smof n.

a fan who is very active in fandom and in particular with organizing conventions

[< Secret Master of Fandom]

Fancyclopedia


SF Fandom

  • 1970 Focal Point (vol. 2 no. 1) (unpaged) page image

    The whole fan world, for all we know, may simultaneously reach orgasm every time โ€˜SMOF #1โ€™ goes into his ego-tripping song and dance.

  • 1973 โ€˜B. Tuckerโ€™ Neo-Fanโ€™s Guide to Science Fiction Fandom (ed. 3) 10 page image Wilson Tucker bibliography

    Secret Masters of Fandom (SMOFs): People who consider themselves to be the real โ€˜rulersโ€™ of fandom, making decisions by running fan politics. Actually, these poor fellows are suffering from delusions of grandeur.

  • 1976 Prehensile (#15) 27 page image

    A list of possible smofs will allow us to properly define the situation. From the top, Worldcon chairpersons and their committee hold sway.

  • 1996 S. Edelman Editorial in Science Fiction Age May 8/1 page image Scott Edelman bibliography

    SMOFs are the unelected congress that make things happen in SF. SMOFs help organize conventions, run fan clubs, lobby networks to avoid the cancellation of favored TV shows, and make up large voting blocks of those who decide who wins awards. [...] Pay close attention to 1996, so that when we next ask you for your rankings, you too can become a SMOF.

Research requirements

antedating 1970
Research History
Leah Zeldes submitted a 1978 cite from "The Neo-Fan's Guide to Science Fiction Fandom"; Jesse Sheidlower verified that it was in the 1973 third edition, but not in the 1955 original edition.
James Birdsall submitted a cite from a 1979 reprint of a Phil Foglio cartoon in "Startoons"; we would like to check the 1976 original. Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 1996 cite from Scott Edelman.
Jack Chalker has indicated that he coined the term in correspondence with Ted Johnstone/Dave McDaniel in late 1962, and that it began to spread into general use during 1963. We would like cites from any material related to that year's Worldcon that contain the term, as well as any other antedatings.

Last modified 2021-11-24 19:54:36
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.