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SCIENTIFICTION New Series #50 SCIENTIFICTION A publication of FIRST FANDOM New Series #50, 4th Quarter 2016

IN MEMORIAM P. 1: Announcements P. 2: President’s Message P. 3: In Memoriam: Norman F. Stanley P. 5: In Memoriam: Paul A. Carter P. 6: Other Obituaries P. 8: Spotlight on William L. Hamling P. 10: STF-Related News Headlines P. 11: FF Magazine Annual – A Review P. 12: Major Donation to the FF Archive P. 13: Letters from Our Readers P. 16: Birthdays, FF Masthead (Photograph: The Courier Gazette and Camden Herald)

NORMAN F. STANLEY FIRST FANDOM AWARDS FOR 2017 (1916 - 2016) We are now accepting nominations for: A science hobbyist and SF fan from the * First Fandom Hall of Fame Award Gernsback Days, Norm was a member * Posthumous Hall of Fame Award of the Stranger Club who also attended * Sam Moskowitz Archive Award a number of the early SF conventions. Nominations should be sent prior to IN MEMORIAM March 15th to [email protected] or sent to John Coker at 4813 Lighthouse Road, Orlando, FL - 32808. Thank you!

IN MEMORIUM We will remember Arthur Jean Cox, John Glenn, Louis I. Kuslan, Barry R. Levin, Bill Warren and John Zacherle.

NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS

(ConJose, 2002 - Photograph provided by Bruce Carter) Arizona Daily Star, Bruce Carter, , Courier Gazette/Camden Herald, PAUL A. CARTER Mike Glyer, Charles Harris, Ben Jason, (1920 - 2016) William Lampkin, David Langford, Sam Maronie, Craig Mathieson, Christopher A retired professor of American History M. O’Brien, George Phillies, Steven H. and a WWII veteran, Paul wrote fiction Silver, Keith W. Stokes, Jon D. Swartz. for Astounding, published SF novels and authored a critical study about the pulps. Deadline for the next issue: March 15th.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE FIRST FANDOM AWARDS FOR 2017 Welcome to the 50th issue in our New I hope that all active members of this Series of the First Fandom Newsletter! organization will participate in the First Fandom awards process this year by We reached this major milestone with sending in their nominations by March the help of those who shared items for 15th. A form has been included with publication. We also recognize the tire- this mailing for everyone’s convenience. less editorial contributions of members Joseph P. Martino and Jon D. Swartz. SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORT Members are invited to send reviews, convention reports, news items, photos, New Addresses and letters of comment for future issues. Susan Reitz 6196 Serenity Bluffs Street IN MEMORIUM Las Vegas, NV – 89149 Last month I received a call from Craig Jeff Warner Mathieson, son of Norman F. Stanley 576 South Willard Street (a Full Member). Craig reported that his Burlington, VT – 05401 father had passed away at the age of Contact Information Needed 100. Norman had been re-reading Arthur C. Clarke’s classics and enjoying * Robert O. Adair (Indianapolis, IN) the quarterly First Fandom Newsletters. * Sandra Sundstrom (Beech Grove, IN) We also recently heard from Bruce Membership Dues Carter, who said that his father Paul A. The following members have responded Carter had passed away at the age of to our request for annual dues, bringing 90. Bruce is inviting everyone who the account balance to just under $600: knew Paul A. Carter in his " life" to provide their comments at David I. Aronovitz, Ben Bova, Paul A. https://campamnesia.wordpress.com/ Carter, Jack Cordes, Todd Dashoff, Ralph W. Goldsmith, James Gunn, Gay At Philcon this year they held a cele- and , Barbara Harmon, bration of the life of David A. Kyle (who Tom Meserole, Catherine Mintz, Frank would have turned 98 years old on Johnson, George W. Price, Susan Reitz, Valentine’s Day). Among those in , Jon D. Swartz, Jeff attendance: Bob Madle and Kerry Kyle. Warner, David B. Williams, Joel D. Last month LASFS commemorated the Zakem. We thank you for your support. 100th anniversary of the arrival from Mars of . I pre- Some members have not sent their pared material for both of these events. annual dues of $20. Send checks (payable to Keith W. Stokes) to 14305

W. 83rd Place, Lenexa, KS – 66215. FIRST FANDOM MAGAZINE (ANNUAL) If you’d like to order the First Fandom I hope everyone is enjoying the New Magazine (Annual, 2016), a few copies Year. Please be safe and stay in touch, are still available. Please send a check - John L. Coker III for $30.00 (payable to John L. Coker III). SCIENTIFICTION New Series #50, page 3

IN MEMORIAM: NORMAN F. STANLEY (BY JON D. SWARTZ AND JOHN L. COKER III)

Born in May 1916, Norm Stanley was a science fiction (SF) fan from Maine who was very active in fandom in the 1940s. He was a member of the famous Stranger Club, and was one of the club members who attended Noreascon 3 as a Fan Guest of Honor. Norman reading (circa. 1970s) Norm was still active in fan matters in the late 1940s, and attended the 1948 Torcon where he participated in a roundtable discussion on the probable date of the arrival of interplanetary travel.

Noreascon 3 (Artwork by Bob Eggleton) Norm was also tangentially involved in the Skowhegan Junior Astronomical and Rocket Society, the kind of fan club that combined both science and SF activities and was common in this country in the 1930s and 1940s. He was generous with his fellow club members, and let them borrow from his seventy bound- TORCON REPORT (1948) volumes of SF prozines. Norm’s major fanzine was Fan-Tods, He attended early conventions such as which ran for nineteen issues. He also Philcon, as well as some of the early published Beyond with Roscoe E. Boskones. He also participated in Wright. Fan-Tods is a SF fanzine that Mainecon Jr, a “conference” in the was subtitled “The Magazine for the Tod language of the times, in 1943, with his Fan.” It appeared in the 1940s-1950s, friend Jim Avery and the visiting Claude and was edited and published by Norm Degler. He gave Degler some fanzines, from his home in Rockland, Maine. This and got along well with him. This fanzine was mimeographed using blue generosity of his, plus the “conference” ink. Issue #1 appeared in December, they had had with Avery, apparently 1942; with #2 appearing in Spring, 1943; qualified him to be a member of Degler’s #7 in Summer, 1944; and then following legendary Cosmic Circle. a regular quarterly schedule until issue SCIENTIFICTION New Series #50, page 4

#18 in 1949 — after which there was a In addition to his fanzine work, Norm three-year break; and then Issue #19 wrote for the SF prozines, including was published in the Fall of 1952, and several letters to Astounding Science was the last issue. Fiction. Three of his letters were published in 1938, two in 1939, and one in 1940. In addition, he had an essay (“The Theory of Thing Things”) published in the 1948 Torcon Report. Norm was a member of the British Interplanetary Society, as well as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He realized his dream of becoming a scientist by working as a chemist in a research laboratory. Norm was one of the original members of First Fandom; and he was elected to Issue 13 (Winter 1946) the First Fandom Hall of Fame in 2013. Fan-Tods was an apazine, distributed Norman F. Stanley passed away on through FAPA ( Amateur Press October 22, 2016, at the Sussman Association), and then VAPA (Vanguard House, Rockport, Maine, with his family Amateur Press Association). Cover in attendance. He was 100 years of illustrations were by Wright, among age. He is survived by his wife of 53 others. By issue #7, Wright had years, Eleanor, their two children, a become a co-editor. SF historian Harry granddaughter, and four children of a Warner once described Norm as “a nephew. power force in FAPA.” ’s 1944 poll of the top SF fans found Fan-Tods to be among the nation’s top five fanzines. On the other hand, in 1947 – in his fanzine Matters of Opinion – Speer wrote an article, “The People vs. Norman F. Stanley,” that was critical of the 16th issue of Fan-Tods. In the 1940s, Norm was very much a member of the “sense of wonder” camp of SF. According to Warner’s All Our Yesterdays, when Norm’s mother told him about atomic bombs and Hiroshima Eleanor and Norman Stanley he remembered thinking: “I confess my Here is a link to the obituary notice that first reaction was one of elation, which appeared on October 26, 2016 in The even the obvious misgivings couldn’t Courier Gazette / The Camden Herald: quench. ‘Geez, we might blow up the whole planet,’ I thought, ‘but it’s still http://knox.villagesoup.com/p/norman- wonderful.’ ” stanley/1588807 SCIENTIFICTION New Series #50, page 5

IN MEMORIAM: William Lampkin posted the following for The Pulp.Net on December 5, 2017: PAUL A. CARTER “Science-fiction author Paul A. Carter On December 4, the following notice died November 28, in Kingman, AZ. He was published in the Arizona Daily Star: was 90. Carter’s earliest work of fiction, “The Last Objective,” appeared in the “CARTER, Dr. Paul A. 90, of Tucson, August 1946 number of Astounding Arizona, passed away Monday, though he had numerous letters pub- November 28, at Desert Highlands in lished in a number of sf pulps prior to Kingman, Arizona, after a long illness. that. “The Last Objective” was adapted Dr. Carter was a retired professor of in 1951 for NBC radio’s Dimension X American History at the University of anthology series. Arizona. He was predeceased by his In addition to writing fiction for the pulps wife of 47 years, Julie K. (Raffety) and, later, digests, Carter authored The Carter. He is survived by his daughter, Creation of Tomorrow: Fifty Years of Christina (Stephen) Feikes; sons, Brian Magazine Science Fiction, published in Carter, Bruce (Frances) Carter and 1977. It looked at the impact of pulp Robert Carter; grandson, Alexander magazines on the genre of sf from the Madden and granddaughter, Natalie 1920s through the 1970s. Feikes. Dr. Carter was a retired professor of Dr. Carter served with the Navy during American History at the University of World War II as an Electronics Arizona, as well as a World War II Technician's Mate on the USS Bushnell, veteran who served in the U.S. Navy.” a Navy submarine tender. He sang for many years with the Fountain of Life choir and enjoyed the annual Christmas concert immensely. He was also a fan of science fiction and wrote prolifically. Throughout his life, he enjoyed hiking, exploring the Cape Cod National Sea- shore, reading almost every evening with his wife by his side, and celebrating the accomplishments of his cherished grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at Fountain of Life Lutheran Church in Tucson on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at John Clute’s entry for Paul A. Carter in 11:00 a.m. Dr. Carter will be buried at the Science Fiction Encyclopedia: Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial “Paul Allen Carter (1926-2016) U.S. Cemetery, alongside his wife. In lieu of social historian and writer who began flowers, donations to The Nature publishing sf with "The Last Objective" Conservancy or The National Parks for Astounding in August 1946. His Conservation Association in memory of occasional stories over the next de- Paul are encouraged.” cades showed that, had he wished, he SCIENTIFICTION New Series #50, page 6 could have made writing his primary member’s first sale) and named him career. In his critical study The Creation LASFS Writer of the Year in 1952. Cox of Tomorrow: Fifty Years of Magazine was a contemporary of Scientology Science Fiction (coll 1977) he founder L. Ron Hubbard.” demonstrated an intimate and soph- (Prepared by Mike Glyer, originally published isticated knowledge of the field. With in File 770, October 7, 2016) Gregory Benford he published a short novel, Iceborn (in Synergy 3, anth 1989, John Glenn (b.1921) ed George Zebrowski, as "Proserpina's Daughter" by Benford alone; exp 1989 “Astronaut John Glenn died on chap dos).” December 8. Glenn was the last surviving member of the Mercury 7 astronauts and the first American to OTHER OBITUARIES orbit the Earth, flying on the third Arthur Jean Cox (b.1929) Mercury mission on February 20, 1962 aboard Friendship 7. Following his flight “The death of long-time LASFSian and and status as a national hero, Glenn author Arthur Jean Cox was announced was grounded by President Kennedy at the club’s October 6 meeting. No and eventually became a Senator from details were given. He never missed a Ohio and ran unsuccessfully for LASFS meeting from May 1945 to President. The oldest of the Mercury January 1952. He served seven terms astronauts, he flew a second time in as secretary and one term as Director. 1998 aboard the space shuttle He contributed to the club genzine Discovery, becoming the oldest man to Shangri L’Affaires, as well as other fly in space.” zines including Science Fiction Times, Riverside Quarterly, and Science Fiction (Prepared by Steven H. Silver, originally pub- lished in SF Site News, December 8, 2016) Review. Cox helped put on the 1946 in Los Angeles. Louis I. Kuslan (b.1922) “Louis I[saac] Kuslan (February 14, 1922-October 9, 2015) Connecticut fan; co-edited a revival of the fanzine Cosmic Tales with sister Gertrude and contributed to Forry Ackerman's Imagination!; attended the First World Science Fiction Convention; obtained B.S. from University of Connecticut (1943); M.A. (1947) and Ph.D. from Yale University (1954); later taught science Arthur Jean Cox and chemistry at various schools (Photo from Youtube.com) including Southern Connecticut State His first published story, “Twilight College; member of assorted teaching Planet,” appeared in F&SF in 1951. and scientific organizations; author of LASFS voted him a Fanquet (then a several nonfiction texts, many in traditional dinner celebrating a club collaboration with A. Harris Stone, SCIENTIFICTION New Series #50, page 7 including Readings on Teaching Barry R. Levin (b. 1946) Children Science (with A. Harris Stone) (Wadsworth, 1969); Teaching Children “Bookseller Barry R. Levin committed Science: An Inquiry Approach (with suicide on September 14. Levin Stone) (Wadsworth Publishing Co., operated Barry R. Levin Books in Santa 1969); Liebig The Master Chemist Monica. During his years of bookselling, (History of Science Series) (Prentice- Levin also presented the Collectors Hall, 1969); Robert Boyle The Great Awards for authors, books, and Experimenter (with Stone) (History of publishers who were deemed to be the Science Series) (Prentice-Hall, 1970); most collectible. Levin was suffering Connecticut Science Technology and from depression. His wife, Sally Ann Medicine in the Era of the American Fudge Levin, died in 2006.” Revolution The Connecticut Revolu- (Prepared by Steven H. Silver and originally tionary Series Vol. 27. (American published in SF Site News, October 14, 2016) Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Connecticut, 1978); Projects in Physical Bill Warren (b. 1943) Science (Prentice-Hall, 1980) and Ham “Film critic Bill Warren died on October Radio: An Introduction to the World 7. Warren was one of the leading Beyond CB (with son Richard D. authorities on science fiction, fantasy, Kuslan) (Prentice Hall, 1981.)” and horror films and was active in LASFS. In the late 1960s, he worked as an assistant to Forrest J Ackerman. For L.A.Con II, Warren wrote a mystery with Allan Rothstein set at the convention with characters who were all actual attendees of the convention. The story sold as a convention publication. Later, Warren would publish the seminal Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties.” (Prepared by Steven H. Silver and originally published in SF Site News, October 14, 2016)

John Zacherle (b.1918) “American TV host, radio personality Louis I. Kuslan and voice actor John Zacherle died (Photograph provided by Christopher M. O’Brien) October 27. He was best known for his For more information: long career broadcasting horror movies in and in the http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nhregi 1950s-60s. He also did voice work for ster/obituary.aspx?n=LOUIS-I- movies, and edited two collections of KUSLAN&pid=176100217#sthash.WnM horror stories, Zacherley's Vulture Stew 0KIt7.dpuf and Zacherley's Midnight Snacks.” (Article prepared by Christopher M. O’Brien) (Summarized from an entry in Wikipedia) SCIENTIFICTION New Series #50, page 8

ORIGINAL MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Ember Library, Midnight Readers, etc.). From 1961 on, his primary editor was WILLIAM L. HAMLING fellow First Fandom member Earl Kemp. (BY JON D. SWARTZ AND JOHN L. COKER III) Pseudonymous writers for Hamling / First Fandom original member William Kemp included such later highly Lawrence “Bill” Hamling (born June 14, successful authors as Lawrence Block, 1921) is now retired and living in Palm Marion Zimmer Bradley, Evan Hunter, Springs, . He was a fan, and Donald Westlake. Hamling had writer, editor, and publisher during the legal problems because of these Golden Age of Science Fiction. paperback publishing activities. His science fiction (SF) and writing / editing activities were many. He started to read SF in 1935. Soon he was editing, and writing SF stories for his high school magazine – a publication that had a very large circulation for magazines of this sort. He graduated from high school in 1939, and the next year published five issues of his fanzine Stardust. While publishing his fanzine, he was also submitting thousands of words of fiction to SF magazines. Later, he himself was managing editor of both Standing, L-R: William L. Hamling, Erle M. and Fantastic Korshak, . Seated, L-R: Olga Ley, Adventures (1948 - 1950), and in 1951 Frances Hamling. New Orleans, 1951 World he became editor / publisher of SF Convention. (Photograph by Ben Jason) Imagination, buying the magazine from Hamling really began his significant SF Ray Palmer. A companion magazine, activities as an author. He published a Imaginative Tales (later titled Space number of stories, the first of which, Travel), was then added; and he “War with Jupiter” (with Mark published both until late 1958. He was Reinsberg), appeared in Amazing in also involved in the Richard Shaver 1939; most of his stories appeared controversy that divided SF fandom. under his own name. His Shadow of the After he canceled his SF magazines, he Sphinx is a horror novel about an put his energies into a men's magazine ancient sorceress. First published that was seen at the time as a Playboy during the 1940s, it was described by clone. He severed most of his fannish author / critic Lin Carter as “the best connections when he became a story of its kind I read in many a moon. professional. The character of Zaleikka was done to In the late 1950s, Hamling began perfection. This is the type of yarn we Rogue; and in 1959, he launched have all too few of nowadays.” Nightstand Books, an imprint for After work as an editor at Ziff-Davis paperback original “sex novels” by Publishers, Hamling started his own authors working under house names. publishing company -- which was at (Later imprints included Leisure Books, different times known as Greenleaf

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Publishing, Greenleaf Classics, Reed of the Presidential Report of the Enterprises, Corinth Publications, Commission on Obscenity and Regency Publications, Blake Pharma- Pornography. The book was “replete ceuticals, Phenix Publishing, and with the sort of photographs the Freedom Publishing -- in the early commission examined.” Hamling and 1950s, with the science fiction / fantasy editor Kemp were hit with a one-year magazine Imagination. His wife, SF prison sentence for distributing the author Frances Deegan Yerxa Hamling, book, but served only the federal worked closely with him in the early minimum of three months and one day. years of his publishing activities. The story of their arrest and prison time was covered in Gay Talese's Thy Neighbor's Wife. It should be pointed out that the definition of pornography in this country has varied considerably over the years. The books published by Hamling would be considered quite mild compared with books being published today, or with what is currently available on the Internet.

L-R: Frances and William L. Hamling Hamling wanted to run Chicon I and (Philcon, 1953 - Photo by Charles Harris) worked with Jack Darrow to re-form the Chicago Science Fiction League in According to L. Sprague de Camp's 1939; but, ultimately, it was run by the Science-Fiction Handbook, published in Illini Fantasy Fictioneers, instead. He 1953, Hamling was at that time a “slim, was one of the Committee of Seven that dark man who looks too young to be not ran Chicon II. He was also involved in a only an independent publisher but also fan feud with Earl Singleton. Singleton the father of five.” (1916 - 1999) was famous in fandom for Hamling's appeal of his conviction on faking his own death (supposedly obscenity charges for selling two shooting himself in the temple with a Greenleaf Books (Lust Pool and Shame pistol) in order to gafiate and drop out of Agent) in 1965 went to the Supreme school – thereby leading to the creation Court of the , where it was of a new fannish term, pseuicide. overturned in 1967. Greenleaf Books / At one time Hamling was known in fan Classics and its associated imprints circles by the name of W. Lawrence published over fifty titles of so-called SF Hamling. He was inducted into the First pornography; they are listed in The Fandom Hall of Fame in 2004. Science Fiction Collector 4 (July, 1977) edited by J. Grant Thiessen, and in Sources Donald H. Tuck's The Encyclopedia of Harry Warner Jr.; The Science Fiction Science Fiction and Fantasy through Collector 4; The Encyclopedia of 1968, Volume 3: Miscellaneous (1982). Science Fiction & Fantasy, Vol. 3; During the Nixon Administration, Internet sites, including Wikepedia, Hamling published an illustrated edition Fancyclopedia 3 and ISFDB.

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STF-RELATED HEADLINES sented each year since 1966 to an individual for outstanding achievement.” Ackerman Square Dedication (Prepared by Mike Glyer, originally reported in FILE 770 – November 6, 2016) “The City of Los Angeles did name a Los Feliz neighborhood intersection in Pulp Adventurecon his honor. The square was officially dedicated on November 17. Several A pulp and paper show will be held in Ft. dozen Forry Fans were in attendance.” Lauderdale on Saturday, February 11th. (Thanks to File 770 – November 5, 2016)

Benford Receives Ackerman Award “The Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society voted the 2016 Forrest J Ackerman Award for Service to Science Fiction to author / scientist Gregory Benford at its September 29 meeting.” (Prepared by Mike Glyer, originally reported in File 770, October 1, 2016.)

The Forry Award Anthology To learn more: www.pulpavdenture.com “The Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society will soon release its first e-book, World Fantasy Awards an anthology, and Beyond - The Forry Award Anthology. NOVEL Anna Smaill, The Chimes. LONG FICTION Kelly Barnhill, The Unlicensed Magician. SHORT FICTION Alyssa Wong, 'Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers' (Nightmare 10/15). ANTHOLOGY Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Paula R. Stiles, eds., She Walks in . COLLECTION C.S.E. Cooney, Bone Swans. ARTIST Galen Dara. SPECIAL – PROFESSIONAL for The Art of Horror. SPECIAL – NONPROFESSIONAL John O'Neill for Black Gate. (Reported in Ansible 352 – November 2016)

Featured: , Forry Ackerman, Update on John DeChancie, , Len Moffatt, C.L. Moore, , Fred “Brian Aldiss recently had a stroke and Patten, , and A.E. van spent ten days in hospital, but is home Vogt, all of whom are among the again and recovering well.” honourees of the “Forry Award”, pre- (Reported in Ansible 352 – November 2016)

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FIRST FANDOM MAGAZINE members of first SF fandom, including David A. Kyle and Robert A. Madle. (ANNUAL, 2016) The largest single bit of coverage in the A REVIEW BY GEORGE PHILLIES current issue is a fourteen page, illustrated chronology of the man who Yes, science fiction (SF) from the days many would describe as the world’s of long ago, when dinosaurs roamed the greatest SF fan / collector, the late earth, or so we are led to understand Forrest J Ackerman. There is a series from the cover of the 2016 annual issue. of photos beginning with Ackerman as a This sixty-eight page, lavishly illustrated, baby and continuing through middle-age historical magazine is printed on 11 x until relatively late in life. 17” glossy paper, and is center stapled. The cover is even heavier in weight. The magazine continues with the Credit for the scene goes to artist Bob description of Amazing Stories Barger and authors John L. Coker III magazine, as it appeared in 1926. We and Jon D. Swartz. then get an account of the first non-local SF convention, held in 1936 in It’s a wonderful piece of work, full of Philadelphia. information lost to the rest of the world. This is the 2016 issue; plans are already Then there’s coverage of the Third in place for the 2017 issue, which will World Science Fiction Convention, held focus on the life and work of Jack in Denver in 1941, soon before the Robins, who died late last year at the United States became involved in the age of 96. Readers of TNFF will recall Second World War. It turns out that the his long article on the Futurians as he convention was recorded electronically, remembered them 80 years later. assuredly the first convention to have been recorded that way. The Third First Fandom was founded in 1959. It World Science Fiction Convention also had a simple membership restriction. had awards given, establishing a To join, at least originally, you had to be practice that continues with modest active in SF fandom prior to 1938. controversy to the present day. We get Mindful that the supply of such people is large numbers of photographs of fen somewhat limited, the organization now and writers of long ago. has two membership categories. The Dinosaur is a person who was active in As coverage of recent SF news, Ben fandom before the first World Science Jason gives us an article on the 1966 Fiction Convention. The Associate World Con. There are biographic Member is anyone who has been articles on original SF fans, a few of continuously engaged in science whom are in their 90s and still alive. fictional activities for at least 30 years. First Fandom Magazine (Annual, 2016) First Fandom Magazine covers news is a fine effort, a worthy tribute to the events of SF fandom from some years men (and a few women) who helped ago, including coverage of the First establish our noble hobby. Eastern Science Fiction Convention (Abridged from a longer review that was (1936), the Third World Con - originally published in The National Fantasy Denvention (1941), and profiles of Fan, September 2016 - Volume 75, Number 9)

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BOB MADLE DONATES FILE OF a more humorous note is a copy of the certificate that Ben Indick sent to Bob MATERIAL TO THE FF ARCHIVE Madle in 1974, officially recognizing him as an honorary member of FAAHF (First Last month, Robert A. Madle (Founding and a Half Fandom). Member and President Emeritus) gen- erously donated several hundred items The real history of our organization (and to the burgeoning First Fandom Archive. the evolution of SF Fandom in general) is revealed in these important letters. This unique and significant collection We can see the ideals of the early fans features a great deal of written corres- reflected in the genesis of other groups, pondence between Bob and Founding including the Science Fiction League Members Don Ford, Lou Tabakow, Lynn and the Order of St. Fantony. Hickman, C.L. Barrett and Dale Tarr. This collection features letters from fans Also present are convention reports and and pros from all over the world, forming meeting minutes detailing First Fandom a real “Who’s Who” of the luminaries activities from several Midwestcons, from the early days. It is possible to get Lunacons, Philcons and . a real glimpse of how the field was There are a dozen different issues of the developing as we read the perspectives First Fandom Newsletter that was edited of such notables as Forrest J Ackerman, by David A. Kyle while he and his family Sam Moskowitz, Art Saha, Clair Beck, were living in England and in New York. Alva Rogers, , John Millard, Walt Liebscher, Bob Bloch, Roy Jay Kay Klein (who was one of the first Tackett, Dean Grennell, Ben Jason, people to become an Associate Mem- Frank Andrasovsky, Howard DeVore, ber) wrote several impassioned letters Allen Glasser, Larry Farsace and others. stating his love for scientific fiction and why he should belong to First Fandom. After reviewing this material, my initial impression was that the original mem- bers of First Fandom were very active. These fans were passionate in their beliefs and expressed this by writing to each other and publishing fanzines. There was a sense of community where enthusiasts feuded, encouraged each other and debated the issues of the day. These voices helped to influence the development of modern SF institutions Bob Madle and Jay Kay Klein (1967) that we are able to casually enjoy today. Other highlights include applications for Do the fans of the modern era still feel a membership from John W. Campbell, Jr. sense of wonder about SF? Are they and (both of whom were willing to communicate this by making uncertain as to whether or not they met the effort to write letters to each other? the qualifications to join First Fandom). I appreciate the historic record that the There are examples of fan biographies, First Fandom Archive provides and I am announcements and award letters. On grateful to Bob Madle for preserving it.

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LETTER (CHRISTOPHER M. O’BRIEN) I was able to share some of his silent film memories and life experiences with I'm actually still finding it emotionally the readers of Filmfax. (He was also difficult to write about Dave Kyle. Suf- interviewed in a 1981 issue of Starlog fice it to say, I had borrowed his Pictorial and wrote a number of pieces for that History of Science Fiction from a library zine.) He was endlessly patient with (and may even have previously done so endless queries about historical and as a 1980's child unlocking the history of fannish minutiae and endlessly pre-Star Wars SF films that were then encouraging of my efforts to the end. unknown to me.) Art Widner clued me I was deeply saddened too (but not in to the fact that Dave no longer lived in entirely unprepared) to learn we lost Bill the UK as stated on the book's dust- Warren. While I had been familiar with wrapper, but had in fact been back in his name for years since likewise the US for some years. reading his contributions to Starlog and I found an e-mail address for Kyle on a Fangoria as a kid and coming across long-ago version of the First Fandom many of his postings on all manner of website. He replied promptly, and while genre forums online, it was Bill who asserting that "H.P. Lovecraft was not contacted me when he got wind from my cup of tea," (as at the time my main our mutual publisher McFarland and Co. focus in canvassing surviving fans of his that I was at work on a bio-bibliography generation was in hopes of unearthing of Forrest J Ackerman. This resulted in any previously unknown contacts of the a voluminous correspondence that I famed American supernaturalist) Kyle regret tapered off a bit and grew more invited me to phone him at home, which sporadic in the last two years or so. But I did on a Sunday night in May of even after a lapse of several months, 2000. That first conversation lasted Bill was always quick to reply and would over 2 1/2 hours between two total likewise sometimes contact me out of strangers. I then spoke to Dave Kyle on the blue with a question or to share a the phone fairly often for the past 16+ photograph or other material he'd come years; I last spoke to him in July. across. There was much to discuss, as like myself, Bill was an omnivorous fan He and his wife used to winter in Florida whose interests spanned SF, Fantasy and they stopped to visit me at my and Horror in books, movies, television, house on their way back north in 2001, comics, pulps, and old-time radio, etc., and I was able to get together with him etc., and he often bemoaned the narrow while he was wintering down there the interests of the majority of fans he following year and I was going to school encountered who tend to focus on just in Orlando. one of these aspects. I then saw (& roomed with) him (and our Bill sent me a hardcover of the 21st erstwhile editor) each year at the I-Con Century edition of his Keep Watching on Long Island from 2004-06, and once the Skies! inscribed to me for free and stayed for 5 weeks in '05 with Dave and when I pointed out a few very minor his late wife Ruth in their former home in errors I spotted on first skimming upstate New York in a (mostly fruitless) through it, he was most appreciative and effort to help organize some of his stuff. asked that I let him know of any more I

SCIENTIFICTION New Series #50, page 14 found, as he obviously envisioned there the 60th anniversary of "The Unique could be even further editions of it. Magazine" and the centennial of H.P. Lovecraft respectively. For a time Bob owned the rights to and attempted to turn the property into an anthology TV series. Only recently I had occasion to consult my copy of Weinberg's A Biographical Dictionary of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists only to find too late that it had an entry for Robert Adragna, whom I was seeking to contact for my piece on SF fan and Castle of Frankenstein publisher Calvin Thomas Initial meeting of Bill Warren and Forrest J Ackerman (1961 Worldcon, Seattle) Beck. These reference works of Bob's (Photo provided by Christopher M. O’Brien) will continue to be of value in years to come, the latter having been an Bill left enough writings behind that one especially important source in the pre- could easily do a book or whole series Wikipedia days when, for instance, it of books of his essays, reviews and was hard to come by information on WT interviews. He spoke a few times of artists like Lee Brown Coye, Vincent wanting to edit many of FJA's fanzine Napoli or Matt Fox. contributions and early film columns into a book, but never got very far along with As a small side-note, though Bob did not this, though I sent him much material create the character, he did for a time and made suggestions for it. I suspect write the mutant hero both he and his wife's ill health in this Cable who is promised to appear in the decade and the very deep and genuine sequel to this year's box office smash-hit emotional loss he seemed to feel for Deadpool. Forry precluded work on this project. For more on Bob’s collecting & publish- My own contact with Robert E. ing activities, see Leo Grin's "An Weinberg was limited to the exchange Interview with " on the of a few e-mails over the years and one REHupa Home Page: brief phone conversation some 16 years http://www.rehupa.com/OLDWEB/updat ago. He was a huge collector, seller es/weinberg_interview.htm Another and historian of pulps, books, manu- Weinbergian rarity I might direct readers scripts, and original artwork (the latter to: a never-printed 1980 interview Bob as Science Fiction Graphics, Inc.) His conducted with A. E. van Vogt intended Tales Story is likely to remain for a planned second volume to another the definitive book on that magazine, worthy effort Weinberg published, Mike whose legacy he continued to celebrate Ashley and Terry Jeeves' The Complete in the 6 issues of his The Weird Tales Index to Astounding/Analog and which Collector, the many anthologies he co- did not see light until being hosted on edited and the two World Fantasy the van Vogt tribute site: Convention program books from 1983 http://www.icshi.net/sevagram/interview and 1990, which events were devoted to s/weinberg.php#top

SCIENTIFICTION New Series #50, page 15

LETTER (PHYLLIS WEINBERG) LETTER (JACK LANGE) (October 2) (October 21) I was overwhelmed with the response Bernice and I very much regret the from Facebook posts. I lived and passing of David Kyle. The Newsletter worked with Bob for the 43 years we was the first we had heard of his pas- were married. I am in awe of all of the sing. Even given his age, his passing people he influenced and inspired. Just came as a shock. Bernice and I saw amazing. Was this "my Bob"? him the day before he died, at a party He was my husband, partner, sweetie, given by Bill and Mary Burns. dad to Matt, and the reason I got up We know he was a dear friend of yours, every morning....to make him a bacon, and of a great many others. Bernice egg, and pepper cheese sandwich on and I count ourselves amongst those sourdough bread. Bob could hang who were his friends and who will much artwork like no one else. Our walls can miss him, his experience, his generosity, attest to that. I often said we should just warmth, and wit. have pegboard walls. All of his books Congratulations to you and your col- have archive wrappers. And oodles of leagues on the recently received copy of dust-collecting plastic figures ...Disney Scientifiction. It is informative, impres- characters , movie , etc. sitting sive, and well-produced. in front of the books.

Physically, this summer was really bad LETTER (BRUCE CARTER) for him. Our Doctor agreed with me that he was a walking miracle. Bob had a (November 30) wonderful 70th birthday party just a few Sadly, my father passed away on weeks ago. November 28th at the age of 90. He was alert and happy nearly to the very end, with a continuing interest in history, poetry and science fiction. I am collecting memories and anecdotes about Paul A. Carter from those people who knew him in his "science fiction life" including the Campbell conferences at KU, Worldcons, or other contexts. I would like to invite his friends and colleagues to provide comments at https://campamnesia.wordpress.com/ Robert A. Weinberg, John L. Coker III (Chicago, 2015 - Photograph by Sam Maronie) Please post an announcement in the There will be a tribute party at the Windy upcoming issue of the First Fandom newsletter. I hope that you will share City Pulp and Paper Show (April 21-23). this request for information with other Please thank everyone for their support! science fiction fans who knew my father.

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BIRTHDAYS FIRST FANDOM (From a list originally compiled by Andrew Porter) Co-Founder and President Emeritus January Robert A. Madle - 4406 Bestor Drive, 1 – Chesley Bonestell, Norman Saunders Rockville, MD 20853 Tel: (301) 460-4712 2 – Isaac Asimov, Charles Beaumont President 3 – J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen Fabian John L. Coker III - 4813 Lighthouse Road, 6 – Eric Frank Russell, S. Fowler Wright Orlando, FL 32808 Tel: (407) 532-7555 8 – Dennis Wheatley, [email protected] 9 – Karel Capek, 10 – Elizabeth Anne Hull Secretary-Treasurer Keith W. Stokes - 14305 West 83rd Place, 11 – Jerome Bixby Lenexa, KS 66215 [email protected] 13 – Clark Ashton Smith, Ron Goulart 15 – Robert Silverberg Vice-President 19 – Erle M. Korshak - Shasta/Phoenix Publishers, 20 – A. Merritt 950 South Winter Park Drive, Suite 320, Casselberry, FL 32707 21 – Judith Merril, Charles Eric Maine 22 – Katherine M. MacLean EDITORIAL STAFF, SCIENTIFICTION 24 – C.L. Moore Editor / Publisher 26 – Philip José Farmer John L. Coker III [email protected] February Special Features Editor 1 – Jon D. Swartz - 12115 Missel Thrush Court, 4 – Ted White Austin, TX 78750-2101 8 – Jules Verne, Ned Brooks [email protected] 9 – , Pat Sims 11 – 12 – Juanita Coulson 14 – Dale Hart, David A. Kyle 16 – Ed Emshwiller, Rusty Hevelin 17 – , Margaret St. Clair 18 – 19 – Terry Carr 20 – 21 – P. Schuyler Miller, Ross Rocklynne 24 – August Derleth, Richard Powers 26 – March 3 – Arthur Machen, James Doohan 6 – Marjii Ellers, William F. Nolan 9 – William F. Temple, Robin Johnson 12 – 13 – L. Ron Hubbard 19 – Joseph L. Hensley 22 – Raymond Z. Gallun, William Shatner 24 – Andrew I. Porter SCIENTIFICTION is published quarterly by First Fandom. 27 – John Hertz The name First Fandom, the slogan “The Dinosaurs of Science Fiction,” and the First Fandom logo are all 28 – A. Bertram Chandler trademarks of First Fandom, and may not be used without 30 – Chad Oliver permission of First Fandom. This issue of SCIENTIFICTION is © 2016 by First Fandom and by the individual contributors.