apa n.

an organization of (often science fiction) fans that publishes a periodical containing works by most or all of the members

From the initials of Amateur Press Association.

SF Encyclopedia

SF Fandom

  • 1938 Fantasy Amateur i. No. 1 (Spring) 1 page image

    Elsewhere in the FA is published a request for fan magazines from the librarian of the National, United and American APA’s.

  • 1979 Science Fiction Rev. Jan. 33/3

    A fanzine for general circulation in fandom is called a genzine (general interest fanzine) as opposed to one for an amateur press association (apa) which is called an apazine.

Research requirements

antedating 1938
Earliest cite

Fantasy Amateur
Research History

Leah Zeldes submitted a 1959 cite from Fancyclopedia II. Jamie Morris submitted a 1950 cite from Robert Lowndes' "Custodian's Benediction". Enoch Forrester submitted a 1998 cite from an interview with Toni Weisskopf in Speculations. Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a 1978 reprint of Brian Ash's 1977 "A Visual Encyclopedia of Science Fiction". Enoch Forrester submitted a 1981 cite from an article by David Nalle in Dragon Magazine. Malcolm Farmer submitted a 1979 cite from Darrell Schweitzer's "Occasionally Mentioning Science Fiction." Bill Mullins submitted a 1938 cite from the first issue of "Fantasy Amateur".

Last modified 2021-01-28 17:29:53
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.