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Ackerman, Forrest J (1916-2008): Considered the first “fandom personality,” Ackerman (who didn’t include the period after the J) played a major role in creation and growth of not just the science fiction fandom, but many other fandoms. He was an advocate for Esperanto and is known for his Forrynyms and Ackermanese, combining and coining many terms including sci-fi. He is responsible for Worldcons having an alternative nickname, coining NyCon for the first Worldcon in 1939. Ackerman is noted as the first cosplayer (though the term wouldn’t be coined until 1983, and he would use his coined term futuristicostume for his costuming), and honored as the Father of Cosplay, along with his friend Myrtle Douglas (Morojo), the Mother of Cosplay. In 1953, he was honored with a unique Hugo Award calling him the “#1 Fan Personality.” Outside the science fiction fandom, Ackerman is co-creator of Vampirella, founding editor of the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, and writing stories for the first lesbian magazine, Vice Versa, for which he was dubbed “honorary lesbian.” He is also known by his many Forrynyms: Foĵak, Forry, Achy, 4e, 4s J, Dr Acula, Ack-Ack, the Grand Acquisitor, and Mr Science Fiction. 

 

Actifan: Active fan. Fan who participates in fandom, whether that be with clubs, cons, zines, or online. 

 

Amazing Stories: The first magazine devoted to science fiction, first published in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback. Letters from fans were published in the columns, complete with addresses, allowing for the first communication of fans from around the United States and world. Amazing Stories is cited as launching the modern science fiction genre and fandom. Gernsback lost ownership of the magazine in 1929 during a bankruptcy, however it continued to be published continuously until 2005. Later, the trademark lapsed, and the name was picked up by Steven Davidson and resurrected as an online magazine, with little recent activity.

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B

 

Boys’ Scientifiction Club: A scientifiction fan club created by Forrest J Ackerman in 1930, as he was too young to travel to the Eastbay Club. The cofounder of the club, Linus Hogenmiller, lived in Missouri. The club is assumed to be purely a correspondence club with no physical meetings. Members included Julius Schwartz and Mort Weisinger, who, along with other members, went on to create The Time Traveller fanzine.

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C

 

The Comet: The clubzine for the SCC, also called Cosmology  and Science Correspondence Club Organ, was first published in May 1930 and was edited by Raymond A. Palmer. It is one of the contenders for first fanzine, however, was purely dedicated to science and astronomy as opposed to science fiction.

 

Con: Short for convention or conference, a gathering of fans that is larger than a club meeting or meet up or one day gathering (pre-1939 conventions were single day affairs). Since the first Worldcon in 1939, most cons have traditionally followed the Worldcon model which includes: being a multiday event (usually 3 days) taking place in a venue (hotel, convention center, etc.) where fans partake in programming, normally with a guest of honor and space for dealers and artists. Traditional cons often include an art show, costume masquerade, hospitality suite or con suite, party floor, husksters hall, and banquet honoring a single Guest of Honor. Modern cons are traditionally three days following a hotel block model with programming, artist alley, vendors, and multiple guests of honor. Larger modern cons with over a few thousand attendees tend to shift to a trade show model, and are centralized around a convention center as opposed to a main hotel.

 

Concom: Convention committee, group of volunteers who organize a con. Concom can refer to any volunteer who makes the con happen, but normally refers to the leadership and department heads. Gofers are not considered part of concom. Originally the concom was made up of clubs that sponsor the conventions. The con chair is considered the leader of the concom.

 

Cosmic Stories: A carbonzine created by a 14-year-old Jerry Siegel (future co-creator of Superman) as two issues in either 1929 or 1930. It is one of the contenders for first fanzine, unfortunately there are no confirmed dates on when it was published, and the earliest source to mention the zine, The Immortal Storm (1945), stated no copies were believed to still exist. As a carbon copy produced zine, there would have been very few copies with limited circulation. 

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E

 

The Eastbay Club: Claimed to be founded in April 1928, the Eastbay Science Correspondence Club (also called the Eastbay Scientific Association and Golden Gate Scientific Association) was founded by Aubrey MacDermott. The group claimed members around the Bay Area (including a young Forrest J Ackerman) and as far away as New Zealand. However, claims of its founding date and whether it really was the first fan club are dubious and often debated. MacDermott in interviews kept changing the founding date of the club, earlier and earlier. And it is doubtful if they had any regular physical meetings. 

 

Edison Science Club: A New York based science club, founded after the collapse of the Scienceers. Defectors from the club went on to form the International Cosmos Science Club (ICSC). The club was more focused on science than science fiction.

 

Egoboo: Ego boost, what impels fans in their tireless activity, pleasure received from public recognition of voluntary work.

 

Eofandom: A term used by fan historian Jack Speer to cover 1930-1933, preceding the period he called First Fandom. For purposes of this history, Eofandom refers to everything between the publication of Amazing Stories in 1926 to the formation of organized fandom in the early 1930s. 

 

Fanac: Short for fan activity, this term applies to all means of fannish participation including writing in fanzines, corresponding with other fans, attending meetings and conventions, and creating fan content. Gives rise to the catchphrase: “Anything two fans do together is fanac!”

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F

 

Fancyclopedia (1944): The Fancyclopedia (also known as Fancy 1, Cy, or Fancyclopedia 1) was published by fan historian Jack Speer in 1944. It contained 97 pages of definitions concerning fannish activity, culture, and slang. In 1959, an updated version called Fancyclopedia II was published by Dick Eney, with a 19-page supplement published in 1960 and a second edition in 1979. The contents of these first two Fancyclopedias have been uploaded online on a Wikipedia-style website as Fancyclopedia 3 (fancyclopedia.org) and still continuously updated.

 

Fannish: Pertaining to fans or fandom. Opposite of mundane, and counterpoint to pro. 

 

Fanzine: A fan magazine, an amateur or nonprofessional magazine made by fans for the enjoyment of other fans, often concerning fannish activities. Fanzines have small print runs, under 1000 copies, often just a few hundred. They do not pay contributors or contain paid advertising. Other terms for fanzine include: fanag, fmz, and amzine. 

 

First Fandom: A historical term that has different meanings depending on context. For the purposes of this comic series, First Fandom refers to the period between the formation of the first fan clubs to the first Worldcon in 1939 concerning fannish history, events, and personalities. The term first fandom was first used by fan Jack Speer who wrote the first history on the Science Fiction fandom, Up to Now (1939), in which he introduced his theory of Numerical Fandoms. In Up to Now Speer refers to First Fandom as the period following Eofandom, taking place during 1933-1936 in which there was a shift from discussion of just science to science fiction and fannish activity.

 

Filk: A typo for folk spotted by Karen Anderson in 1953, the term now refers to fan written music and fan songs. These songs can be about the genre, fictional characters or franchises, or even about fannish themes and fan activity. Often these songs are parodies of existing songs, with new lyrics. Originally, the music of fandom consisted of union songs, protest songs, religious hymns, and folk tunes, sung by fans in the 1930s. Often defined as “folk music of sf fandom”, filk now refers to any fan music. The Homestuck fandom, for example, calls their fan music “Homestuck filk.”

 

Fitzgerald, Warren Scott (1899-1978): Born in Stoneham, Warren, PA, to French-Canadian father, Francis James Fitzgerald, and upstate New York mother, Elveretta Scott, Warren spent his formative years in Oklahoma before moving to Harlem. In 1929 a 30-year-old Fitzgerald served as the first president of the Scienceers, opening his home to the younger members to hold their weekly meetings. He served in the Marine Corps during WWI and later joined the American Rocket Society and helped to found the American Interplanetary Society in April 1930. He was referred to by fans as the first black fan, though some in modern times doubt if he was black. Later in life he moved to Boise, ID, where he became a member of the Boise Moose and Elks Lodge.

 

G
 

Gafia: Rhymes with raffia, this term is an initialism for Get Away From It All. The term means leaving the fandom, often voluntarily, and breaking off contact with other fans. This can be fading away from fandom quietly, but often is announced with details of why they are leaving. To leave fandom is to gafiate. 

 

Gernsback, Hugo (1884-1967): One of the most important founding figures of modern science fiction, this Luxembourg immigrant to America published many magazines concerning the early hobby of wireless radio, electronics, and science fiction. He would publish letters from young fans in his science fiction magazines (Amazing Stories and Wonder Stories) complete with full addresses which allowed fans to communicate with each other. He was inspired to create the Science Fiction League, which gave rise to organized fandom. Known in the fandom as Gernsy, he is the namesake of the Hugo Awards. 

 

Gernsback Ideal: The idealistic notion that readers of science fiction should consider advancement of science their serious aim, this includes seeking a career in a scientific field. This philosophy vindicated the idea that science fiction as a genre had a greater purpose than mere escapism. 

 

Glasser, Allen (1908-1971): A major fan in the early fandom period from New York City, he is responsible for the creation (and end) of the Scienceers, considered the first fan club. He also edited the clubzine, The Planet, considered one of the first fanzines, and depending on who you talk to, was responsible for the creation of The Time Traveller, or was brought on by Julius Schwartz as the editor for his experience. Robert Madle recalls that Glasser historically “can be named as the first real science fiction fan.”

 

Gofer: Also called go-fers or gophers, are convention volunteers not in leadership positions, who perform a variety of miscellaneous tasks (often line management, badge checks).

 

GoH: Guest of Honor, an individual invited to the con to be honored. Traditionally there is one GoH or one Pro GoH and one Fan GoH. Being a GoH is often considered the fandom equivalent to a lifetime achievement award. Normally, modern cons have multiple GoHs, though this status does not carry the  same prestige as it does for older cons; where they are referred to as special guests. The Worldcon GoH status is considered the fandom’s equivalent of a Nobel Prize. To be a Worldcon GoH, the individual should be active for at least thirty years, though the number is arbitrary.

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I

 

International Cosmos Science Club (ICSC): Founded in 1933 by defectors of the Edison Science Club. It had a focus on science fiction and fantasy rather than pure science. Club member John Michel suggested adding the word “international” to the name. Michel later helped member Will Sykora into the position of club president, who later inherited the name International Scientific Association (ISA) which became the club’s new name in 1934, though on paper both clubs existed simultaneously with each other.

 

International Scientific Association (ISA): See International Cosmos Science Club for the original club and Science Correspondence Club for the group that inherited its name.

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L

 

LoC: Letter of Comment. Both a noun and verb.

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M

 

MacDermott, Aubrey (1910-1996): An early fan from the Bay Area, he claimed to be the “first active science fiction fan” and founder of the “first fan club,” the Eastbay Club in 1928. 

 

The Meteor: The clubzine for the Boy’s Scientifiction Club, was first published at an unknown date prior to April 1931. It was edited by Forrest J Ackerman. While it is a contender for first fanzine, it is a weak candidate as there is no clear date when it was first published. 

 

Mundane: An individual who is not a fan, someone outside fandom. A normie, or someone who is not a geek or nerd.

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P

 

Palmer, Raymond A. (1910-1977): A science fiction fan from Milwaukee, he is credited with co-creating the Science Correspondence Club and edited its fanzine, The Comet. In 1938 he became the editor of Amazing Stories. 

 

The Planet: The clubzine for the Scienceers, first published in July 1930, it was edited by Allen Glasser. It is one of the contenders for first fanzine, and often considered the first, as it meets all the criteria for a fanzine, including writings about science fiction and fannish news. 

 

Pro: Someone who has professionally published in the industry. Typically refers to authors, editors, professional artists, and literary agents in early fandom. 

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S

 

Schwartz, Julius (1915-2004): Born in New York City, Julius joined the Scienceers in 1930 right as it broke up in a feud. He became good friends with Mort Weisinger, founding the fanzine The Time Traveller with him and others. Most fan historians believe his claim that The Time Traveller was completely his idea. With Weisinger, he founded Solar Sales Service literary agency in 1934 which represented many authors including Ray Bradbury and H. P. Lovecraft. In 1944 he joined DC Comics where he spent the rest of his career, working on titles such as Superman and Batman. 

 

Science Correspondence Club (SCC): Founded in Spring of 1928, this group, also known as the SCC, is sometimes considered the first science fiction club. The group started as a correspondence club between two groups, one founded by Aubrey Clements in Montgomery, AL (with 25 members), and one founded by Walter Dennis in Chicago, IL (with 24 members), a month later. The two merged and combined their members with Dennis becoming the main leader of the new group. With Raymond A. Palmer, Dennis created the clubzine The Comet. The SCC later became reorganized as the International Scientific Association (ISA) under Ray Palmer, who later passed the name and legacy of the club to William Sykora’s New York-based International Cosmos Science Club (ICSC) which took on the name ISA from 1934 onward. 

 

The Scienceers: Founded in December 1929, some consider this group the first true science fiction club, as it was based around love of the science fiction genre, as opposed to the other contenders which were purely science based. The first official physical meeting was held on January 4, 1930, in the Harlem home of Warren Scott Fitzgerald. In late 1930, Hugo Gernsback organized a special lecture by Wonder Stories staff at the American Museum of Natural History, unfortunately the Scienceers were stuck with the rental bill. Shortly after Warren Fitzgerald left the club and thus the Scienceers lost their physical meeting place. After some feuding, the club split into two factions, both using the original name. However, after reuniting both groups in 1933, the club fizzled out, with its split on September 27, 1930 often cited as its official end as an organization. 

 

Scientifiction:  A term coined by Hugo Gernsback in 1915 to refer to the genre that would later be called Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Speculative Fiction.  Stf, coined by Linus Hogenmiller, is often used as a shorthand by fans. 

 

Speculative Fiction: The catch-all term to refer to the broad umbrella of genre fiction in the modern era that includes science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, horror, weird fiction, alternate history, superheroes, and other fictions that deviate from everyday reality. This term is a modern construct, when back during the early fandom periods covered in history the term Science Fiction (Scientifiction, stf) would have been used to cover this larger umbrella of genre fiction. 

 

Smof: Secret Masters of Fandom. The term refers to con runners and fans who are behind the scenes in fandom politics. 

 

Sykora, William S. (1913-1994): Sykora was a chemist involved in the early fandom, as a member of the Scienceers and the International Scientific Association (ISA), later becoming the leader of the ICSC and ISA. He was a major figure in the early fandom, considered one of the main leaders in the New York area, he later cofounded the influential group, New Fandom. Called the scientist of fandom, Sykora utilizes club funds for experimental rocket launches, and is said to have “epitomized the Gernsback ideal.” He felt the main purpose of fandom should be focused on science not fiction. Known as Psykora by enemies.

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T

 

The Time Traveller: This early fanzine was first published in February 1932, depending on who tells the story it was the idea of either Julius Schwartz or Allen Glasser, and involved Mort Weisinger, Forrest J Ackerman, with later printing done by Conrad H. Ruppert, which gave the fanzine a professional look. This is considered the first fanzine that wasn’t a clubzine, and laid the foundation for later fanzines to follow. After Schwartz removed Glasser as editor, the fanzine merged with the Science Fiction Digest and later became the Fantasy Magazine in 1934. 

 

Trufan: True fan. An active fan who contributes positively to fandom. The fannish equivalent of mensch.

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W

 

Weisinger, Mort (1915-1978): The treasurer of the Scienceers and associate editor of The Planet clubzine, he was great friends with Julius Schwartz, founding the fanzine The Time Traveller with him and others. At the first Worldcon in 1939 he threw the first Dead Dog Party, a tradition that continues at countless cons to this day. In 1941 he was hired by DC Comics and was best known for editing Superman during the 1950s-1960s. 

 

Wonder Stories: This magazine was first published as two separate magazines (Air Wonder Stories and Science Wonder Stories) in 1929 by Hugo Gernsback after losing ownership of Amazing Stories. In 1930, the two magazines were merged and became simply Wonder Stories. This magazine contained the first modern use of the term science fiction and also contained a letter column which allowed for fans to communicate through the mail leading to the formations of the first fan clubs. In 1936 Gernsback sold the magazine to another publisher, and it was renamed Thrilling Wonder Stories, which continued publication until 1955.