fandom n.

science-fiction fans collectively; the state or attitude of being a science-fiction fan

SF Encyclopedia

Fancyclopedia


SF Fandom

  • [1894 Sioux City (Iowa) Journal 22 Sept. 2/1

    The National league is making sad inroads upon the playing talent of the Western league clubs. The best men of the Western are being rapidly signed by the big clubs, and there will be mourning in fandom as a consequence. ]

  • [1896 Washington Post 10 Oct. 8/6

    ‘Who is this Swain?’ is the question that is being bowled about in local fandom. ]

  • 1936 in Arcturus (vol. 1, no. 8) Nov. 4 (advt.) page image

    The First Authoritative, Complete, Authentic, Interesting, Analytical Survey of Science Fiction Fandom.

  • 1939 Letter in Amazing Stories Nov. 135/2 page image

    This Independent Public Opinion…proved radical Donald A. Wollheim to be first in Fandom, followed by super-active Sam Moskowitz.

  • 1952 A. Budrys in Planet Stories Nov. 111/1 Algis Budrys

    But remember that all of organized fandom is a little grain of sand on the shore of a more or less mighty ocean of greenbacks.

  • 1952 A. Budrys in Planet Stories Nov. 111/1 Algis Budrys

    So quit trying to say that fandom could bring more than moral pressure on an editor.

  • 1970 E. Ward in Rolling Stone 2 Dec. 26/1

    The word fanzine is a term taken from science-fiction fandom, an old, bizarre, and respected avocation of many thousands of people around the world.

  • 1980 M. Z. Bradley Darkover Retrospective in Planet Savers/Sword of Aldones (1982) 309 Marion Zimmer Bradley bibliography

    And I am…completely bemused by the phenomenon called ‘Darkover fandom’. Grateful, certainly. But puzzled.

  • 1988 S. McCrumb Bimbos of Death Sun ii. 17 Sharyn McCrumb bibliography

    I'm a wargamer!…The world of fandom is divided into several subgroups, mainly into hard science fiction…and fantasy folk…The rest of us settle for small tokens of resistance.

  • 1989 Nova Express Spring 25/2

    I had seen the twisted heart of fandom, and lived to tell the tale.

  • 1991 L. Niven, J. Pournelle, & M. Flynn Fallen Angels 86 Larry Niven Michael F. Flynn Jerry Pournelle bibliography

    Chuck Umber had published fandom’s most successful news magazine for more than twenty years, in formats growing steadily more cryptic and secretive for an audience growing gradually smaller.

  • 1994 Interzone Mar. 26/2

    ‘Fandom’ is small. The traditional fandom, the one I first encountered in the 60s, is even smaller.

  • 1995 Extrapolation Spring 70

    There are some considerations that must be taken into this criticism, such as the important influence of science fiction fandom, where fans have as much say in what gets written as publishers do.

  • 2005 Dreamwatch Feb. 17/3

    Episode III: Revenge of the Sith If the opening eight minutes are anything to go by, this could be the Star Wars film which restores the faith of fandom in George Lucas.

Research requirements

antedating 1936
Earliest cite

Arcturus
Research History
Bill Mullins submitted a cite from a sports column in the Washington Post, Oct 10, 1896.
Barry Popik submitted a cite from 1894.
Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 1936 cite from Arcturus.

(Earliest cite in the OED was from the Cincinnati Enquirer 2 Jan. 1903)

Last modified 2021-03-16 09:37:35
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.