OcicntiFiction Huhimn, 1337 The First Fandom Report 2 Scienti Fiction Autumn. 1997 Autumn, 1997 ScientiFiction 3 NEW FIRST FANDOM SAM MOSKOWITZ: Table o! Contents AWARD AN OBITUARY TO HONOR SAM MOSKOWITZ by There will be a new award John L. Coker, III within First Fandom beginning next NEW AWARD ........................................................................................................... 3 year. The award, the “Sam Moskowitz Archive Award,” will be SAM MOSKOWITZ; AN OBITUARY by John I. Coker, III......................................3 Sam Moskowitz, widely given for excellence in science fiction NEWS & NOTICES.................................................................................................... 5 regarded as the leading authority on collecting. REVENGE OF THE SCI-FAN the editor goes on and on ......................................6 Science Fiction and Fantasy, died DINOSAUR DROPPINGS coproliths from our readers..........................................8 April 15, 1997, at the age of The award will have PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Ray has his revenge ................................................... 16 seventy-six. During his lifetime, he nominations and voting during the witnessed the evolution of modern same frame as the Hall of Fame Science Fiction, and significantly award, and will be presented at the influenced its development for seven annual First Fandom reunion. decades. Sam’s exhaustive interdisciplinary approach to the The suggestion for this genre led him to earn a unique award was made by Joseph P. reputation as fan, collector, Martino and Julie Schwartz. These correspondent, conventioneer, worthies put their heads together at author, biographer, reviewer, literary Marcon and developed the idea agent, critic, researcher, publisher, which they then presented to the editor, anthologist, archivist, scholar, officers, who agreed that the time and historian. was right for it. Cover showing Sam Moskowitz at Sercon 3, Louisville, Kentucky, Spring 1988. Photo courtesy of John L. Coker, III. Born June 30, 1920 in New Sam Moskowitz was one of Jersey, Sam lived his entire life in those remarkable people who Newark or the surrounding area. helped create both science fiction His parents were Russian fandom and its passion for collecting. immigrants, and as a youth, Sam It is only fitting that he be helped in the family businesses and remembered in such a way. enjoyed boxing, soccer and baseball. He discovered Science Fiction in the The name “First Fandom", the title ScientiFiction, the term “dinosaurs of science fiction”, and the First Fandom logo are all Trade Marks of First Fandom and may not be used without express pages of Astounding Science Fiction permission of the organization. ScientiFiction^ the First Fandom Report is an official publication of and Amazing Stories in the early First Fandom™, and is published four times a year by President Ray Beam. 2209 S. Webster, 1930’s, but it was several years Kokomo, IN 46902. The Editor is Secretary-Treasurer Mark Schulzinger, 4 Nevada Grcle, Gallup, before he could afford to begin NM 87301-5469 ([email protected]). Subscriptions are $6 00 per year and should be sent to buying magazines. It is estimated Mark. Comments can be sent to either Ray or Mark. that when he began in fandom in the 4 ScientiFiction Autumn, 1997 Autumn, 1997 ScientiFiction 5 mid-1930s, there were history of Science Fiction fandom vacuum that simply cannot not be Bob Silverberg approximately one hundred active from its earliest days through 1939, filled. In spite of his many Box 13160, Station E fans in the entire world, and at that is considered by many to be Sam’s publications, it is the staggering loss Oakland, CA 94661 time Sam knew every one of them, most important book. Included in of his first-hand knowledge and the either by correspondence or his non-fiction works are the well- sheer volume of information which Welcome Dinosaur! reputation. known “Explorers of the Infinite” he possessed and was willing to (1963) and “Seekers of Tomorrow” share that is so tragic. His overall Sam was a pioneer with (1966), both of which are collections contribution to the field is almost many first-time accomplishments. In of essays profiling the influences of impossible to estimate, but it would DEADLINES May 1935, he co-founded the literary figures on Science Fiction. be accurate to state that without Newark Science Fiction League, and Among the dozens of anthologies Sam Moskowitz, Science Fiction The deadlines for First Fandom in the Fall of 1936 began his first fan edited by Sam are “Editor’s Choice might never have flourished to reach events and StF are as follows: correspondence with Julius in Science Fiction” (1954), its present state. Sam is survived by Schwartz, the editor of Fantasy “Exploring Other Worlds” (1963), his wife of nearly forty years, Dr. First Fandom: Magazine. A charter member of the “The Coming of the Robots” (1963), Christine Haycock, a surgeon Fantasy Amateur Press Association in “Masterpieces of Science Fiction” specializing in women’s sports May 31,1998 — last date for 1937, he remained active for the (1967), “Futures to Infinity” (1970), medicine. nominations for 1999 Hall of Fame rest of his life. Sam chaired the First and “Out of The Storm (1975). award. Last date for nominations World Science Fiction Convention These always featured worthwhile for 1999 first Sam Moskowitz (NYCON I) in New York City in stories which typically had not been NECROLOGY award. July 1939. He founded the Eastern reprinted, accompanied by Sam’s Science Fiction Association in 1946, extensive introductions and heavily- ScientiFiction: and remained active for more than researched background information. forty years. In the early 1950’s, Fred Cook October 18, 1997 - Closing date after serving as Hugo Gemsback's Sam's personal collection of for Winter, 1997 ish. managing editor for Science Fiction Science Fiction is one of the world’s Plus, Sam edited several prominent largest, and is designed specially for January 17, 1998 - Closing date for trade journals in the field of frozen research. It features a complete set Spring, 1998 ish. foods. He has been credited with of every Science Fiction magazine APPLICATIONS teaching the first college level published in English as well as most April 18, 1998 — Closing date for course in creative Science Fiction of the Fantasy, Supernatural and The following has applied for Summer, 1998 ish. writing in 1953 at City College, New associational magazines. It also associate membership: York. includes nearly every fan publication July 18, 1998 — Closing date for from 1930-1950, more than 6,000 • Everett Slosman Autumn, 1998 ish. Sam had more than sixty hardcover books, thousands of hardcover books published, and sold photographs, original art, articles and stories to many of the manuscripts, and all written DUES Science Fiction magazines. His correspondence that he received NEW MEMBERS books on the history of Science since 1936. Fiction can be found in the reference Dues in First Fandom are sections of every major library in the The passing of Sam The following has been made an now $6.00 per year. The number United States. “The Immortal Moskowitz marks the close of an on your mailing label will tell you to Storm” (1954), an incredibly detailed extraordinary career, leaving a Associate Member: Autumn, 1997 Scienti Fiction 7 6 Scienti Fiction Autumn, 1997 they came. This is a game that is vastly the end of which year your dues are current crop of collectors just isn’t different from any I’ve played, and a paid. Please keep your dues current interested in complete sets of And if one does not know lot more enjoyable, as well. The if you possibly can. Startling Stories, Amazing Stories, or from whence he came he cannot theme is simple: Artris has the ability even Clayton Astoundings. know who he is. to create different worlds just by writing about them. He has This was Good News in a REVENGE OF THE SCI- disappeared. By reading his books way for Ray. He had spent so much A hearty thanks goes to and solving puzzles the player can FAN time and effort putting his collection Charles Hornig who sent me a copy visit Artris’ worlds and find out what together that he was delighted he of the state of California resident happened to him. could have his cake and eat it, too. income tax return, but thoughtfully Why Collect? How many of us can be that ecksed it out both front and back. Woah! Here’s a game with fortunate? Perhaps he thought I would no aliens out to zap you, no half- visible demonic heads that eat your Two very interesting things But the bad news is that inadvertently fill it out. No chance, lunch, and no hand-held Howitzers happened recently that gave me the origins of science fiction are Charles, I had a bout of filling out four separate income tax forms a with which to frag everything in cause to pause and reflect on from being forgotten. The pulps, which few years ago and vowed never to sight. This is a leisurely game with whence we came and whither we gobbled up so many cheap words do so again. It’s interesting, though, no time limits and no death traps. are going. and gave so much in the way of to note that Californians have 12 How novel. escapist entertainment, are being separate contributions of one dollar The first was the suggestion forgotten or ignored by the or more they can make on their The entire game is a from Julie Schwartz and Joe Martino collectors. The fora in which so returns. A few more and they pleasure to play. The graphics were that we create a new award, the many dinosaurs had their letters wouldn't be paying income taxes at designed and executed on Macintosh Same Moskowitz Archive Award the printed almost immediately after all, just earmarking dollars the way computers, machines that are be given for excellence in science they were hatched are being some folks do for the United Way acknowledged as the best graphics fiction collecting.