Jack stainless steel in his own shop, Michigan or Oregon or some­ on the name of Lynch, the other McKnight brought no replies (I learning to his dismay that solder­ where, they’d find out just what Philly crew members set up a assumed he would make them). I ing stainless steel fins was a new was available. Poor sucker that I death Watch in Jack McKnight’s discussed the matter with my art. While doing this poor Jack was, I waited, while several more workshop and put some trophies Chairmen, Nick and Noreen missed the whole convention, but precious weeks went by, while together, working all night the Falasca, and I believe it was Nick turned up just in time for the these birds played games. At the night before the convention, all who suggested using the hood banquet and the presentation.” end of it -- we were back where night the first night of the conven­ ornament of an Oldsmobile 88. we started, with the Convention tion (Saturday). We were putting Hal Lynch’s .version: March First we had to find one to see almost on top of us. on the convention and a whole 12, 1955 in a letter to Ben Jason squad of our guys missed about if it would serve our purpose. This (after skipping over some chit­ “About this time I learned that half of it on account of these was easier said than done. We chat). “One thing we didn’t think the business where I worked wan­ awards. So you see, although I prowled the streets looking for we’d have trouble with, and that ted me to go to the mid-West the began this awards business, I Olds 88 automobiles. We finally was the trophies themselves. week before Labor Day, and a wasn’t in on the finish of it, and found one in a large parking lot Since one of our members was a friend of the family introduced me probably wouldn’t be alive now if I surrounded by numerous apart­ silversmith by profession, we were to another friend in the Silver- ments. While we were examining 10 ScientiFiction Winter, 1994 Winter, 1994 ScientiFiction 11

Modeled by Noreen Falasca (now Shaw)

(BRITISH) (AMERICAN) (AMERICAN) 1955 TO PRESENT 1953 INTERNATIONAL FANTASY AWARD 1951 TO 1957 Second version — produced 1955 from pattern and First known American SF award. A one time only First known SF award (see page 7 for details) mold. Production capabilities unlimited. Designed and production - never repeated. Designed by Willy Ley — produced by Ben Jason of Cleveland, Ohio. produced by Jack McKnight and Manny Staub. Production capabilities unknown. Production capabilities - very limited (machined out of ) stainless steel with silver-soldered fins).

NOTE: as to what was the first known SF award, either British or American, is debatable. I give credit in these pages as I see it. A very reliable informant says that the Jules Verne Award never got off the ground. Twenty-five cents was collected to finance a trophy which was to have been awarded to Edmond Hamilton. Hamilton claims to never have received it. 12 ScientiFiction Winter, 1994 Winter, 1994 ScientiFiction 13

one of the Olds ornaments a I draw a detailed, full-size picture Two weeks later when I again second batch. Again, in another window opened, and a woman of what I desired and take it to a entered the foundry I was greeted two weeks, I visited the foundry, leaned out and yelled, “What the pattern maker - repeat, a pattern by a miniature forest of gleaming and this time it was a different hell are you guys doing bear that maker -- who would then make a rocket ships. I found it hard to story. The second batch was car? Clear out or I’ll call the mold from which hundreds could believe that I was finally success­ beautiful and acceptable! They police!” We removed ourselves be made cheaply. The advice ful. My jubilation was short-lived, were ready to be awarded to from the scene, and as we walked proved correct. He suggested the however, when I picked up one of some lucky recipients. we discussed what we had found. Hoffman Bronze Co. as a good the completed trophies and dis­ Not long after completing Not being too sure if it would suite starting point. covered that it was heavily flawed. our requirements, Nick suggested them the news spread through I contacted them, took my There were numerous pits and that we should buy one, and since fandom that a new Hugo had design with me, and soon found fissures, small but nevertheless there was an Olds auto dealership been manufactured. One of those myself talking to a knowledgeable enough to consider it undesirable close to Noreen’s house she did who had received the news was for award purposes. just that. individual as well as a very patient the Cincinnati Fantasy Group. one. He looked at the design and We discussed the problem Don Ford, who headed the group, After the purchase I asked pronounced it workable. He threw and I was told that he could called me and congratulated me him if it would fit our requirements. a price at me which I found eliminate most of the defects by on the successful completion, and He said, “You’ll have to see.” I acceptable, and informed me that running another batch and then asked for a favor. The group, let came over, examined it, and dis­ the pattern would be ready in removing a “skin”, about a six­ me point out, went in heavily for covered to my sorrow that, while about two weeks. I left a check as teenth of an inch, by turning the practical jokes. They wanted Lou the ornament looked perfectly all deposit and we agreed that I casting on a lathe. I told him that I Tabakow to bear the brunt of this right from the top when mounted should check with him in about would consult with the con com­ particular joke. on the hood of an Olds, it certainly two weeks to see if it was ready. mittee and would let him know. wasn’t from the bottom. It seems Two weeks later when I called I It was pointed out to me that that, to economize, Olds had was told that the pattern was When I brought the completed Lou Tabakow had submitted a scooped out the underside of the ready and to come down and take trophies to the meeting I was story entitled “Sven” to Other ornament -- much like a canoe. I a look at it. When I walked into the greeted with heavy applause and Worlds, and it was accepted but told Nick that it wasn’t acceptable, foundry I was pleasantly surpr­ lots of back slapping, but I turned not yet published. The CFG wan­ although we could use it in a ised. Before me stood a wooden this all aside and told them to ted me to design another trophy, a pinch. There was another pro­ replica, and it looked beautiful! examine the trophies closely The small one, along with a plaque blem; GM may have had it regis­ committee did and told me that I saying something to the effect: tered as a trademark. was being too fussy. I argued and “Awarded to Lou Tabakow for argued, and finally convinced SVEN - the best UNPUBLISHED So, for the next few weeks I THE TROUBLE WITH them I was right. I asked for story of the year.” was very busy. I made the rounds HUGO(S) financial approval to have another of the machine shops and recei­ I pondered the problem and batch made. I have to admit that ved the same disheartening. somehow my thoughts came back we had a great committee! Machining them would be beyond When I had recovered suffi­ to the Olds 88 hood ornament. our means as a convention. ciently I asked him how long it To help with the financing Once again I prevailed on Hoff­ However, after about the fifth or would be before he could produce some of the members bought man Bronze. I sat in the office (my sixth machine shop, one of them six chrome-plated replicas. He in­ three of the flawed castings, and I records no longer show the name told me that i was going at the formed me it would be another bought the remainder. I got in of this wonderful and very helpful production of trophies in the two weeks. touch with Hoffman Bronze and gentleman). Once again he lis­ wrong manner. He suggested that told them to go ahead with the tened very patiently to my 14 ScientiFiction Winter, 1994 Winter, 1994 ScientiFiction 15 dilemma. I pointed out the canoe­ happened before the 1953 World continue to be standardized on Worldcon committee would have like depression in the ornament Convention, and the convention the rocket ship design of Jack given him a plaque or some and asked if he could work his committee met several months McKnight and Ben Jason (under­ certificate of recognition. It’s still way around it. before the big event. Harold lines mine)." not too late, even now! I should Lynch suggested that an award add that, although we met only After a couple of minutes of This would imply that both of be given to the best writer.” twice, we were friends and we discussion he calmly reached us worked together on designing remained friends. behind him to a shelf with numer­ This is part of fan history. But and producing the trophies. Unfor­ ous boxes on it. From one of what isn’t well known is the one tunately this is far from the truth. Two comments, or observa­ these boxes he scooped out a who suggested the name. Let tions, before I wind up this article. 1. Jack McKnight produced eight handful of plain old putty and Oswald Train tell it. He was there. While attending Confrancisco I (8) trophies (very small ones, proceeded to mold it into the The awards were under discus­ made it a point to take in the Hugo about half the size of the Ben crevice of the Olds hood orna­ sion and Jim said they should Award ceremony. After just a few Jason version) in 1953. I can find ment. After a few minutes he have a name because, after all, minutes I became very disappoin­ no evidence that McKnight pro­ asked, "Well, what do you think?” we have the Oscar. ted. First I realized that time had duced and more trophies after passed by both the Philcon and I was flabbergasted! If I had “What shall we call them - that for any convention! Clevention committees as origina­ known that a handful of putty held Hugos?” 2. As pointed out in (1), the tors and producers of the first the secret to success I could have I was standing beside Jim and designs were not the same (see awards. Secondly, the projection saved myself considerable said “Why not, sounds good!” It photos). of the 35mm slides was so dim anguish. I looked over what he caught on immediately, and hen­ that it was easy to miss a lot of had done and countered, “It 3. McKnight lived in Landsdown, ceforth we had Hugos, named material. This is surprising. With should have a third fin (at best).” Pennsylvania, and Jason in Cle­ after Hugo Gernsback of course. the megabucks at their disposal No problem; he proceeded to veland, Ohio -- a good trick if we Others, among them Robert A. the presentation could have been mold a third fin. could have combined our efforts. Madle, have received credit for bright and clear. I know, I’ve been Again he asked, “How’s this, but the fact remains that it 4. McKnight was a skilled a photographer for better than 50 that?” was Jim Williams who came up machinist, Jason was not. Jason years, and a pretty good one. with the name. could not be of any help. He used “Perfect,” I replied. “Make me To go on, what most fan an entirely different design and about eight of them.” historians don’t realize is that if method of production. the 1955 Clevention had not rein­ Comment: This last bit indica­ SETTING THE RECORDS 5. At no time did we combiner stated the Science Fiction ted how simple it is to make a STRAIGHT DEPART­ efforts. I hope that this point is Achievement Awards the awards Hugo, large or small. The same MENT clear. as we know them would not exist. idea has ben used in numerous I realize that there will be a lot of At this point you may have movies by imbedding a key in rebuttal on this, but consider: putty or plastic. come up with the idea that the Pick up any Worldcon pro­ 1953 was a one-time presen­ above statements are an effort to Now, as to the name “Hugo.” tation; there were no awards in gram book and turn to the section discredit Jack McKnight - far from 1954. In 1955 Cleveland came up Who came up with the name? For containing the Rules and Regula­ it. I’ve had the opinion that Jack with a cheap method of mass this we refer to Lloyd Arthur Esh- tions (Constitution). Let’s take the McKnight’s heroic efforts have production. bach’s excellent book “Over My Confrancisco Program Book as an gone unrewarded. You would Shoulder,” Page 196, Line 20: “It example. This is what it says: think that in the 40 year history of Yes, I’ll admit that some form was at the Williams apartment that “Section 2.4: NAME AND the awards some well-meaning of award like a plaque, framed the now famous Hugo was born. It DESIGN. The Hugo Award shall 16 ScientiFiction Winter, 1994 Winter, 1994 ScientiFiction 17 certificate, scroll, MONEY, figurine trophy as a memento - SHEESH! those that cater to First Fandom know that NM is considering a (plastic or metal), or even a members. commercial spaceport. Maybe it revamped football trophy could will eventually be built, and the have replaced the rocket ship Yours, DC-X replace the present shuttle. design. Bear in mind that money Conrad Ruppert was a critical item in the budgets DINOSAUR DROP­ Conrad H. Ruppert’s essay of the early cons. Consider, in PINGS {And it was a pleasure to meet was the most enjoyable item in 1955 when we made our trophies, you as well, Connie. We had a this particular issue. He goes the registration was a paltry very congenial get-together in St back somewhat farther than I, but $1.00. In 1966 the fee rose to a Dear Mark - Louis, and i got to meet some it still evoked a few memories. folks I only knew through the mere $3.00. It’s no surprise that To bad Amazing Stories has NASFIC was a very large mails, /hope you’ll be ab/e to get most con committees didn’t put finally folded, but I notice your gathering of mostly younger fans to Inconjunction in 1996. - Mark} the welcome mat out for the interested in gaming and media mention that it is up for sale. Let’s Hugos. (and not much else including hope the obit is premature and it will be taken over by another Let me cite you a glaring science fiction)! There were Mark, example of how poorly Mr. Hugo actually several book dealers in publisher. I think Amazing was was received. I was attending a the huckster room, but also a lot Maybe next year’s (if there probably the second pulp stf Midwestcon in June of a certain of jewelry, videos, buttons, wea­ ‘is* a next year!) roster ought to magazine I ever bought; Planet year and brought along a batch if pons, etc. We had a pretty good include all our email ©dresses? Stories was the first. At that time Amazing was published by Ziff- finished castings to hand over to time anyway. Just a thought. the Worldcon of that year. One of Davis and edited by Ray Palmer; I’ll be attending World Fantasy the committee, a good friend of Les & Es Cole ([email protected]) he was milking the infamous Sha­ Con in Baltimore during the Hal­ ver Mystery for all it was worth to mine, informed me that the com­ {Good idee, folks. As / acquire loween weekend. Lloyd A. Esh- increase circulation. Consequently mittee was having one helluvan e-maii addresses I’ll consider in­ bach will be there along with the Amazing had a bad reputation for argument concerning a Hugo. cluding them in the roster. - usual gang, so I’ll have my a few years. It seems that Hugo Gerns- camera ready. Mark} Regarding your question back discovered that the world- All best wishes for much con­ about the WWII M-1 carbine being cons had been giving out trophies tinued success. considered an assault weapon: named after him. He had seen Dear Mark: Yes, it probably would be. It meets some of the trophies, and directed John L. Coker, III Received the Autumn ‘95 all the criteria except the ability to a request to the chairman that he issue a couple of days ago. As (Any chances of a con report, fire full rock and roll, even though be given one as a memento. The you noted, I do now have the John? - Mark} it was originally designed to chairman FLATLY REFUSED, and membership roster; sorry to say replace the .45 pistol as a side the arguments waxed hot and that none of my old pals are there. arm. The later M-2 carbine would heavy. I finally resolved the argu­ Some familiar names do appear, Dear Mark: certainly be an assault weapon; it ment by offering one of my own but ant any of my old friends; could fire full automatic. As for the assembled trophies -- free of It was a pleasure meeting you guess they must be long gone M-1903 Springfield rifle, I think charge. at Archon in June. I have always from fandom. gotten a good deal of pleasure in not. The springfield was a long Think about that for a moment reading the First Fandom newslet­ Yes, the DC-X does seem to rifle, bolt action, fed from a 5 cartridge internal clip, not all that -- refusing the acknowledged ter. I hope to get to more of the be doing quite well in meeting its Father of Science Fiction his own much different from any other SciFi cons in the future, especially established test criteria. Didn’t Winter, 1994 18 ScientiFiction Winter, 1994 ScientiFiction 19

30-06 bolt action; it was the stan­ Spring field, the M-98 Mauser, and the money. whatever and send them to him. dard Army rifle of WWI. WWII saw the Henry. The term “Assau/t the advent of the M-1 Garand rifle, Rifle” seems to have become a Sincerely, Till next time...... again a long rifle in 30-06 caliber; synonym for the term “any wea­ Catherine Mintz Ray it fired from an internal 8 round pon some politician doesn’t want clip on semi-auto. Believe it of not, the citizenry to have.Mark/ there are still a lot of M-1 car­ bines, Springfields, and Garands out there; they’re scattered all Dear Mark, over the world. PRESIDENT’S FINAL COMMENTS Thank you for the Autumn MESSAGE I haven’t had the opportunity issue of ScientiFiction. I particu­ to read the law banning assault larly enjoyed Donald Franson’s No, S^is late thish because weapons, but reportedly the cri­ article, since I am one of Amaz- Dear Members, of me. I had to have surgery for teria are: relatively short barrel ings orphaned subscribers, and I colon cancer early in November, I lost one of my best friends and light in weight (in comparison also took the book rather than the and must undergo radiation on Labor Day. My Hard Drive to a long rifle), an oversize maga­ refund. I note Don did not mention therapy for it starting in early zine, and the capability to fire fill the odd manner in which the book crashed. I had to use that stone December. rock and roll. They are designed was shipped, or possibly his copy age thing called a typewriter to exclusively for military use and was more carefully packed than write a letter. I am just getting the The entire process of diagno­ don’t really have any application mine was. my Buck Rogers came system put back together, this sis, and said diagnosis was for target shooting or hunting. between two very large pieces of time with a 530 meg Hard Drive, a benign, biopsy, and planning for cardboard that had obviously tape backup, and a couple more surgery took several weeks, and Thanks for printing my been slashed out of a previously meg’s of RAM. All this with the all that time kept me from working address. Anyone out there looking used box. Whoever did the pack­ help of young Tom Sherred (T.L.’s on the copy. Recovery from for pen pals, drop a lone or two ing did not wrap the tape com­ son). This has caused me to be surgery is taking some more time, my way. pletely around in any dimension, late with this. If ScientiFiction is and it’s hard for me to get around Sincerely, using instead four short strips, late this quarter, it is my fault and to do the necessary work. one in the middle of each side. All not Mark’s. Roy R. Wood I am on the mend, though, the corners gaped open and the Last week-end I attended and will give a more comprehen­ /Roy, the DC-X is the prototype otherwise unwrapped book had Octocon in Cincinnati. As usual it sive report next ish. Thanks very craft. The full-size spaceship, the been left completely free to slide was the low key Relaxicon. I had much to all those FFers who sent Delta Clipper will have much more back and forth; it was gritty and a chance to talk to FF members me cards and, most of all, who cargo capacity than the creaky scuffed. Unlike Don, I am a com­ Lynn Hickman, Fred Prophet, called me in the hospital. It’s nice Shuttle. What’s best is that its’ put ics fan, and I still found the Roger Sims, and George Young. to be thought of in such a nice together from off-the-shelf com­ volume disappointing, in part Also in attendance were Cincy’s way! ponents. My comment about because Buck Rogers was never residence authors Mike Resnick assault rifles was designed to as well-drawn and well-scripted as and Steve Leigh. Our son, Wes­ point out that any rifle that was Flash Gordon, Tarzan, or Prince ley, has an eye for Steve’s Mark used in a military assau/t would Valiant, but also because the daughter Megin. have at one time be designated volume is light on solid information as an “assault” rifle. This includes and the production is far from Mark tells me that he needs the Krag-Jorgensen, the ‘03 first-rate. I rather wish I’d taken material for future issues of Scien­ tiFiction, so please write letters or O 7J 09

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