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 van Vogt quots.]

Fancyclopedia


SF Fandom

  • ?1940 Voice of the Imagi-Nation (#8) Aug. 2 (table of contents) page image

    Jack Chapman Miske: A slam from a slan.

  • [1940 A. E. van Vogt Slan in Astounding Science-Fiction Sept. 23/2 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?]

  • [1940 A. E. van Vogt Slan in Astounding Science-Fiction Oct. 27/1 page image 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.]

  • 1943 L. A. Croutch Light Flashes in Light (#129) Winter 2/1 page image Leslie A. Croutch

    When I received word that I had been accepted into the elite organization of candidates of sundry booby hatches (definition by non-fans, not slans) I kicked my heels to the skies and shouted ‘whoopee’.

  • 1944 J. B. Speer Fancyclopedia 42/1 Jack Speer bibliography

    The most important thing about a fan gathering is that the slans can get together with their own kind of people.

  • 1946 J. Kennedy Grulzak (#1) Oct. 5 page image Joe Kennedy

    Devoted little slan that we are, it was only by crouching down next to the transmitter and bending a steady ear to the speaker that we were able to follow the story at all.

  • 1952 J. Kelsey Books in Science-Fiction Advertiser Sept. 16 page image Jack Kelsey

    Self-styled s-f ‘slans’ reading this will disagree.

Research requirements

antedating 1940
Research History
Jeff Prucher submitted a 1940 cite from Voice of the Imagi-Nation (though the issue does not have a year date, there is substantial internal evidence pointing to 1940). Note that this appears earlier than the official publication date of van Vogt's original story in Astounding, but periodicals were normally available a month or two before their stated date.

Last modified 2026-05-18 14:19:32
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.