Issue #77, April 18th, 1997

Days of Fandom
by Andy Hooper

I just got off the phone with Arnie Katz, who told me that Sam Moskowitz died on the 15th of April, about two weeks after suffering a massive heart attack that left him in a coma. A memorial service was held yesterday, and today (the 18th) is the funeral. He would have turned 77 later this year.

I wonder to what degree it is either necessary or possible to explain who Sam was and what contributions he made to fandom in the space I have available here. Very, very briefly, SaM's 60-year fan career began with some of the first halting steps toward organized fandom in the early 30s, encompassed some of its most famous feuds and political conflicts, and saw science fiction grow from an eccentric and socially-suspect subgenre of pulp writing into a cultural phenomenon whose archetypes are known around the world (for which, one suspects, SaM would have loved to take credit). He was a fanzine publisher in the 30s and 40s, and had a brief tenure as a prozine editor in the 50s, before making a successful career as the editor of several trade magazines in the frozen-foods industry. While his history of fandom in the 30s, The Immortal Storm, serves his opinions of specific personalities and events rather more than adequately, it is also one of the most valuable resources available for those who seek to understand where we came from as fans. We should honor him for his life-long devotion to the genre, and for the kindness and generosity which he showed several generations of young fans. As long as fandom stands, it is hard to imagine that his name will be forgotten.

In recent weeks we have also said good bye to Bay Area fan Seth Goldberg, as reported last issue, author Martin Caidin, and long-time Dr. Who producer and writer Terry Nation.

Get-well wishes go out to Madison fan Barb Gilligan, recovering from surgery to remove a tumor, and to Cincinnati fan Jackie Causgrove, who is just beginning treatment for lung cancer. We hope to have good news to report about both soon.

Now, the news you've been holding your breath over: here are the results of the 1997 DUFF balloting!

After the first count, the voting stood as follows:

First Place:	US	Aust.	Total
Joel Zakem:	83	4	87
Janice Murray:	76	12	88
Andy Hooper:	22	12	34
No Preference:	3	0	3
Write-in:	1	0	1

And to make a long story short, when no preference, write-in and votes for me were eliminated, and distributed to the top two candidates, the final standings looked like this:

First Place:	US	Aust.	Total
Joel Zakem:	87	6	93
Janice Murray:	94	22	116

So, congratulations to Janice Murray, who will attend the Australian national convention later this year, thanks to all the kind people who took the time to vote for me, and to Joel Zakem and his numerous supporters in the States, better luck next time.

For some news about the state of TAFF, look to the next article for a letter from English Administrator Martin Tudor. Both he and Dan Steffan have said that they would like to start the next TAFF race in June of this year, to conclude in November, and elect a North American delegate to attend the 1998 Eastercon. Since the race is due to start in less than two months, one must presume that if nominations are not already open, they soon will be! Interested parties are most strongly encouraged to secure the nomination of two British and three North American fans, and to send a $20 bond to Dan Steffan at 3804 S. 9th St., Arlington, VA 22204.

Speaking of Eastercon, reports have trickled in to the effect that most everyone had a good time, but found the convention slightly disappointing. There were a massive number of program changes, and no daily newsletter to list them in. The Adelphi Hotel, as is traditional, did not lay in the right amount of real beer. And the convention was somewhat marred by minor acts of vandalism and a burglary in the dealer's room, which brought the attention of the local police. American writer Octavia Butler seems to have been the most popular guest on the weekend.

A correspondent of ours reports that they made a "Special" cake for one of the parties, containing certain mildly psychoactive substances; people claimed it had no effect on them at all, then fell about giggling like a bunch of perfect dope fiends.

The BSFA awards, handed out that weekend, went as follows: Best Novel was Excession by Iain M. Banks; Best Short fiction was Barrington Bayley's "A Crab Must Try," from Interzone #103; and Jim Burns was given the best art award for his cover for Ancient Shores.

Victor will be moving out of his current apartment at the end of the month, and wanted me to point out that his mail should be sent to 9238 Fourth Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98106. He'll be offering a permanent change of address in an issue or two, but mail sent to the above address will always reach him.

Roxanne Smith-Graham also sends word of an address change. She can now be found at 14321 Cavell Place, Baldwin Park, Calif. 91706.

Our musical friend Cindy Lee Berryhill is nearing the homestretch of her solo tour; fans attended her shows here and in Madison, and had a great time! Fans in Arlington, Virginia can catch her at Iota on the 24th of April, at Fletcher's in Baltimore on the 25th, and she'll be somewhere in Nashville on the 3rd of May.

Hugo nominations have now closed, and will be announced tomorrow, which I find quite inexcusably inconvenient. We'll have the fannish ones, as well as the Nebula results, in the next Apparatchik.

Some small degree of controversy may be percolating in the wake of the DUFF results; according to Janice, outgoing administrator Roger Sims intends to remain in that post until after Janice returns from her trip. Janice says that this might prove to be very convenient for her, but wondered about Roger's claim that "this is the way it has always been done." Readers who have previously served as DUFF administrators are encouraged to let us know if this is indeed common policy. I tend to doubt it, since I have had recent e-mail from Bruce Pelz suggesting that the process be changed to keep the standing administrator in place until after the current delegate's trip is over. This would certainly free the delegate from many concerns not connected with the trip itself. For the time being, donations to and business involving the fund should apparently still be sent to Roger at 34 Creekwood, Cincinnati, OH 45426.

Congratulations on turning 40 to Bay-area stalwart David Bratman. At this April 5th party, David proclaimed that he had finally reached the chronological age he always wanted to be.

Best wishes to L.A. fans Kim Marks and Jordan Brown, married on the 29th of March.

Speaking of L.A., long time Minneapolitan figures Will Shetterly and Emma Bull have recently moved there. Will has succeeded in finding work connected with the film industry, and is working on an animated feature that will feature characters created by Moebius and Vaughn Bodé.

Will and Emma were spotted at a recent performance by Mpls favorites Boiled in Lead, held in Rick Foss' living room.

Rob Hansen has now placed the better part of his massive bibliography of British fandom on-line. The years 1931 to 1980 are currently covered, and can be accessed by setting your browser to http://www.fiawol.demon.co.uk/biblio/.

Various Australian correspondents have passed on the news that Christina Lake has now left Australia for various Asian destinations on her way back home to Bristol. Anything sent to her at her Melbourne address will just chase her around the world, but we'll let you know as soon as she returns to the U.K.

Reports have reached this coast of a new semi-regular fannish gathering in New York, the Rec.Arts.SF.Fandom chapter of the Science Fiction League. The first meeting attracted Michael Weholt, Gary Farber, Rebecca Lesses, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Vijay Bowen, Mark Richards, Seth Breidbardt, Zev Sero, Vicki Rosenzweig, Bill Wagner, Josh Kronengold, Lisa Padol, Stevens Miller, Elizabeth Miller, Richard Newsome, Pierre Jelenc, Avram Grumer, Moshe Feder, and Lise Eisenberg. The first party is said to have been a great success.

Issue #77, April 18th, 1997

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