slan n.
a science fiction fan: used in self-reference
[< slan, a member of a super-human race in A. E. van Vogt's story Slan; see 1940 quots.]
Fancyclopedia
SF Fandom
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[1940
page image
A. E. van Vogt
What do you know about the mental outlook of an adult slan, whose intelligence is three hundred percent higher than a normal human being?]
Slan in Astounding Science-Fiction Sept. 23/2 -
[1940
A. E. van Vogt
They…accuse Samuel Lann, the human being and biological scientist who first created slans, and after whom slans are named—Samuel Lann: S. Lann: Slan—of fostering in his children the belief that they must rule the world.]
Slan in Astounding Science-Fiction Oct. 27/1 -
1940 Voice of the Imagi-Nation (No. 10) Dec. 2 (heading)
Editorial: Little Slan, What Now?
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1944
Jack Speer
bibliography
The most important thing about a fan gathering is that the slans can get together with their own kind of people.
Fancyclopedia 42/1 -
1959
Dick Eney
bibliography
A confabulation is an informal meeting larger than a mere fan visit but not built up or conducted like a conference; the word is pretty near obsolete, but popular in the early 40s. The most important thing about a con is that the slans can get together with their own kind of people, perhaps forgetting their introversion for a while, and do what they want to do and fangab about mutually interesting things and develop their stfnic personalities.
Fancyclopedia II (1979) 33
Research requirements
antedating 1940
Earliest cite
A. E. van Vogt 'Slan'
Last modified 2022-02-04 19:57:07
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entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
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