Compiled/Edited by Jon D. Swartz, N3F Historian

There are many words and abbreviations of special relevance to science fiction. In addition, over the years science fiction fandom has created many new terms. A list of some of these words and abbreviations is provided here for N3F members and for any others who are interested in the history of science fiction and science fiction fandom. Additions and/or corrections are invited.

X

• X. - Pseudonym of SF personality Donald A. Wollheim.
• Xenophile - The first, regularly-published, periodical devoted to collecting pulps (March 1974 to March1980), edited/published by Nils Hardin. There were 44 issues in all.
• Xero - A general SF fanzine, edited and published by Richard (Dick) Lupoff, that is credited with being the first fanzine to carry comic material (in a series of articles on the comics of the 1940s: “All In Color For A Dime”). Issue #1 was dated September, 1960. Xero won the Hugo-award (Amateur Magazine) in 1962. The Best of Xero was published in 2004.
• Xlent - Short for excellent.
• XLIB/Xlib/xlib - Short for Ex Libris. See Ex. Lib.
• X-Over – See Cross Over.

Y

• Yaazz - Fanspeak for “yes, definitely.”
• Yandro - Hugo-winning SF fanzine (1965/Amateur Publication), edited/published by Robert “Buck” Coulson and his wife Juanita Wellons Coulson. Yandro was a Hugo nominee for ten consecutive years,
  1959-1968.
• Yarat - A blood-curdling scream.
• Yazz - Variation of Yaazz, which see.
• Year of the Jackpot - Between January 1958 and January 1959 many famous SF fans/writers died (including two suicides), and these deaths were widely reported in widely circulated newszines of the time. Subsequently, this year became known in fandom as the Year of the Jackpot (from a story by Robert A. Heinlein).
• Yed - See Ye Ed.
• Ye Ed/YE ED - The editor, as of a fanzine.
• Yellowback Library - a long-running fanzine devoted to juvenile series books, initially was issued six times a year. It is now published monthly and remains one of the best resources of information about this field of fan interest.
• YF - Abbreviation for Young Fandom, which see.
• Yngvi - Used by SF fans in the catch phrase: “Yngvi is a louse.” [from de Camp & Pratt’s “The Roaring Trunpet” (May 1940 issue of Unknown), later included in their book The Incompleat Enchanter]
• Young fan - See neofan.
• Young Fandom - A SF club started by Rick Sneary and others in the 1940s.

Z

• Zap - Sound a zapgun makes when fired. See Zapgun.
• Zap gun/Zapgun - Either a toy ray gun or a water pistol.
• Zap gun and Blaster - Fannish term for a SF space opera, much as Sword and Sorcery denotes a certain kind of fantasy.
• “Zap” stories - British term for “get’em” stories, which see.
• Zilch - Absolutely nothing.
• Zine - Short for magazine, the prefix usually determining just what kind of magazine is being designated: prozine, fanzine, etc.
• Zinemanship - The art of convincing another fan that his fanzine is just so much wasted paper. Attributed to UK science fiction fan/author Bob Shaw. See Fansmanship.
• Zorch ray guns - A pair of old glue guns that resembled a pair of ray guns.
• Z ray/Z-ray - Mysterious ray found in many early SF stories.

Compiled/Edited by Jon D. Swartz, N3F Historian

There are many words and abbreviations of special relevance to science fiction. In addition, over the years science fiction fandom has created many new terms. A list of some of these words and abbreviations is provided here for N3F members and for any others who are interested in the history of science fiction and science fiction fandom. Additions and/or corrections are invited.

S

• SAE - See SASE.
• SaM - Contraction of name used by SF personality Sam Moskowitz.
• S&S - Abbreviation for Sword & Sorcery, which see.
• Saphire Awards - Annual awards for the best SF romance stories of the year, given in both novel length and short fiction categories.
• SAPS - Abbreviation for the APA organization, the Spectator Amateur Press Society.
• SAS - Abbreviation for the phrase “smiling, always smiling,” used in fanzines and other APA publications.
• SASE - Abbreviation for Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope. Pronounced either as the initials or as “Say-See,” an SASE is considered a necessary enclosure with any request of a fan or pro editor, publisher, or author.
• SASP - Abbreviation for Self-Addressed Stamped Postcard, usually included with any manuscript submitted to a fan or pro editor, so a reply on the disposition of the manuscript may be made more easily.
• Satellite Science Fiction - Digest-sized SF magazine published from October 1956 until May 1959, for a total run of 18 issues (with the 1959 issues pulp-sized). Contents featured novel-length stories and a regular column by Sam Moskowitz. Editors included Sam Merwin, Leo Margulies, and Frank Belknap Long. Mrs. Leo Margulies (Cylvia Kleinman) was Managing Editor/Editorial Director.
• Satevepost - Fannish abbreviation for the slick magazine The Saturday Evening Post.
• Satirezine - Fannish term for a fanzine featuring satiric content.
• Saturn Awards - Awards presented in a number of categories by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films and Cinescape Magazine.
  SCA - Short for Society for Creative Anachronism, which see.
• SCC - Short for the Science Correspondence Club, an early SF club started in 1928 by Aubrey Clements, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama.
• Science fantasy - Fantasy stories with science elements. See Scientifantasy.
• Science Fantasy Correspondent - See Amateur Correspondent.
• Science fiction - A genre of fiction devoted to stories about the future, time travel, space exploration, and other fantastic topics. Originally considered to be a sub-genre of fantasy fiction, it is now thought of as a separate genre of fantastic fiction in which science and/or technology play an important role. Early writers in the field were Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, but science didn’t become a separate genre until Hugo Gernsback began publishing Amazing Stories in 1926. See SF/Sf/sf.
• Science Fiction - Early fanzine by Cleveland teenagers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, creators of Superman (“The Reign of the Superman” [this character a villain] appeared in their January 1933 issue). This mimeographed zine ran for five issues with Volume 1, Number 1 dated October 1932.
• Science Fiction Advancement Association - The SFAA was created in the 1930s by San Francisco fan C. Hamilton Bloomer. The official organ of the association was the fanzine Tesseract.
• Science Fiction Age - A bi-monthly slick SF magazine published during the 1990s by Sovereign Media Company in Virginia. The premiere issue was dated November 1992, and the magazine had a total run of some 45 issues. The editor was Scott Edelman, with Mark Hintz the publisher.
• Science Fiction Chronicle - New York SF news magazine, owned/edited for years by SF fan Andrew Porter. See Algol.
• Science Fiction Chronicle Awards - Annual awards sponsored by the magazine Science Fiction Chronicle. The awards were first presented in 1981 and were voted upon by readers of the magazine. See Science Fiction Chronicle.
• Science Fiction Collector, The - SF fanzine published from 1936 until 1941. It was edited first by Morris Scott Dollens (May 1936 to June 1937) and then by John V. Baltadonis (July 1937 to Winter 1941). At least one issue was titled The New Science Fiction Collector.
• Science-fictioneer/science fictioneer - Early term for a SF writer/fan.
• Science-fictionist/science fictionist - Early term for a SF writer/fan.
• Science Fiction Digest - Early SF fanzine (“The Fans’ Own Magazine”) edited by Conrad H. Ruppert and Julius Schwartz. Volume 1, No. 1 was dated September 1932. The title was changed to Fantasy Magazine with the January 1934 issue. Often abbreviated as SFD.
• Science Fiction Eye - A critical science fiction semiprozine that began publication with a Winter 1987 issue devoted to cyberpunk. The magazine was published irregularly in the 1990s, during which time Stephen P. Brown and Daniel Steffan were the editors. Brown assumed sole editorship with issue #6. In addition to SF topics, current controversies involving music, technology, and communications were featured. The magazine suspended publication after issue #15, dated Fall 1997.
• Science Fiction Fan, The - Early SF fanzine, published/edited during the 1930s-1940s by Olon F. Wiggins and others. Many well-known fans made contributions to this fanzine, including Donald A. Wollheim and other members of The Futurians.
  Science Fiction Five Yearly - Founded and originally edited by Lee Hoffman, this fanzine is advertised as the world’s only intentionally five-yearly publication. In recent years guest editors have been used, with Hoffman serving as the honorary editor. Issue #11, dated November 2001, was published 50 years after the first issue.
• Science Fiction Foundation - An organization, founded in 1970 and based at the University of Liverpool, England. The aim of the organization is the promotion of the study of SF as a serious form of literature, and its members are involved in the annual judging of the Arthur C. Clarke Award. The Foundation supports the publication of Foundation, a magazine devoted to the academic study of SF.
• Science Fiction League - The SF organization started by Hugo Gernsback in 1934 with his essay, “Science Fiction League” in Wonder Stories (May 1934). The SFL provided a structure for SF fans to communicate, and the fans then began publishing their own fanzines.
• Science Fiction Monthly - A large tabloid-sized SF magazine published by New English Library in London from February 1974 until May 1976, for a total run of 28 issues. Artwork was emphasized. A prominent feature of the magazine was a regular essay on “Modern Masters of Science Fiction” by Walter Gillings. A digest SF magazine of the same title was published during 1955-1957 in Melbourne, Australia. See Tabloid.
• Science Fiction Oral History Association - The SFOHA is a non-profit organization devoted to the preservation of the history of SF in audio form. Founded in 1975 at the first ConFusion in Michigan, it maintains an archive of audio and video recordings of historic people and events related to SF. Its ongoing mission is to capture future historical legends (both fan and pro) on tape for future generations to enjoy. SF author Lloyd Biggle, Jr. was associated with the organization until his death in 2002.
• Science Fiction Syndicate, The - Business name adopted by early SF fan, D. R. Welch, resident of Austin, Texas in the 1930s. Welch published Science Fiction Bibliography, credited with being the first SF bibliography, in 1935
• Science Fiction Times - Early Hugo-award winning (1955/Best Amateur Publication) fanzine when it was titled Fantasy Times, edited by James V. Taurasi, Ray Van Houten, and Frank Prieto, Jr. A monthly newspaper of the same name was published by Galileo Magazine, Inc., beginning in the late 1970s. See Fantasy Times.
• Science Fiction Review - Hugo-award winning (1969/Best Amateur Magazine) fanzine, edited by Richard E. Geis. The title was revived as a semi-professional magazine in the 1990s, with the first issue dated Spring 1990. See The Alien Critic. See Psychotic.
• Science-Fiction Plus - Hugo Gernback’s last SF magazine, the first five issues of which were published in a glossy, folio-format. A total of only seven issues appeared, March to December 1953. Sam Moskowitz was Managing Editor.
• Science Fiction Union of Unpublished Authors - The SFUUA (pronounced "S, F, double-U, A") was founded by Lew Wolkoff. Any member who got published professionally had to consign all "futures" rights to the organization. Anyone with five or more stories published was deemed "irredeemably" published and drummed out of the organization.
• Sciencerely - Salutation used by some SF fans in closing letters.
• Scienti - Prefix meaning scientific or scientifictional.
• Scientifantasy/scienti-fantasy - Fantasy stories with science elements.
• Scientific - Early synonym for science fiction.
• Scientificombined - The merging of words in Fan Speak.
• Scientificomics - Comic strips of the SF/fantasy genre.
• Scientifiction - Early term for SF, which see. Term for scientific fiction (stf), coined by editor Hugo Gernsback. A UK fanzine of this title, edited by Walter Gillings, was published during 1937-1938. Scientifiction: The First Fandom Report is also the title of First Fandom’s official publication. See First Fandom.
• Scientifiction - British fanzine published in the late 1930s, edited by Walter Gillings.
• Scientifiction: The First Fandom Report - Official fanzine of First Fandom, the so-called “dinosaurs of science fiction.”
• Scientifiction Day - August 16th, commemorating the birthday of Hugo Gernsback, the founder of Amazing Stories. As the publisher of the first all-SF magazine, Gernsback is considered to be the “father of magazine SF” and therefore of SF fandom.
• Scientifilm - SF film/movie.
• Scientitale - An early proposed substitute for the term Scientifiction.
• Scientology - The first SF religion, created by pulp writer L. Ron Hubbard. See Dianetics.
• SCIFI - See Rotsler Memorial Fanzine Artist Award.
• Sci-fi/Sci-Fi/SciFi/scifi - A media term for science fiction, attributed to SF personality Forrest J Ackerman.
• SCIFS - Short for the Scifan Society.
• Scoops - Britain’s first all-SF magazine, published in tabloid format by C. A. Pearson, Ltd. in London from February 10, 1934 until June 23, 1934, for a total run of twenty issues.
• Scrod - Miscellaneous flea-market items, presented for sale at dealers’ rooms at conventions. See Convention. See Dealers’ room. See Hucksters’ room.
• Seacon - The 1961 Worldcon, held in Seattle, WA. Robert A. Heinlein was GoH; Harlan Ellison was toastmaster; Wally Weber was Con Chair.
• Seacon ’79 - The 1979 Worldcon, held in Brighton, England. Brian Aldiss was UK GoH; Fritz Leiber was US GoH; Harry Bell was fan GoH; Bob Shaw was toastmaster; Peter Weston was Con Chair.
• Section G Report, The – Fanzine of the 1970s devoted to SF writer Mack Reynolds.
• Second Fandom - The historical stage of SF fandom from 1937 to 1938.
• Secret Master of Fandom - A person who considers himself/herself one of the “rulers” of fandom, i. e., a person who runs fan politics, organizes conventions, etc. Often abbreviated as SMOF.
• Secret Master of Gaming - A person who is certain s/he knows every rule of every game ever played, what new games are being marketed and by whom, and can even tell anyone who will listen the “real” story behind every game. Often abbreviated as SMOG.
• Seduction of the Innocent - Book on comic book censorship by Dr. Fredric Wertham, published in 1953, that helped bring about the Comics Code. Often referred to as SOTI.
• Seiun Awards - The Seiun Taisho is the Japanese equivalent of the American Hugo Award, and is voted upon by members of the Japanese National Science Fiction Convention. The physical prize has varied from year to year.
• Selling out of the room - Practice of turning one’s hotel room into a salesroom at a con, instead of going to the trouble/expense of buying a table in the dealers’ room.
  Semi-cancel - To strike out words in such a way that they remain legible, usually used in a humorous fashion.
• Semi-professional fanzine - Fanzine that has gone beyond the status of an amateur magazine done for the amusement of its editor. A semi-professional fanzine may pay contributors, have paid advertising, and boast a relatively large circulation. See Semiprozine.
• Semiprozine/semi-prozine - A semi-professional magazine, strictly defined by using the criteria of the Hugo Awards. The category was adopted by the World SF Society in 1985 because several publications had been nominated for years as fanzines even though their circulation and/or format were no longer really in the fanzine category. In general usage, a semi-prozine is a type of magazine between a fanzine and a prozine.
• Sensawunda - A deliberate slurring of the original phrase “sense of wonder” which see.
• Sense of wonder - The feeling that SF/fantasy is supposed to inspire in readers. The phrase is attributed to SF personality Sam Moskowitz in the 1940s.
• Sensitive fannish face - The countenance of someone with a sense of wonder (which see), or perhaps just a myopic look about him/her. The phrase usually is used ironically.
• Sercon - Contraction of serious and constructive, and usually applies to a fan or fandom concerned with criticism, bibliography, and other factual information. Originally it insultingly referred to the fan who took his hobby too seriously.
• Serfan - Contraction of serious fan, a SF fan who took the hobby too seriously. See Sercon.
• Sergeant Saturn - The editor of letter columns for various pulp SF magazines in the 1940s-1950s.
• Serial - Short for a movie serial , which see.
• Serzine - Fanzines that discuss serious topics, such as the current state of SF or the growing importance of women in the genre.
• SESFA - Abbreviation for the Southeastern Science Fiction Achievement awards, which see.
• SETI - Short for Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.
• 770 - The room number of SF fandom’s most famous party, an all-night affair at the St. Charles Hotel during Nolacon I in 1951 (9th Worldcon). Mike Glyer named his fanzine after this party. See File: 770. See Worldcon.
• SF/Sf/sf - The accepted abbreviation for science fiction and/or speculative fiction, pronounced “esseff.” Stf (pronounced “stef”) is an older term (from scientifiction). Sci-fi is a media term, and one not usually used by members of SF fandom for print SF.
• S-F, S-f, s-f - Variant abbreviations for SF/Sf/sf, which see.
• SFAA - Abbreviation for the Science Fiction Advancement Association, which see.
• SF Age - See Science Fiction Age.
• SFC - Abbreviation for the Southern Fandom Confederation, which see.
• SFC Bulletin - See Southern Fandom Confederation.
• SFCol - Abbreviation for The Science Fiction Club of London.
• SFCon - The 1954 World Science Fiction Convention, held in San Francisco, CA. John W. Campbell, Jr. was GoH; Robert Bloch was toastmaster; Lester Cole and Gary Nelson were Con Chairs.
• SFD - Abbreviation for Science Fiction Digest, which see.
• SF Eye – Abbreviation for Science Fiction Eye.
• SFF - Abbreviation for Science Fiction and Fantasy.
• SFFan - Abbreviation for the fanzine The Science Fiction Fan.
• SFFH - Abbreviation for the combined science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres.
• SFFY - Abbreviation for Science Fiction Five Yearly, which see.
• SFI - Abbreviation for Science Fiction International.
• SFL - Abbreviation for Science Fiction League, which see.
• SFOHA - Abbreviation for Science Fiction Oral History Association, which see.
• SFPA - Abbreviation for Southern Fandom Press Alliance, which see.
• SFR - See Science Fiction Review.
• SFSA - Abbreviation for Science Fantasy Society of America.
• SFT - Abbreviation for Science Fiction Times, which see.
• SFUUA - Abbreviation for the Science Fiction Union of Unpublished Authors, which see.
• SFWA - Abbreviation for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the organization of SF professional writers and editors that awards the Nebulas each year.
• SFX - Pronounced as initials, this term is a shorthand for special effects, a staple of SF films and TV programs.
• Sgt. Ack-Ack - See Ack-Ack.
• Sgt. Saturn - See Sergeant Saturn.
• Shaggy - Nickname for Shangri-L’Affaires, the fanzine of LASFS.
• Shaver Mystery - A crackpot theory created by writer Richard S. Shaver (1907-1975) in a series of stories in Amazing in the 1940s, presented as based on fact by Ray Palmer (1910-1977), then AMZ’s editor. The June 1947 AMZ was an all-Shaver issue; and the July 1958 Fantastic was a “Shaver Mystery Issue” that contained a novel by Shaver and five articles concerning him and his mystery. Palmer later claimed that the Shaver stories gave AMZ the highest circulation ever achieved by a science fiction magazine.
• Shayol - A slick semi-pro magazine that was published irregularly from November 1977 until Winter 1982. During its run of six issues it served as a showcase for new writers and artists. Arnold Fenner was editor/publisher; Pat Cadigan was executive editor.
  Short story- A work of SF under 7,500 words in length.
• Sidewise Award - The Sidewise Award for Alternate History has been given annually since1995 for alternate history SF in the categories of Long-Form, Short-Form, and Special Achievement.
• Sinisterra - One of the club publications of The Nameless Ones, a SF club in Seattle, Washington during the 1940s-1950s.
• Sixth Fandom - The historical stage of SF fandom from 1950 to 1953.
• Sixth Transition, The - See The Phony Seventh.
• 60th Worldcon - See ConJosé.
• Skiffy - Another term for sci-fi, often used by those who are aware that sci-fi is not the preferred term in SF fandom. Also, sometimes used as an ironic term for the entire field of science fiction.
• Skyhook - Award-winning SF fanzine of Redd Boggs.
• Skylark Award - Given by NESFA at the annual Boskone convention, the Edward E. “Doc” Smith Award (also known as the Lensman Award) honors Smith’s “Lensman” series of stories. The award consists of a trophy with a large lens.
• Slan Center - Proposed project of Battle Creek, Michigan SF fans early in 1943. The Center was to consist of an entire city block and consist of homes, stores, and even its own heating/electrical generating plants. The only manifestation of this proposed plan was the Slan Shack, which see.
• Slans - Telepathic super-humans in a story by A. E. van Vogt, first published in 1940. The term was adopted by some SF fans, who identified with the fictional slans and sometimes announced themselves with the slogan: “Fans Are Slans!”
• Slan Shack/Slan-shack/Slanshack - Conceived in 1943 by Battle Creek, Michigan SF fans, the original Slan Shack was an eight-room house in which a number of fans resided for almost two years. The term later became a generic one, meaning any temporary residence in which two or more SF fans live. See Fan Shack.
• Slash fiction - SF fan fiction in which fictional characters are paired.
• Slashout - Fannish equivalent of the humorous stage aside, the slashout is used to indicate something the writer pretends to have decided that he shouldn’t have said. The slashout partially obscures the word or words, yet allows them to be read.
• SLF Awards - See Speculative Literature Foundation.
• Slick/s - Term for the mainstream magazines that paid higher rates and used more expensive, slick paper than the pulp magazines. SF writers/artists of the 1940s aspired to sell their work to the “slicks” rather than the “pulps.” A few, such as Robert Heinlein and Ray Bradbury, were able to do so on a regular basis.
• Slip sheet - A sheet inserted between the pages of mimeoed copy as they come off the machine in order to prevent ink spots.
• SMC - Abbreviation for Shaver Mystery Club. See Shaver Mystery.
• SMOF/Smof/smof - Abbreviation for the Secret Master of Fandom, which see. When written lower case (smof), also means to talk with fans about fan activity.
• SMOG/smog – Abbreviation for Secret Master of Gaming, which see.
• Smooth/Smoooth/Smooooooth - To enter into a drinking ceremony. The leader of the ceremony takes a sip from a bottle, puts his hand in the air, and passes the bottle to the next person in line who does the same. All keep their hands raised until the bottle comes back to the leader, who takes another sip, at which time everyone shouts “Smooth!” and swings their arms down in a wide curve. The ceremony is credited to Wilson “Bob” Tucker who once stated that he got it from a movie in which Red Skelton performed in a similar manner.
• Snailmail - The usual mailing of LOCs, fanzines, and other materials through the post office, as opposed to e-mail sent electronically via computer.
• Snide - A SF fanzine (the “thud and blunder” fanzine) published in the early 1940s by Damon Knight (2nd issue with fellow art student Bill Evans), before he moved to New York and joined The Futurians.
• Snogging - Fanish term for necking.
• Socialac - Short for social activity.
• Society for Creative Anachronism - A group founded in 1966 by SF/fantasy writers and their friends in Berkeley, California, the purpose of which was to re-create the Middle Ages as they would have liked to have lived them. Poul Anderson was one of the founders. The Society is often abbreviated SCA.
• Soft Science Fiction - Stories that feature the so-called “soft” sciences such as anthropology, economics, medicine, psychology, sociology, etc.
• Solacon - The 1958 Worldcon, held in South Gate, CA (suburb of LA). Richard Matheson was GoH; Anthony Boucher was toastmaster; Anna S. Moffatt was Con Chair.
• SOTI - Abbreviation for the book Seduction of the Innocent, which see.
• Southeastern Science Fiction Achievement Awards - Annual awards for achievement in science fiction, fantasy, or horror, to persons born or living in the Southeastern United States. The first awards (Best Novel, Best Short Fiction) were presented in 2002 for works published in 2001.
• Southern Fandom Confederation - An organization of SF fans in Alabama and other southern states, founded in the early 1970s mainly through the efforts of SF fan Meade Frierson III. The official organ of the SFC was the SFC Bulletin.
• Southern Fandom Press Alliance - An APA in southern states, begun in the early 1970s.
• SPA - Short for Spectator Press Association.
• Space opera - A sub-genre of SF for classic, but often hackneyed and without much characterization, “spaceship stories” in which “good guys” fight “bad guys” and usually win. The term was coined by Wilson “Bob” Tucker in 1941 as a complement to the term “soap opera” made popular on radio (to denote corny domestic dramas, often sponsored by soap companies).
• S.P.C.T.S.F.M.R. - Abbreviation for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Science Fiction Magazine Readers (from the fanzine Fantasy Herald).
• Special Convention Awards - See Worldcon Special Convention Awards.
• Spectrum Award - Short for the annual Gaylactic Network Spectrum Awards, which honor SF, fantasy, and horror works that deal positively with gay characters, themes, and issues.
• Speculative fiction - Any fiction of a speculative nature, but -- in fannish terms -- usually limited to the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
• Speculative Literature Foundation - A foundation founded in 2003 to give out an assortment of grants and awards in speculative fiction. The first of these awards was the SLF Fountain Award, a $1000 prize for excellence in short fiction.
• Spicey pulps - The pulp magazines that featured risqué subject matter and lurid covers.
• Splash panel - A larger-than-normal panel in a comic story, especially the lead panel of the story or the first panel of an episode.
• Spockanalia - Reputedly the first mediazine, begun in 1966 and devoted to the “Star Trek” TV series.
• Spot illo - Abbreviation for a spot illustration. Spot illustrations provide graphics to a text article.
• SPWSSTFM - Abbreviation for Society for the Prevention of Wire Staples in Scientifiction Magazines, a humorous group founded by Wilson “Bob” Tucker.
• Squinka - The written continuity for a comic book story or cartoon, attributed to SF writer Manly Wade Wellman. See Continuity.
• SSS - Abbreviation for Super Science Stories, a pulp SF magazine published in the United States from 1940 to 1951.
• Stand alone/standalone - A term used to describe a story that, while it may be related to other works (e. g., take place in the same fiction universe), is a complete story by itself and not part of a series.
• Standlee - A unit of measurement, approximately one meter, used to indicate the distance of con facilities from each other. The name comes from the length of the stride of Bay Area fan Kevin Standlee.
• Stan’s Weekly Express - A nostalgia adzine (1969-1972) begun by Stanley Blair, who was succeeded by Ron Frantz and then by Harry Hopkins.
• Staple bound/staple-bound - Publications with pages bound together with staples, as opposed to pages glued to a flat spine. See Perfect binding.
• Starship - See Algol/Starship.
• Stef - Pronunciation of the abbreviation for science fiction, from the early term “stf” (from scientifiction).
• Stef-fans - Early name for science fiction fans.
• Stefnist - Early term for fan (or for a former fan) who has little interest in professional SF.
• Stencil - In the language of fanzine publishing, a stencil is always a mimeograph stencil. See Mimeo.
• STET - Name of a SF fanzine began in 1990 by journalist Leah Zeldes Smith and her husband Dick. The title comes from a proofreaders’ term used to indicate copy previously marked for deletion that should be allowed to stand, and from the German word Gestetner.
• STF/stf - Early abbreviation for science fiction, pronounced “stef.” The pronunciation was once a matter of controversy. See SF/Sf/sf.
• Stfans - Early name for science fiction fans.
• Stfay - Abbreviation for the SF fanzine Scientifantasy, published quarterly -- for a total of four issues -- by Bill Kroll and John Grossman of Des Moines, Iowa in the late 1940s.
• Stfcon - Early term for a science fiction convention. See Convention.
• Stfn - Abbreviation for the early 1930s SF fanzine Stf News, edited by FJA.
• Stfnic - Early fandom adjectival term meaning SF-like.
• St.Louiscon - The 1969 Worldcon, held in St. Louis, MO. Jack Gaughan was GoH; Eddie Jones the TAFF guest (fan GoH); Harlan Ellison was toastmaster; Ray and Joyce Fisher were Con Chairs.
• Stoker Award - See Bram Stoker Award.
• Stranger Club - See Nameless Ones, The.
• Street and Smith Comics - A pulp magazine publisher since the 19th Century (Astounding Science Fiction), Street and Smith entered the comic-book field in 1940 with adaptations of two of its most popular pulp magazine characters, Doc Savage Comics and Shadow Comics. Its most innovative comic book was Supersnipe, featuring “The Boy With the Most Comic Books in America.” Street and Smith left the comic book business in the summer of 1949.
• Strip zine - A fanzine devoted to comic strips.
• STSFG - Short for Stokes on Trent Sci-Fantasy Group.
• Sturgeon’s Law - SF author Theodore Sturgeon once stated that, while it is true that 90 per cent of SF is crud, it must be remembered that 90 per cent of everything is crud. This statement has come to be known as “Sturgeon’s Law” and is quoted frequently in genre literature.
• Subzine - A fanzine that is part of another, larger fanzine.
• SunCon - The 1977 Worldcon, held in Miami Beach, FL. Jack Williamson was GoH; Robert A. Madle was fan GoH; Robert Silverberg was toastmaster; Don Lundry was Con Chair.
• Sunned - The fading of paper or binding as a result of sun exposure.
• Superhero - A fictional character with extraordinary abilities. Doc Savage was the prototypical pulp superhero, while Superman has become the prototype for all comic book superheroes.
• Super Science Stories - Pulp SF magazine published from March 1940 until August 1951. For a short period of time it was titled Super Science Novels Magazine. The first editor was Frederik Pohl. From 1940 until 1942 it was published as a companion magazine to Astonishing Stories, also edited by Pohl. There were Canadian versions of both magazines.
• Sword & Sorcery - A sub-genre of fantasy fiction in which magic and medieval fighting play important roles.

In a few days, attendees at the 2008 Comic-Con will get to see never-before-seen footage from the highly anticipated 2009 block buster The Watchmen, directed by Zach Snyder (300). Scheduled to debut March 6, 2009, the film is based upon the seminal graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons.

WATCH THE TRAILER

[See post to watch Flash video]

Fandominion will have continuing coverage of this film in the forthcoming days, including The Watchmen news from Comic-Con.

Compiled/Edited by Jon D. Swartz, N3F Historian

There are many words and abbreviations of special relevance to science fiction. In addition, over the years science fiction fandom has created many new terms. A list of some of these words and abbreviations is provided here for N3F members and for any others who are interested in the history of science fiction and science fiction fandom. Additions and/or corrections are invited.

P

• Pacificon - The fourth Worldcon, held in Los Angeles in 1946. A. E. van Vogt and E. Mayne Hull were Guests of Honor; Walter J. Daugherty was Con Chair.
• Pacificon II - The 1964 Worldcon, held in Oakland, CA. Leigh Brackett and Edmond Hamilton were Guests of Honor; Forrest J Ackerman was fan Guest of Honor; Anthony Boucher was toastmaster; J. Ben Stark and Al haLevy were Con Chairs.
• PADS - Abbreviation for The Publishing And Distributing Service. See Tribe X.
• Pagan Apa - An APA organization concerned with neopaganisms.
• Page count - The number of pages in an issue of a fanzine or an APA.
• Paleo/Paleofan - An old-time fan.
• Palmerism - Term for the type of SF that was epitomized by Raymond A. Palmer when he was editor/publisher of magazines that gave space to crackpot ideas like the Young Rosicrucians, the Shaver Mystery, and various mystical and occult forms of Cosmic Wisdom.
• Panelologist - One who studies, preserves, and/or venerates panel art. Jerry Bails published an early comics fanzine titled The Panelologist. See Panelology.
• Panelology - The study, preservation, and veneration of panel art. Term coined by Jerry G. Bails in the early 1960s to describe the interests of comic book fandom.
• Paperback Parade - A magazine for paperback readers and collectors that has been published since 1986. Many issues have included articles on SF and/or SF authors.
• PAR - Short for Pay After Reading, which see.
• Parade of Pleasure - Book by Geoffrey Wagner, published in England in 1954, containing an illustrated section on censorship in American comic books. Frequently abbreviated as POP. See Seduction of the Innocent.
• Passifan/Passi-fan - A person who reads SF or goes to SF movies, but has no interest in fandom. See FIJAGDH.
• Pass On Funds - Delay funds until the next year.
• Paul Award - See Frank R. Paul Award.
• Pay After Reading - Paying what you think a fanzine is worth after reading it.
• PB/pb - Abbreviation for a paperback book, as opposed to a hardback.
• P/B - Dealer abbreviation for a pin back button.
• PBO - Abbreviation for Pocket Book Original, which see.
• PC/pc - Dealer’s abbreviation for post card.
• PEAPS - Abbreviation for the Pulp Era Amateur Press Society, which see.
• Pep pin - A penny-sized litho tin pinback button, inserted as a premium in boxes of Kellogg’s Pep cereal beginning around 1943. Each of the first two series consisted of 18 military insignias and four larger WWII airplanes. In 1945 the first comic character series was issued, with new series added periodically over the next two years for a total of 86 different characters. The sets were advertised on the Superman radio program, and a Superman pin was included with every comic character series. Other superheroes were also included in the sets.
• Perfect binding - Type of binding used for paperback books, trade paperbacks, and magazines when there are too many pages to use staples. In perfect binding the pages are glued together and then placed in the covers of the publication.
• Perri, Leslie - Fan name of Doris Baumgardt (also known as Doë), early member of The Futurians and later wife of SF writers Frederik Pohl and Richard Wilson.
• Pers. - Short for personalzine, which see.
• Personalized Fanzine – See Personalzine.
• Personalzine - A fanzine written solely by the editor/publisher.
• Perzine - See personalzine.
• Pete Seeger’s Antidote - A cure for Frank Hays Disease, in which the filker stares at the ceiling until the lyrics to the filk song he/she has forgotten magically appear. See Frank Hays Disease. See Filker. See Filk song.
• Phantagraph, The - SF fanzine edited/published by Donald A. Wollheim from 1935 until 1946. Wollheim provided an index to the first eight years of his journal in 1941; and a collection of The Phantagraph’s fiction, articles, and poetry, Operation: Phantasy, was published by Donald M. Grant in 1967.
• Phantasmicon - A SF fanzine published in the 1970s.
• Philadelphia Science Fiction Society - The PSFS was founded in 1935 by SF fans Milton Rothman, Robert Madle, John Baltadonis, Ossie Train, and Ray Mariella.
• Philcon - The 1947 Worldcon, held in Philadelphia, PA. John W. Campbell, Jr. was GoH; L. Jerome Stanton was toastmaster; Milton Rothman was Con Chair. Also, the annual conventions run by the Philadelphia SF Society.
• Philip K. Dick Memorial Award - Award that honors the best American original paperback book of the year. Named after SF writer Philip K. Dick, the award began in 1982, and is awarded each year by the Philadelphia SF Society.
• Phildickian - Term created by fans to refer to the work/ideas of SF author Philip K. Dick. See Dickian.
• Phony Seventh, The - The last stage of historical fandom, in 1953-1954. Also known as the Sixth Transition.
• Photo-ref - Photos of actors in movies/TV series used as reference material for artists who illustrate the stories in mediazines, which see.
• Pick, pass, or play - Procedure used in organizing a filk-sing in which each player gets a turn to either pick a song for someone else to sing, pass and not take a turn, or play a song of his/her own choosing.
• Pict. - Dealer’s abbreviation for pictorial (e. g., book bound in pictorial wrappers).
• Pilgrim Award - Created in 1970 by the SFRA, the Pilgrim honors lifetime contributions to SF and fantasy scholarship. The award was named from the title of the first serious academic study of SF, Pilgrims Through Space and Time (1947) by J. O. Bailey.
• Pittcon - The 1960 Worldcon, held in Pittsburg, PA. James Blish was GoH; Isaac Asimov was toastmaster; Dirce Archer was Con Chair.
• PKD - Initials of SF author Philip K. Dick.
• PKD Award - See Philip K. Dick Memorial Award.
• Planet, The - The second SF fanzine (1st issue July 1930), edited by Allen Glasser for the New York Scienceers.
• Planet Stories - SF pulp magazine, specializing in space opera, that was published from Winter 1939 to Summer 1955 for a total run of 71 issues. Malcolm Reiss was in editorial control for the entire run of the magazine although other supporting editors were also involved, including SF author Jerome Bixby in 1950-1951.
• Plastic bags - Mylar or polyethylene bags, used to cover and protect collectibles.
• Plokta - Contemporary UK fanzine on the Internet, edited/published by Alison Scott and Steve Davies.
• Ploy - A maneuver to outwit other fans, usually more good-humored than a hoax, which see.
• Pocket Book Original - A paperback original, i.e., a never-before published story. The first SF PBO is considered by many to be Time Trap by Rog Phillips (Roger Phillips Graham ), published by Century Books in 1949, although other candidates for this honor exist.
• Pocket Program - Daily listing of events at a convention, printed just before the con begins so that it is as accurate as possible.
• Poctsards – Government postcards that found favor in fandom (due to a typing error) but which are sold only in Georgia and Ireland.
• POD - Abbreviation for print-on-demand publishing.
• Poor - The worst possible grade for a collectible item, the next thing to not having the item at all. Usually an item of this grade is only seen as a fill-in until a better grade can be obtained. See Grading.
• POP - Abbreviation used in genre literature for the book Parade of Pleasure, which see.
• PorSFans - Abbreviation for SF fans of the 1940s who were members of the Portland Science Fantasy Society. Several of them, including editor Donald Day, were involved in publishing The Fanscient, a popular fanzine of the day.
• Post Awful - Term by fans for the Postal Service, which seems at times to be entered into a conspiracy against fandom. At one time fans were dependent upon the postal service for communications, and they saw postal rates go up and up while services in some localities were cut. Other terms that have been used for the Postal Service include “Pest Awful” and “Post Offal,” when service was especially bad.
• PP - Abbreviation for Pegasus Publications and also for Paperback Parade.
• PPD/ppd - Abbreviation used by dealers to indicate postage paid.
• PPP - Abbreviation for Perfidious Press Publications.
• PR - Abbreviation for Progress Report, which see.
• Pre-Code - Term used to identify comic books published before the formation of the Comics Code Authority (1954).
• Presentation costume - Term for an elaborate costume intended to be entered formally in a masquerade competition at a convention. Many are so elaborate that they are very uncomfortable to wear. See Master costumer. See Convention.
• Pricey - Fannish term for a collectible that will command a high price.
  Print - A reproduction of a work of art, sold either individually or in a set. Many genre artists reproduce their own cover art and sell the prints at cons.
• Prix Apollo - Award given from 1971-1990 to honor the best SF novel (original or translated) published in French during the preceding year. The awards were suspended in 1991.
• Prix Aurora Awards - See Aurora Award.
• Prix Jules Verne Award - A French award given to novels “in the spirit of Jules Verne.” The award was discontinued in 1980.
• Pro - A professional, i. e., one who receives money for his/her work. Pros often arise from the ranks of fans. The difference between a pro and a fan can be very slight in the SF genre.
• Proac - Professional activity, as distinguished from fanac (fan activity).
• Pro/am - Abbreviation for professional and amateur.
• Probability Zero - A fan-oriented, readers’ department appearing in Astounding in 1942-1943. Readers of the magazine could submit stories for possible publication in this department, and be paid for those accepted. Ray Bradbury’s “Eat, Drink, and Be Wary” appeared in this department in the July 1942 issue. The department was later revived for a brief time.
• Pro-Con/pro-Con - A convention run by a professional entrepreneur for the purpose of promoting SF films, TV series, comics, etc. These gatherings began in the 1970s as an outgrowth of the Star Trek Conventions. See Fan-con.
• Pro-ed - A professional editor, as distinguished from a fan-ed, which see.
• Professor Challenger Society - A club for fans of both Arthur Conan Doyle and SF.
• Profiteering - Taking advantage of a shortage (sometimes specious or artifically created), charging inflated prices, and thereby making excessive profits.
• Programming - The organized events of a convention, as listed in the Pocket Program, which see.
• Program book - The souvenir booklet handed out at a con. Although they vary in size and quality, these booklets usually contain very useful information about the cons and their participants.
• Progress Report - Progress reports are irregular publications provided by the organizers of conventions to inform the convention-goer of any changes in the con’s scheduling of events, programming, films, guests, sites, etc. They take many forms, and some become collectibles in their own right. Often abbreviated as PR.
• PromComm - Short for Program Committee, the group that organizes events at a convention. See Programming.
• Prometheus Award - Created in 1979 to promote “pro-freedom” fiction, Prometheus Awards are given annually by the Libertarian Futurist Society (LFS). The Prometheus Hall of Fame Award was created by the LFS in 1982 as a retrospective counterpart to the Prometheus Award. The prize for both the Prometheus and the Hall of Fame awards is a gold coin, mounted on an engraved plaque.
• Propellor beanie - Symbol of a typical SF fan, credited to Ray Faraday Nelson. See Beanie.
• Protofan - A person with fannish characteristics who has not yet made contact with fandom.
• Provenance - The history of a collectible, documenting previous ownership, etc.
• Prozine - The opposite of a fanzine, i. e., a contraction of professional magazine. Also, in more recent times, a fanzine published by professionals.
• PrtSFS - Short for Portland Science Fiction Society.
• Pseudo-science - Pseudo-science refers to fraudulent or unproven sciences that make use of scientific terminology and are believed in by at least some of their adherents. SF stories, on the other hand, generally are extrapolations of present-day sciences, and their authors consider them to be fiction. The fine line between the two has been crossed at times when SF writers espoused various pseudo-scientific beliefs.
• Pseudo-science fiction/pseudoscience fiction - Early term for science fiction.
• Pseuicide - Name that came to be associated with the fake suicide of Earl Singleton, a prominent New England fan who perpetuated the hoax in the early 1940s, a decade of fan hoaxes. See Fan hoaxes.
• PSFS - Short for the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society, which see.
• Psi powers - Short for psionic powers. These powers are the several super-normal mental abilities such as telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, teleportation, levitation, etc. Many SF stories have featured such powers. ESP, or extra-sensory perception, is a synonym for psi powers, although it usually only pertains to super-perception abilities such as telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance.
• Psychotic - The 1968 winner of the Hugo Award (for best Amateur Publication), edited by Richard E. Geis. See Science Fiction Review. See Alien Critic.
• Pub - Short for publish.
• Pubbed - Short for published.
• Pubber - Short for publisher.
• Pulpcon - Annual convention for devotees of the early pulp magazines, including the all-SF pulps and the other pulps that carried SF stories. See Lamont Award.
• The Pulp Era - An amateur magazine devoted to the pulps, edited by Lynn Hickman of Wauseon, Ohio. The magazine began in 1959 and was published into the 1970s. This magazine was an outgrowth of Hickman’s long-running fanzine JD-Argassy, which dealt with pulp magazines among other topics.
• Pulp Era Amateur Press Society - The PEAPS, devoted to the pulp magazines, was founded in 1987 by Lynn Hickman, an old-time SF fan and pioneering member of pulp fiction fandom.
• Pulp magazine - The most common form of mass-market fiction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the name comes from the cheap wood pulp on which the magazines were printed.
• Pulps - Short for pulp magazines. See Pulp magazine.
• Purple Fingers - What you get from using a ditto or hecto machine.
• PVC/pvc - Abbreviation for a collectible figure made out of poly vinyl chloride.

Compiled/Edited by Jon D. Swartz, N3F Historian

There are many words and abbreviations of special relevance to science fiction. In addition, over the years science fiction fandom has created many new terms. A list of some of these words and abbreviations is provided here for N3F members and for any others who are interested in the history of science fiction and science fiction fandom. Additions and/or corrections are invited.

M

• Macrocosm - The world outside fandom, i. e., the mundane world.
• Madge - Pet name for the SF/fantasy magazine Imagination.
• The Mad 3 Party - Hugo-award winning SF fanzine (1989), edited by Leslie Turek.
• MAFF - The Mid-Atlantic Fan Fund. A fund that does not exist; nevertheless, fans continue to nominate their favorite fuggheads for it. See Fan Funds.
• MAFIA - Short for Minions of Anti-Fan, In America.
• Magazine of Fantasy, The - See F&SF.
• Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, The - See F&SF.
• MagiCon - The 1992 Worldcon, held in Orlando, FL. Jack Vance was GoH; Vincent Di Fate was artist GoH; Walter A. Willis was fan GoH; Spider Robinson was toastmaster; Joe Siclari was Con Chair.
• Mail auction - A fan’s method of selling a collection by placing notices in adzines, or by mailing out flyers to other fans/collectors. Items for sale are listed with their minimum bids. The bidders send back their offers by return mail, and the seller compares prices. This process may go on for several rounds before winners are determined. Usually a mail auction is resorted to only when it is impossible to sell a collection at a convention. See Adzine.
• Mailing - An APA bundle of fanzines mailed out by an OE (which see), containing one fanzine from each of the contributing editors.
• Mailing comments - Comments in an apazine on the previous mailing. See Apazine. See APA. See Mailing.
• Mainstream - The traditional realistic fiction of human character, i. e., most serious prose fiction outside the several genre categories.
• Mana - SF term for magical energy. Attributed to SF writer Larry Niven.
• Mañana Literary Society - A loose-knit group of Los Angeles SF writers who met at the home of Robert Heinlein in the early 1940s. The Society was featured in Anthony Boucher’s SF/mystery novel Rocket to the Morgue.
• Manuscript Bureau - Service provided by N3F for distributing fanzine material to editors on receipt from contributors.
• Mapbacks/map backs - Term for the Dell paperbacks (1943-1951) that had maps on the back covers--drawings of scenes, cutaway views of buildings, or sections of cities in which events in the books took place. The SF/fantasy books with mapbacks are sought by collectors.
• Mark Time Award - Presented annually by The American Society for Science Fiction Audio, The Mark Time Awards honor the best SF audio production. See Ogle Awards.
• Married - A magazine or comic book is “married” when two different issues have been used to make one complete issue (e. g., cover or centerfold replacement).
• “Mary Sue” Story - A story in a fanzine that features a perfect heroine. Usually the heroine is the author as she would like to be. See “Marty Su” Story.
• “Marty Su” Story - A story in a fanzine that features a perfect hero. See “Mary Sue” Story.
• Mass-market paperback - A book intended for the widest possible distribution, usually printed on inexpensive paper and with cardboard covers. Most “popular” fiction – westerns, mysteries, science fiction, and romance novels – is published as mass-market paperbacks.
• Master - Original ditto or multilith sheet, equivalent to a mimeo stencil.
• Master costumer - The highest level of proficiency in fan costuming. A master costumer has won at least three “firsts” or “bests” at regional or Worldcon masquerades. See Novice costumer. See Journeyman costumer.
• Mathom - Something one can’t bear to throw away, but which one doesn’t know what to do with.
• Maxac - Short for maximum activity, term used by apas to limit the number of pages a member contributes. See Minac. See APA.
• MC/mc - Abbreviation for mailing comments, which see.
• Media - TV shows and movies, and anything related to such shows. See Media fan. See Literary fan.
• Mediazine - A fanzine devoted to fiction based on characters from TV series and movies. The first mediazines are reported to have begun with the “Star Trek” TV series. See Spockanalia. See Mixed-mediazine.
• Media fan - A person who is more interested in SF films and TV shows than in print SF.
• Megafandom – Science fiction Fandom in all its facets, including fans of SF-related genres (e. g., comics fandom).
• Mercer’s Day - The 31st of April, formerly May 1st. The addition of a 31st day to the month of May also eliminated May 1st (the day after Mercer’s Day is May 2nd). Mercer’s Day is named for fan Archie Mercer, who set a May 1st deadline for OMPA in 1957.
• “Mess transit” - A fannish comment on mass transit, the means by which many fans get to and from conventions. A major factor in scheduling a convention is its proximity to “mess transit.”
• MFS - Short for Minneapolis Fantasy Society.
• MIB - Abbreviation for Mint In Box, term used by dealers to describe a collectible in mint condition. See MIM, MIP, MOC.
• Microcosm - Used in the phrase, “Our microcosm,” to refer to SF fandom.
• MidAmeriCon - The 1976 Worldcon, held in Kansas City, MO. Robert A. Heinlein was GoH; George Barr was fan GoH; Wilson Tucker was toastmaster; Ken Keller was Con Chair.
• Milford Award - An award presented each year at the J. Lloyd Eaton Conference on Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature. The award is given for lifetime contributions to the publishing and editing of SF, fantasy, and horror literature.
• Military SF - Science fiction stories about or involving military forces, war, or other armed conflicts.
• The Millennium Philcon - The 59th Worldcon, held in Philadelphia, PA in 2001. Greg Bear was GoH; Stephen Youll was artist GoH; Gardner Dozois was editor GoH; George Scithers was fan GoH; Esther Friesner was toastmistress; Todd Dashoff was Con Chair.
• MilPhil - Abbreviation for The Millennium Philcon, which see.
• Milwapa - An APA located in the city of Milwaukee. See APA.
• MIM - Dealer’s abbreviation for Mint In Mailer, a term used to describe a collectible in mint condition.
• Mimeo - Short for mimeograph machine, a dry-stencil duplicating process used in the production of fanzines. See Hecto, Ditto.
• Mimeozine - A fanzine printed on a mimeograph machine. See Mimeo.
• Mimetic fiction - All fiction that is not SF. See Mundane.
• Mimosa - Hugo-award winning (1992, 1993, 1994) SF fanzine, edited by Rich & Nicki Lynch of Gaithersburg, Maryland.
• Minac - Short for minimum activity, the least amount of work required to maintain membership in some form of fandom (e. g., an APA, which see).
• Minder - A person assigned to accompany the GoH at a convention to make certain the GoH gets to his/her scheduled activities on time.
• Minicon - A small convention that usually lasts only one day.
• Minneapa - An apa located in the city of Minneapolis, which at the time the term was coined had a strong fannish community.
• Minneapolis in ’73 - During their bid for the 1973 Worldcon, Twin Cities fans decided they didn’t want to run a Worldcon after all, but because bid parties were so much fun they’d keep on having them. See Worldcon.
• Mint - The highest grading classification. See Grading.
• MIP - Dealer’s abbreviation for Mint In Package, term used to describe a collectible in mint condition. See MIB, MIM, MISB, MISP, MOC.
• Mirrorshade SF - Another name for cyberpunk SF, referring to the rumor that the authors of such tales wear mirror-lensed sunglasses so others cannot see their crazed eyes.
• MISB - Dealer’s abbreviation for Mint In Sealed Baggie, term used by dealers to describe a collectible in mint condition. See MIB, MIM, MIP, MOC.
• MISHAP - Abbreviation for the Michigan Society of (Hapless) Amateur Publishers, an APA organization. See APA.
• MISP - Dealer’s abbreviation for Mint In Sealed Package. See MISB.
• Missing Scene story - A story in a fanzine that tries to explain what occurred between characters in a SF film (or an episode of a SF TV series), either during a particular scene or between scenes.
• MITSFS - Abbreviation for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Science Fiction Society.
• Mixed-mediazine - A fanzine with stories based on several different TV series or films, as opposed to a fanzine that concentrates on one series or film or on one character. See Mediazine.
• MLG(S)/Mlg(s)/mlg(s) - Abbreviations for mailing(s). See Mailing.
• M.L.S. - Short for the Mañana Literary Society, which see.
• MMM - Short for Murder Mystery Monthly, which see.
• MOC - Dealer’s abbreviation for Mint On Card, term used to describe a collectible in mint condition. See MIB, MIM, MIP, MISB.
• Mollycon - Also known as the Mollycoddle, the Mollycon is a convention of SF writers, publishers, artists, agents, and academics held at Mollymook on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. The inaugural con was held in 2003.
• MONSFS - Short for Montreal Sci-Fiction Society.
• Mosaic - Another term for fix-up. See Fix-up novel.
• Movie serial - A multi-episode film, usually an action/adventure melodrama, presented one chapter at a time in weekly installments over a period of months. Each chapter typically ends with a cliff-hanger, a moment of uncertainty that leaves the audience eager for a resolution that does not come until the next chapter. Also known as chapter plays, or just serials. Many serials of the 1930s-1950s featured SF/fantasy characters and/or plots.
• Movie Tie-In - A book issued in conjunction with a motion picture.
• MSFS - Short for Michigan Science-Fantasy Society.
• MTI - Abbreviation for a Movie Tie-In book, which see.
• Multiapan - A member of several APAs. See APA.
• Multi-fans - Fans of three or more genres of popular culture. See Double-fans.
• Munchies - Free food provided to con goers, usually in the con suite or at room parties. See Con suite. See Room parties.
• Mundac - Short for mundane activity. See Mundane.
• Mundane - Anything not pertaining to fandom, and sometimes used in a derogatory fashion by members of fandom when speaking of things not related to fandom.
• Mundania/mundania - Where mundanes live. See Mundane.
• Murder Mystery Monthly - This digest-sized Avon series of mystery and SF/fantasy books was introduced in 1942, beginning life as the Avon Murder of the Month series. The first title in the series was A. Merritt’s Seven Footprints to Satan, and all the SF/fantasy books of A. Merritt eventually were published in this format.
• Murphy’s Law - A satiric comment on the so-called Laws of Science, i. e., “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong, and at the worst possible time.” Several corollaries/similar formations also exist in fandom.
• MWA - Abbreviation for Mystery Writers Award. See Edgar Awards.
• Mystery Writers Award - See Edgar Award.
• Mythopoeic Awards - Annual awards given in several categories by the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit organization of readers, scholars, and fans of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Charles Williams (The Inklings, an Oxford affinity group in the 1930s) and related myth and fantasy studies. The awards are announced at annual conventions called Mythcons.
• MZB - Initials of SF fan/author Marion Zimmer Bradley. SF fans often are known by their initials, contractions of their names, or by nicknames. See FJA.

N

• Nameless Ones, The - 1) A group formed by SF fan Art Widner in 1940 at the home of Louis Russell Chauvenet in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Later the group became the Stranger Club (the Strangers), and still later changed its name to the Eastern Massachusetts Fantasy Society and published the fanzine Fanfare; 2) A SF club in Seattle, Washington in the 1940s-1960s. The club fanzines were Sinisterra and Cry of the Nameless.
• Nank - A nonsense word, invented to pair with poo, as in “nank and poo.”
• NAPA - Abbreviation for the National Amateur Press Association.
• NAPFC - Abbreviation for the Napoleon Fantasy Club.
• NASFIC/NASFiC - Abbreviation for the North American Science Fiction Convention, held during years when Worldcons are located outside of North America.
• National Bob Tucker Death Hoax Week - September 10 to September 16, the week commemorating the two hoax announcements of Tucker’s death.
• The National Fantasy Fan - Current fanzine of the National Fantasy Fan Federation, known by the abbreviated title The Fan. See National Fantasy Fan Federation.
• National Fantasy Fan Federation - Known as the N3F and the NFFF, the National Fantasy Fan Federation, a SF/fantasy fan club, was founded in April 1941 through the efforts of Damon Knight. Over the years it has published several different fanzines, including The National Fantasy Fan (TNFF) [The Fan], and Tightbeam. It gives the annual Neffy Awards, which see. Its members are known as Neffers.
• NCI NCO - An apa acronym for “no comments in, no comments out” and refers to the belief in fan circles that one is required to write comments in apas in order to receive them from others.
• N.D./n.d. - Abbreviation for no date.
• Nebula Awards - Awards presented annually in a number of categories by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
• Neffer - Nickname for a member of the National Fantasy Fan Federation.
• Neffy Awards - Awards given in a variety of categories by the National Fantasy Fan Federation. The first of these were presented in 2005. See National Fantasy Fan Federation.
• Neo - See Neofan.
• Neofan/Neo-fan - A newcomer to fandom.
• Neofan’s Guide - The Neo-Fan’s Guide to Science Fiction Fandom, edited by Wilson “Bob” Tucker, the eighth edition of which was published in 1996.
• Neo-Pagan Movement - An attempt to recover the religious fervor of the pre-Christian worship of natural phenomenon. Members of the various cults associated with the movement often appear in distinctive clothing at Worldcons. See Worldcon.
• Neopro - A person who is new to the professional side of SF.
• NESFA - The New England Science Fiction Association. The NESFA Press has an ongoing publishing program devoted to keeping worthwhile SF/fantasy books in print.
• NESFA Press - See NESFA.
• New Era Publishing Company - Specialty press formed in 1948 in Philadelphia by SF fans Robert Madle and Jack Agnew.
• Newfangles - Comic fanzine, edited by SF fans Don and Maggie Thompson from March 1967 (issue #1) through December 1971, for a total of 54 issues.
• News - Short for newszine, which see.
• Newsletter - A small publication, usually no more than 8 pages, that contains news items about a particular club, or that announces forthcoming publications of a particular publisher. Newsletters may also be called fanzines, but they are more ephemeral and usually limited in distribution.
• Newspaper Sunday Pages - The Sunday funnies, from the early 1900s to the present day and usually in color, are often collected by SF/fantasy fans. The full-page strips are the most desirable.
• Newszine - A fanzine that publishes news about fandom and/or a particular genre. The newspapers of fandom.
• Newt Award - Annual award presented by the Czech Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. The name of the award is taken from Czech author Karel Capek’s novel War Against the Newts.
• New Wave - SF literary movement in the late 1960s-early 1970s that emphasized the “soft” sciences over the “hard” sciences. The term was borrowed from the French films of the same period, and first used by Judith Merrill who applied it to British SF stories of the mid-1960s.
• New Worlds - Influential British SF magazine, published from July 1946. John Carnell was the first editor. The title began as a fanzine called Novae Terrae in 1936. After 29 issues, Carnell became editor. He reverted to Volume 1, Number 1 with the March 1939 issue, and changed the title of the fanzine to New Worlds.
• NewYorCon - The 1956 Worldcon, held in New York. Arthur C. Clarke was GoH; Robert Bloch was toastmaster; David A. Kyle was Con Chair.
• NFC - Short for Neo Fen Club.
• NFFF - See National Fantasy Fan Federation.
• Niekas - Hugo-winning SF fanzine (1966/Amateur Publication), edited by Ed Meskys and Felice Rolfe. The first issue was dated June 1962.
• Nippon2007 - The 65th World Science Fiction Convention, held in 2007 in Yokohama, Japan. Sakyo Komatsu and David Brin were Guests of Honor; Takumi Shibano was fan GoH; and Yoshitaka Amano & Michael Whelan were artist Guests of Honor.
• Ni var/ni var - A form of poetry, consisting of antiphonal verses that express a duality of conceptions or that compares two unlike things. By extension, the term has come to mean any artistic effort that contrasts two aspects of something.
• NMBG - Abbreviation for the dealers phrase Near Mint By God, meaning that an item is really in mint condition. See Grading.
• Nolacon - The 1951 World SF Convention (Worldcon), held in New Orleans, LA. Fritz Leiber was GoH; Harry B. Moore was Con Chair.
• Nolacon II - The 1988 Worldcon, held in New Orleans, LA. Donald A. Wollheim was GoH; Roger Sims was fan GoH; Mike Resnick was toastmaster; John H. Guidry was Con Chair.
• Nonfannish - See Unfannish. See Mundane.
• Noreascon - The 1971 Worldcon, held in Boston, MA. Clifford D. Simak was GoH; Harry Warner, Jr. was fan GoH; Robert Silverberg was toastmaster; Anthony Lewis was Con Chair.
• Noreascon Two - The 1980 Worldcon, held in Boston, MA. Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm were Guests of Honor; Bruce Pelz was fan GoH; Robert Silverberg was toastmaster; Leslie Turek was Con Chair.
• Noreascon Three - The 1989 Worldcon, held in Boston, MA. André Norton and Ian & Betty Ballantine were Guests of Honor; The Stranger Club was fan GoH; Mark Olson was Con Chair.
• NorWesCon - The 1950 Worldcon, held in Portland, OR. Anthony Boucher was GoH; Theodore Sturgeon was toastmaster; Donald B. Day was Con Chair.
• NOSFS - Short for the New Orleans Science-Fantasy Society.
• Novae Terrae - British SF Fanzine founded by Maurice Hanson and Dennis Jacques in 1936 (later edited by E. J. Carnell as the forerunner of New Worlds). See New Worlds.
• Novice costumer - A costumer who has never won at a Worldcon, or someone at a regional con who has never competed. See Journeyman costumer. See Master costumer.
• Now and Then - See Widowers.
• N.P./n.p. - Abbreviation for no place.
• NR - Short for No Reserve.
• NrMt - Short for Near Mint.
• N3F - See National Fantasy Fan Federaton.
• Nufan - See Neofan.
• Nuke - To utterly destroy something, with the term coming from the use of nuclear weapons. Also, applied to the use of a microwave oven, as in “nuke a dinner.”
• Null-A/Ā - Non-Aristotelian logic (from General Semantics), the subject of several SF stories, including early novels by A. E. van Vogt.
• Number One Fan - At one time, the most active fan of the year (as determined by an N3F member poll). See National Fantasy Fan Federation (N3F).
• Number One Rat of Fandom - Early nickname for Donald W. Wollheim, according to Jack Speer’s Up to Now.
• Number zilch - See Zilch.
• Numerical fandoms - The belief that the history of SF fandom can be divided into discrete numbered eras, beginning with Eofandom in 1930. First Fandom followed in 1933, Second Fandom in 1937, etc. The idea was discredited in the 1950s. See First Fandom, Second Fandom, Third Fandom, etc.
• Nuts ‘N’ Bolts - See Hardware stories.
• NWSFS - Short for the Northwest Science Fiction Society (pronounced Niss-Fiss).
• Nycon - The first Worldcon, held in New York in 1939. Frank R. Paul was GoH; Sam Moskowitz was Con Chair.
• NYCon II - See NewYorCon.
• Nycon III - The 1967 Worldcon, held in New York City. Lester del Rey was GoH; Wilson “Bob” Tucker was fan GoH; Harlan Ellison was toastmaster; Ted White and Lester Van Arnam were Con Chairs.

O

• OAK - Initials of SF/fantasy author Otis Adelbert Kline, by which he is often identified.
• Ob - Prefix denoting “obligatory or expected reference to” a topic.
• OC - Abbreviation for Official Collator, one who is in charge of putting together the pages of a document (e. g., a fanzine, an APA, or a program book for a con).
• OE - Abbreviation for Official Editor, the person who runs an APA (which see).
• Offprint - A separate printing of part of a larger publication (e. g., a story from a magazine or from a collection of stories).
• Offset - A printing process in which the inked impression is first made on a rubber-covered roller, than transferred to paper. Used in fannish publications when high quality reproduction of drawings, photographs, and text is desired.
• Ogle Awards - Presented annually by The American Society for Science Fiction Audio, Ogle Awards honor the best fantasy audio production. See Mark Time Award.
• Oily Will - Nickname of SF fan Will Sykora.
• Old & Tired Fan - One who has been in SF fandom for more than five years.
• Old Guard - The oldtimers of SF fandom.
• Old Wave - Out-of-date term for stories that emphasized the scientific aspects of SF. See Hard Science Fiction.
• One-shot/one shot/oneshot - A publication, such as a fanzine, that is intended to be for only one issue.
• On Stencil - Term meaning to compose as you are typing.
• On the Drawing Board - Early comics newszine published by Jerry Bails.
• OO - Abbreviation for Official Organ, the newsletter of a club, society, or APA.
• Oocho - A putrid echo.
• Ook Ook - Phrase signifying putridity. See Ook Ook Slobber Drool.
• Ook Ook Slobber Drool - Complete phrase signifying putridity as witnessed by an individual.
• OOP/oop - Abbreviation for Out Of Print.
• OOTWA - Abbreviation for Out of This World Adventures, which see.
• Op. cit./op cit - Abbreviation for Latin term opere citato, meaning “in the place cited.” This term is used in footnotes to indicate that a source has been previously documented.
• Open-ended series - A series of stories that goes on and on for as long as an audience exists that is willing to read them. Often the characters seem to exist in a timeless place where they never seem to age and where they are never changed by their experiences.
• Origanth - Short for original anthology.
• Original art - Actual drawings done for magazines/comic books/comic strips. Such artwork is often offered for sale at convention art shows.
• Originals - Drawings made by the artist, as opposed to photocopies of these drawings. See Original art.
• Orphanzines - Either new issues of a fanzine, or fanzines that someone is selling out, by a dealer for a commission and not by their own publisher/editor. For this reason such zines are said to have no “home.”
• OS - Abbreviation for The Outlander Society, which see.
• Ose - Filk songs of a long, morbid, miserable content, in imitation of many Middle Age ballads. The name is a pun: the joke is that there is “ose. . .and more-ose (morose).” See Filk song.
• OSSF - Abbreviation for the Oregon Society of Scientifantasy.
• OTC/Otc/otc - Abbreviations for over the counter.
• Other Worlds - Short for Other Worlds Science Stories, which see.
• Other Worlds Science Stories - Digest-sized (November 1949 to November 1955) SF magazine, edited by long-time fan Raymond A. Palmer. Bea Mahaffey was associate editor. In its final years (May 1955 to November 1957) it was published in a pulp format.
• Otoh - Abbreviation for on the other hand.
• OTR - Abbreviation for Old Time Radio, generally the period of time from 1926 until 1962. Some OTR programs and the premiums associated with them are sought by genre collectors.
• Outfit - Any clothing used by the SCA for ordinary dress. See Society for Creative Anachronism.
• Out of This World Adventures – A SF pulp magazine that lasted for only two issues in 1950. Edited by Donald A. Wollheim, this publication had the distinction of containing 32-page comic book inserts in each magazine.
• The Outlander Society - A SF club organized in October, 1948 by fans who lived in outlying areas around Los Angeles. The original eight members were Len Moffatt, Rick Sneary, Stan Woolston, John Van Couvering, Con Pederson, Bill Elias, and Alan & Freddie Hershey. The club’s fanzine was The Outlander (1949-1952).
• OWSS - Short for Other Worlds Science Stories, which see.

Compiled/Edited by Jon D. Swartz, N3F Historian

There are many words and abbreviations of special relevance to science fiction. In addition, over the years science fiction fandom has created many new terms. A list of some of these words and abbreviations is provided here for N3F members and for any others who are interested in the history of science fiction and science fiction fandom. Additions and/or corrections are invited.

K

• K-a - Abbreviation for Kappa-alpha. See CAPA-alpha.
• KaCSFFS - Abbreviation for the Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, the group that sponsors the SF&F Hall of Fame.
• Kahoutek - Something that is built up to be great, but which turns out to be a flop.
• Kalem Club - An amateur journalism club of the 1920s, named such because all the original members had surnames beginning with a K, L, or M. The Kalem Club is considered by some authorities to be the first SF club. H. P. Lovecraft, Frank Belknap Long, and Donald Wandrei were members. Lovecraft referred to the members of the club as “The Gang.”
• Kappa-alpha - See CAPA-alpha.
• Karl Edward Wagner Award - A special award of the British Fantasy Society, presented for lifetime achievement to fantasy. Since 1997 the award has been named for Wagner (1945-1994), a genre writer and editor.
• Kaymar Award - Annual award given by The National Fantasy Fan Federation for work for the benefit of the club and its members. It can only be won once. Originated by K. Martin Carlson (1904-1986), an N3F member who maintained and financed it for 25 years, the first award was given in 1959 to Ray C. Higgs.
• Ken McIntyre Award - An award for best fanzine art, named for British fan artist McIntyre who died in 1969.
• Kipple - Materials with a very important use that is discovered only after they have been thrown out.
• K/S fiction - Genre of fan fiction in which Star Trek’s Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are sexually involved with each other.
• Kurd Lasswitz Award/Prize - Annual awards, given since 1980, for the best SF published in Germany during the previous year (described as the equivalent of the American Nebulas). An award is also given for the Best Foreign Novel. The awards honor the memory of German SF writer Kurd Lasswitz (1848-1910).
• KYHOOYA - Short for Keep Your Head Out Of Your Armpit.

L

• Lacktivity - Lack of activity, the principal cause of expulsion from an APA.
• L.A.con - The 1972 Worldcon, held in Los Angeles, CA. Frederik Pohl was GoH; Buck & Juanita Coulson were fan Guests of Honor; Robert Bloch was toastmaster; Charles Crayne and Bruce Pelz were Con Chairs.
• L.A.con II - The 1984 Worldcon, held in Anaheim, CA. Gordon R. Dickson was GoH; Dick Eney was fan GoH; Jerry Pournelle was toastmaster; Craig Miller & Milt Stevens were Con Chairs.
• L.A.con III - The 1996 Worldcon, held in Anaheim, CA. James White was GoH; Roger Corman was media GoH; Elsie Wollheim was special GoH; Takumi & Sachiko Shibano were fan Guests of Honor; Connie Willis was toastmistress; Mike Glyer was Con Chair.
• L.A.conIV – The 64th World Science Fiction Convention, held in 2006 in Anaheim, CA. Connie Willis was author GoH; James Gurney was artist GoH; Howard DeVore was fan GoH; and Frankie Thomas was special GoH.
• Lambda Literary Awards - Annual awards given since 1988 by the Lambda Literary Foundation to recognize excellence in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender literature and publishing. The awards are presented in several categories and are not limited to SF/fantasy works.
• Lammy Awards - See Lambda Literary Awards.
• Lamont Award - Name for a variety of awards given at annual Pulpcons for achievement related to the early pulp magazines. The award is named after Lamont Cranston, the most popular alias of the fictional pulp hero, The Shadow.
• Langdon chart - A chart tracing fannish romantic/sexual alliances.
• Langford, David - See Ansible.
• Lan’s Lantern - A Hugo-award winning fanzine published by George “Lan” Laskowski (1948-1999). Many numbers were Special Issues, each one honoring a writer on the anniversary of his 50th year of publishing SF.
• Laser war - A mock battle conducted at cons by SF fans, and waged with weapons that project a beam of light. Sometimes called a “blaster-battle,” these wars were popular during the 1970s, but have been outlawed at most cons today.
• LASFAPA - An APA located in the city of Los Angeles. See APA.
• LASFS - The Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, founded in 1934 (making it the oldest local fan group in the United States still in existence). The official fanzine of LASFS is Shangri L’Affaires (aka "Shaggy").
• “Lay” story - A fan-written story in which the principal action consists of getting the main character (often Captain Kirk or Mr. Spock of Star Trek) into a sexual relationship with a female character.
• LBB - Abbreviation for Little Blue Books, which see.
• LC/lc - Dealers’ abbreviation for a motion picture Lobby Card.
• LD - Abbreviation for the SF club Louisville Dreamers.
• Lensman Award - See Skylark Award.
• Leslie Perri - See Perri, Leslie. See Doë.
• Lettercol - Abbreviation for Letter column, a feature of many prozines and fanzines.
• Letterhack/Letter hack - Someone who writes (and gets published) a large number of LOCs to fanzines and/or prozines. See LOC.
• Letterhacks’ Day - December 19th honors the birthday of SF fandom’s greatest letterhack, Harry Warner Jr. In general, a day to honor all letterhacks. See Letterhack.
• Lettersmanship - The art of answering a letter from another fan in such a manner that the fan will never write again. [Attributed to U.K. SF fan/author Bob Shaw] See Fansmanship.
• Letterwar - An exchange of letters between fans in the pages of a fanzine. Sometimes more than two fans are involved in an acrimonious exchange, and the letterwar escalates into a fan feud. See Fan feud.
• Letter-writing campaign - A concentrated effort by fans to urge renewal of a TV series, when the series has been cancelled. The most celebrated example is the campaign organized by “Star Trek” fans after the cancellation of the series was announced in 1967. Bjo Trimble led a group of fans on the West Coast who wrote thousands of letters to NBC offices, resulting in the renewal of the series.
• Letterzine - A fanzine devoted almost exclusively to the printing of letters by fans.
• LEZ/Lez/LeZ - Abbreviations for Tucker’s fanzine Le Zombie, which see.
• Lez-ettes - A tightly condensed story told in three chapters, created by SF fan/author Wilson “Bob” Tucker. An example is Chapter 1: Vampire; Chaper 2, Mirror; Chapter 3, Long Time No See.
• Le Zombie - Wilson (Bob) Tucker’s most famous fanzine, published on a regular schedule in print form from 1938 until 1948, and still available as an e-zine.
• Lim. Ed. - Abbreviation for the book term limited edition.
• Lime Jell-O - A catch-phrase that originated with SF author Joe Haldeman. Apparently, he once stated that his fondest fantasy, and by extention every fan’s: a bathtub filled with lime Jell-O and nubile women.
• Lining out - The process of writing a story by reciting it to another person, who in turn contributes criticism that improves it. If the criticism is deemed to be especially valuable, the person providing it may even become a collaborator on the story.
• Lino - Abbreviation for interlineation, a quotation or remark reprinted between parallel lines at the top or bottom of a fanzine page.
• Literary - Fiction in printed form, regardless of its merit as literature. See Literary fan.
• Literary fan - A fan whose preferred form of SF is books and magazines, rather than other media (movies, TV, etc.).
• Little Blue Books - Small paper-covered booklets, published by E. Haldeman-Julius (1889-1951) of Girard, Kansas, beginning in 1919. At one time the largest mail-order book publishing house in the world, more than 500,000,000 of these 5¢ books were published in over 2,000 different titles. Several SF stories were published in this format.
• Little Green Men - Mundane synonym for SF aliens.
• Little Men - Short for “The Elves’, Gnomes’ and Little Men’s Science Fiction, Chowder, and Marching Society,” a San Francisco Bay Area SF fan club. The title comes from the comic strip Barnaby. The Society created and awards The Invisible Little Man Award.
• Little Monsters of America - SF fan club formed in 1950 by Lynn Hickman and Wilkie Conner in Statesville, NC. The club was formed for the solace and unification of SF fans who were stared at as if they were little monsters when mundanes saw them reading SF prozines in public.
• Living out of the box - Expression used to describe a dealer at a convention who is using the daily proceeds of sales (from the cash box) to pay for convention expenses.
• LNF - Abbreviation for Little Name Fan, one who has not yet made a significant contribution to fandom. See BNF.
• LMA - Abbreviation for Little Monsters of America.
• LMJ - Short for Loud Mouth Jackass. See Fugghead.
• LOC/LoC/loc- Abbreviations for a Letter of Comment, a letter to a prozine or fanzine, commenting on a particular issue. LOCs are often considered mandatory by fanzine editors who send out free copies of their publications for the expressed purpose of getting feedback on their efforts. Also, LOC was a comics magazine published by New Media Publishing Company in the early 1980s. See Loccers. See Loccing.
• Loccers - Fans who write LOCs to fanzines. See LOC.
• Loccing - Writing LOCs. See LOC.
• LOCcols/LoCcols - Abbreviations for letter of comment columns.
• LOC’D/loc’d - Abbreviation for sending a LOC, which see.
• Locus - Short for Locus: The Newspaper of the Science Fiction Field, published/edited by science fiction BNF Charles N. Brown. Over the years Locus has won many Hugos in the fanzine, amateur magazine, and semi-prozine categories, as well as other awards.
• Locus Awards - Annual awards given in a variety of categories by the magazine Locus, based on a vote of its readership. See Locus.
• Logistics - The committee at a con that handles things, as opposed to people. Logistics provides both needed equipment (projectors, screens, blackboards, etc.) and amenities (pitchers of water, ash trays, etc.) for speakers and panelists.
• Logo - The title layout of a comic strip or magazine as it appears on the cover, masthead, or splash panel.
• Loncon - The 1957 World Science Fiction Convention, held in London. John W. Campbell, Jr. was GoH. Ted Carnell was Con Chair.
• Loncon II - The 1965 Worldcon, held in London. Brian Aldiss was GoH; Tom Boardman was toastmaster; Ella Parker was Con Chair.
• LoneStarCon2 - The 1997 Worldcon, held in San Antonio, Texas. Algis Budrys and Michael Moorcock were Guests of Honor; Don Maitz was artist GoH; Roy Tackett was fan GoH; Neal Barrett, Jr. was toastmaster; Karen Meschke was Con Chair.
• LOTR - Short for Lord of the Rings.
• Lovecraft Mythos - Fictional references created by HPL (e.g., the non-existent Necronomicon).
• Ltd./ltd. - Abbreviation for limited (e.g., limited edition of a book).
• Lunacons - New York area conventions. They vie with the PhilCons for the honor of being the largest and most important cons on the East Coast of the U.S. See Lunarians.
• LUNA Monthly - A SF fanzine (edited by Anne F. Dietz), successor to Luna (edited by Frank M. Dietz, Jr.), which was published briefly in the early 1960s and then again from June 1969 to Spring 1977.
• Lunarians - A New York area SF fan club that sponsors the Lunacons.
• Lustrum - A period of five years. Term is attributed to SF personality Forrest J Ackerman.

Title: Dragon*Con
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Description: Dragon*Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the US. Our host hotels for 2008 will again include the familiar surroundings of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta along with the legendary Atlanta Marriott Marquis and the Atlanta Hilton. The Hilton is across the street from the Marriott which is connected by a climate-controlled tube-way to the Hyatt. The Marriott is easily the most architecturally unique hotel in the city, if not the entire Southeast. We are pleased to announce the addition of the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel to the list of fabulous hotels hosting Dragon*Con 2008! Dragon*ConTV will be available in all four host hotels.

Start Date: 2008-08-29
End Date: 2008-09-01
Website: http://www.dragoncon.org/index.php

Compiled/Edited by Jon D. Swartz, N3F Historian

There are many words and abbreviations of special relevance to science fiction. In addition, over the years science fiction fandom has created many new terms. A list of some of these words and abbreviations is provided here for N3F members and for any others who are interested in the history of science fiction and science fiction fandom. Additions and/or corrections are invited.

F

• Faaan - A fan more interested in fandom itself than in the SF literature. See Faaanfiction.
• FAAANFICTION - Fiction about fans, usually found in fanzines. See Fan fiction.
• Facs. - Dealer abbreviation for facsimile, which see.
• Facsimile - An exact copy of a collectible. Also known as a fake copy.
• Factsheet Five - The one truly influential guide to the (mostly printed) small press, or "zine," movement of the 1980s. It was founded in 1982 by Mike Gunderloy. Starting as a two-page dittoed newsletter, Factsheet Five grew into a massive newsprint magazine that reviewed every small publication known to Gunderloy. Gunderloy was responsible for hijacking the term "zine" from SF fandom and applying it to any small press effort, from which the current term "e-zine" later sprang. In the late 1980s, Cari Goldberg-Janice joined first as Art Director and later as co-editor. Gunderloy and Goldberg-Janice co-authored The World of Zine for Penguin Books in 1991, an anthology of some of the best zines to have appeared in Factsheet Five. Ironically, just as the book was published and large scale success seemed to be near, Gunderloy quit the magazine. R. Seth Friedman picked up the pieces and ran Factsheet Five through the 90s. Friedman has since stopped publishing, and Factsheet Five appears to be history.
• FAFIA - Abbreviation for Forced Away From It All, i. e., involuntary GAFIA. See GAFIA.
• Fafiate - Verb form of term FAFIA, which see.
• Fafiation - Noun form of term FAFIA, which see.
• Fair - A grading classification between good and poor. See Grading.
• Fake copy – See facsimile.
• Fakefan - A person who is no longer (or never was) interested in science fiction or fandom per se but who enjoys the company of fans and fandom’s social life. Term sometimes is used to tease fans who are not keeping up a high level of fanac.
• Famous Fantastic Mysteries - SF/fantasy reprint magazine, published from September/October 1939 until October 1951, for a total run of 81 issues. Mary Gnaedinger was editor of this long-running pulp magazine. See Fantastic Novels.
• Fan - Short for fanatic, a fan (plural: fans or fen) is a person who actively engages in activities related to his/her special interest. See Fanac.
• The Fan - Nickname for The National Fantasy Fan, the official organ of The National Fantasy Fan Federation (N3F), which see.
• Fanac - Fan activity: writing LOCs, collecting, editing/publishing a fanzine, attending SF conventions, etc.; distinguished from proac (professional activity). Also, Fanac was a Hugo-award winning fanzine (1958/Amateur Publication) edited by Terry Carr and Ron Ellik).
• Fanartist - A fan artist.
• Fanboys - Comic book fans who worship the heroes of mainstream comics.
• Fan Club - Clubs of SF, comics, pulp magazine, radio/TV, and other genre fans exist all over the world, with memberships ranging from a handful to several hundred. These clubs advertise in magazines, on the Internet, and on bulletin boards at many colleges and universities.
• Fan-con/Fan-Con - A convention run entirely by fans and /or fan clubs, as opposed to a convention run by professionals. See Pro-Con.
• Fancy I, Fancy II - Nicknames for Fancyclopedia I and Fancyclopedia II, respectively.
• Fancyclopedia - An encyclopedia about SF fandom. The first such publication, Jack Speer’s Fancyclopedia, appeared in 1945.
• Fandom - The body of SF fans that usually includes those who actively take part in Fanac.
• Fandom Directory - An ongoing publication that lists genre fans, collectors, clubs, fan publications, conventions, etc. The first edition was published in 1979.
• Fandora’s Box - Fan column in the prozine Imagination (April 1951 to April 1956) conducted by SF fan/writer Mari Wolf, first wife of SF author Roger P. Graham (Rog Phillips). See Imagination.
• F&SF - Abbreviation for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, a prozine that began in the autumn of 1949 as The Magazine of Fantasy. It is still being published today.
• F&SF Review - See Delap’s F&SF Review.
• Fan-ed/faned - The editor of a fanzine who is also usually the publisher and finances the undertaking.
• Fanewscard - A weekly postal card fan publication, begun by Willson (Bob) Tucker in 1943. This fanzine went through several formats, policies, and editors over a five-year period for a total of 339 issues, the last in 1948. Other editors/publishers were Frank Robinson, Ed Connor, and Walt Dunkelberger.
• Fanfare - Title of a regular feature in the SF magazine Infinity Science Fiction which reprinted items originally published in fanzines.
• Fan-fic - Short for fan fiction, which see. Also see Faaanfiction.
• Fan fiction - Fiction written by fans, usually amateur SF for publication in fanzines. Originally, the term referred to fiction about fans and fandom.
• Fan Feud - An argument among fans, involving almost anything, that escalates into a major controversy involving many people and sometimes all of fandom.
• Fan funds - Money raised to send fans from one country to another in order to attend a con, meet other fans, etc. See CUFF, TAFF, DUFF, FFANZ, GUFF, and MAFF.
• Fanhistory - The history of fandom (also an early fanzine published by Lee Hoffman).
• Fan hoaxes - Common in the history of fandom, fan hoaxes were easier to carry out when most communication was by mail. Mild hoaxes included the creation of nonexistent people, fake fanzines and prozines, and imaginary conventions. Cruel hoaxes included reports that certain fans had died or committed suicide. See Pseuicide.
• Fankind - The totality of fandom (from “mankind”).
• Fanmag/Fan mag - Short for fan magazine, an early term for fanzine.
• Fansmanship - The art of convincing one SF fan that you are a bigger fan. [Attributed to U.K. SF fan/author Bob Shaw]
• Fanne - Female fan. See Fem fan/Femmefan.
• Fannish/Fannishness - Anything pertaining to fans, fandom, and the things that fans do in fandom; also, fit only for fans.
• Fanny - Pet name for Fantasy-News.
• Fanorama - Column by Walt Willis that appeared in the British SF magazine Nebula Science Fiction, 1952-1965. [reputedly the longest running column about fandom/fanzines ever to appear in a professional SF magazine]
• Fan pub - Short for fan publication and fanzine publication.
• Fan pubber - A fan publisher.
• Fan regular - A tee-shirt size, roughly equivalent to XL.
• The Fanscient - A SF/fantasy fanzine (13 issues published, dated from September 1947 to Spring/Summer 1951), edited by Donald B. Day, and published by the Portland Science-Fantasy Society. Its main feature was “Author, Author” which consisted of autobiographical sketches of noted authors, accompanied by photos of the authors and bibliographies of their work.
• Fan Shack - A term for the habitation of two or more fans. See Slan Shack.
• Fan Slants - SF fanzine edited/published by Mel Brown (Los Angeles, CA) in the 1940s.
• Fan Speak/Fanspeak - The language of fandom. Fan speak includes contractions, neologisms, and adopted expressions with new meanings. Although spoken, it is primarily a written language and requires the printed word to express much of its playfulness.
• Fantastic - SF digest magazine that debuted as a “slick” magazine in the Summer of 1952. At various times during its history it was known as Fantastic Science Fiction, Fantastic Science Fiction Stories, Fantastic Stories of Imagination, Fantastic Science Fiction & Fantasy Stories, and Fantastic Sword & Sorcery and Fantasy Stories. The last issue was October 1980, at which time it was merged with Amazing (beginning with the November 1980 issue of that publication). See Amazing.
• Fantastic Adventures - A companion publication to Amazing Stories, the pulp magazine FA was published from May 1939 (Volume 1, Number 1) until March 1953 (Volume 15, Number 3), for a total of 129 issues. Raymond A. Palmer was the first managing editor.
• Fantastic Novels - A companion to Famous Fantastic Mysteries, this pulp magazine published novel-length SF/fantasy stories. It was published from July 1940 until April 1951, for a total run of 25 issues. Mary Gnaedinger was editor. See Famous Fantastic Mysteries.
• Fantasy - A genre of fiction devoted to the imaginary. SF is generally considered to be a sub-genre of fantasy fiction.
• Fantasy Fan, The - Early SF fanzine, published by Charles D. Hornig and devoted to weird fiction. The fanzine was published for 18 issues (September 1934 to February 1935).
• Fantasy Foundation - Project originated in the early 1940s by Forrest J Ackerman to establish a permanent home for a great collection of fantasy stories and related items. This collection was to be for the benefit of all fans.
• Fantasy Magazine - See Science Fiction Digest.
• The Fantasy Showcase Tarot Deck – Described in the fannish literature as being inspired, compiled, and edited (1969-1980) by Bruce Pelz.
• Fantasy Times - Winner of the first Hugo Award for an amateur publication, winning the award in 1955. This important fanzine, edited by James V. Taurasi & Ray van Houten, was later titled Science Fiction Times, which see.
• Fanthology - A combination fanzine and anthology.
• Fantome - A combination fanzine and book (fanzine + tome) created by Edward C. Connor in order to qualify his fanzine, S. F. Echo, for book rate shipping. The fantome consisted of mimeographed pages, cut and bound into a book-like format.
• Fantopia - A fannish utopia.
• Fanvariety Enterprises - A group of affiliated publishers started in 1952. A large number of well-known publishing fans were included.
• Fanvet - A fan who is also a veteran of the armed services.
• Fan wampum - A fannish substitute for money, invented in 1948 by Stan Woolston as a new form of currency to fit the peculiar needs of fans.
• Fanzine - A fan magazine. “Most fanzines exist to generate egoboo” (which see).
• Fanzine Clearing House - Program begun by SF fan Seth Johnson to collect and distribute surplus fanzines in bundles, especially to neofans.
• Fanzine Day - February 12th, honoring the birthday of Louis Russell Chauvenet, editor of the amateur publication Detours, who coined the term fanzine in 1940.
• Fanzine Foundation - A plan for maintaining a permanent collection of fanzines for preservation and research
• Fanzinographic - Fannish term for “bibliographic”.
• FAPA - Acronym for Fantasy Amateur Press Association, the first recorded apa in SF, founded in 1937 by Donald A. Wollheim. See Fap.
• Fap - A member of a fantasy amateur press association. See FAPA.
• FAQ/faq - Short for Frequently Asked Questions.
• Fassbinder - Nickname/pseudonym for SF fan T. Bruce Yerke.
• Faunch - A vague indeterminate yearning or tendency, sometimes the physical activity resulting therefrom; also, a nervous or impatient person (e. g., someone waiting for something to happen).
• Faunching backwards - An extreme form of faunching. See Faunch.
• Fawcett Collectors of America - Originally a comic book fanzine, edited by P. C. Hamerlinck, and dedicated to Fawcett comic books, their writers and artists. Later, a section in the Alter Ego magazine published by TwoMorrows.
• FCA - Abbreviation for the Fawcett Collectors of America, which see.
• Feast-gear - Tableware brought to an event by a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. See Event. See Society for Creative Anachronism.
• Feghoots - Elaborate puns, name taken from a character (Captain Ferdinand Feghoot) created by Grendel Briarton (pseudonym of SF author/editor Reginald Bretnor).
• Fem fan/Femmefan - Female fan. Once rare in SF fandom, fem fans now are commonplace.
• Feminist SF - Science fiction stories that deal with so-called “women’s issues” such as gender roles, the place of women in society, behavior between the sexes, etc.
• Fen - Plural of fan, which see.
• Fennes - A written term for indicating female fans, i. e., fem fans.
• FF - Another abbreviation for fan fiction, which see.
• FFANZ - Fan fund intended to bring the fandoms of Australia and New Zealand closer together. FFANZ was founded in 1983 by John Newman and Sue Dickie.
• F-5 -Abbreviation for the publication Factsheet Five, which see.
• FGoH - Fan Guest of Honor. Some conventions have a FGoH.
• FIAWOL - Acronym for Fandom Is A Way Of Life, a slogan of those heavily involved in fanac. See FIJAGDH.
• Fido - Nickname for the Futurian War Digest, an English SF fanzine edited by J. Michael Rosenblum during 1940-1945.
• Fifth Fandom - The historical stage of SF fandom from 1947-1949.
• FIJAGDH - See FIJAGH.
• FIJAGH - Acronym for Fandom Is Just A God-Damned Hobby, the slogan attributed to fans who say they only read SF for fun and aren’t interested in fandom. See FIAWOL.
• FIJAWOL - See FIAWOL.
• File: 770 - SF fanzine edited/published by Mike Glyer. Winner of several Hugo Awards for best fanzine, most recently in 2001. Named after a famous party in Room 770 of the St. Charles Hotel during Nolacon I (9th Worldcon). See 770. See Worldcon.
• Filk - The music of science fiction, often performed by fans at conventions (see Filker).
• Filk-con – A convention of filkers, which see.
• Filker - A person who composes and/or performs filk, the music of SF.
• Filk Sing/Filk-sing - A gathering of fans at which filk songs are performed.
• Filksinging - The singing of filk songs, a tradition at many conventions.
• Filk song/Filksong - A fannish song, usually a parody.
• Filk-tapes/filk tapes - Audio cassettes of recorded filk songs, performed by filk singers, and usually available for sale in dealers’ rooms at cons.
• Filkzine - A fanzine devoted to filk.
• Filler - Words put in to fill up empty space, especially by an editor on a page of a fanzine. One of the art forms of fandom.
• Fillos - A combination of filler and illo. See Illos.
• Film clips - See Clipper.
• Filthy pro - Name given to fans who turn professional, but not always meant as an insult.
• Fine - A grading classification between mint and good. See Grading.
• First Fandom - An organization of science fiction fans, founded in 1958, who have been active in SF fandom since 1939 (member), or who can demonstrate fanac for a duration of at least 30 years (associate member). At each year’s Worldcons First Fandom presents its Hall of Fame, Posthumous Hall of Fame, and Sam Moskowitz Achievement Awards. The term “First Fandom” also refers to the first stage of historical SF fandom (1933-1936).
• FISTFA - Abbreviation for the Fannish Insurgent Scientifictional Association.
• Fix-up novel - A book made up of previously published stories, usually with new material added, that are “fitted together” to make a novel-length story. An example is Clifford D. Simak’s award-winning City that was published originally as eight separate stories in two different SF magazines. A. E. van Vogt is credited with originating the term.
• FJA - Initials of American SF personality Forrest J Ackerman. Other nicknames/pseudonyms Ackerman has used are Ackermonster, Dr. Acula, Fojak, Forijay, Forjak, 4e, 4sj, Mr. SF, Jack Erman, Claire Voyant, Weaver Wright, Garrett P. Serviss, Aime Merritt, and many others. Use of initials, nicknames, and contractions of names is widespread in SF fandom. See ATom, Bjohn, MZB, SaM, WAW.
• Flake - Subtitled “the Magazine of Cereal Box Collecting,” this fanzine was published by Boston-based collector Scott Bruce from 1989 through 1998. Twenty issues were published of the odd little publication that Newsweek once praised as “a real journalistic gem” and counted Jerry Seinfeld as a subscriber.
• Flaking - The condition of old, brittle books, comic books, paperbacks, and pulp magazines in which small pieces of the edges of the pages chip off.
• Flange - A generic term for anything a fan can’t remember the name of. A thingie or a watchamacallit.
• Flash Gordon - The archetypal science fantasy hero, created by Alex Raymond in a comic strip in 1934. Flash Gordon operated in a magical universe, as opposed to the SF hero Buck Rogers, who operated in a technological universe. See Buck Rogers.
• FLEAC - Short for Fandom’s Leading Expert And Critic, attributed to Walt Willis.
• Flying Saucer - See UFO.
• FMWBAWOF - Abbreviation for the motto Fandom May Well Be A Way Of Life. See FIAWOL, FIJAGDH.
• FMZ/Fmz/fmz - An early, largely unsuccessful, abbreviation for fan magazine that is still used by some. See Fanmag.
• Foobang - A nonsense word having many variations in spelling: foonbang, fnoobang, fnoobag, gnabnoof, etc.
• FooFoo - Oldest of the fannish Ghods, also known as Foo. See Ghods.
• Foogey - A word jumble. Also foogie.
• Foogie - See Foogey.
• Forecasts - Personal magazine of Hugo Gernsback, published at the end of the year in a 32 page, digest-sized format. In this magazine Gernsback gave his predictions for the coming year. Frank R. Paul and other noted artists provided illustrations.
• Fornchy - Fan term meaning raunchy.
• Forry Award - Presented by the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society for lifetime achievement in SF, fantasy, or horror, it is named for longtime SF personality Forrest J Ackerman.
• Fortean phenomena - Inexplicable events such as mysterious disappearances, flying saucers, etc. Named after Charles Fort (1874-1932), American journalist who culled reports of mysterious events from newspapers, magazines, and scientific journals and later published them in book form.
• Fossils, The - Organized members of the “First Fandom” of amateur publishing. Their official organ is The Fossil.
• FotR - Abbreviation for Fellowship of the Ring, a club for fans of writer J. R. R. Tolkien.
• Four color/four-color printing - Comic books printed in full color, using the basic four inks--red, yellow, blue, and black--in various combinations and strengths.
• Four Horsemen of the Fannish Apocolypse, The - Avarice, Feud, Cynicism, and Idiocy. Over the years various fans have been given these titles.
• Fourth Fandom - Period of SF fandom from 1945-1947.
• Fout - An exclamation of surprise, disgust, and/or annoyance. “Hot Fout” is the superlative form. See Fouty.
• Fouty - Miserable or no good.
• Frank Hays Disease - A sudden attack of amnesia in which a filker forgets the lyrics to a filksong. Named for West Coast filker Frank Hays.
• Frank R. Paul Award - Award named to honor the late SF artist Frank Rudolph Paul (1884-1963), Austrian-born illustrator who was the GoH at the first World SF Convention in 1939. SF artists Paul Lehr, Alex Schomburg,Vincent Di Fate, and Ron Walotsky all have won the award.
• Freaking the mundanes - Deliberately behaving in an outrageous manner at a con in order to upset the non-SF guests at the hotel.
• FreFanZine - An apa devoted to libertarian/anarchist politics.
• Friends of First Fandom - New category of membership in First Fandom, begun in 2002.
• FS - Short for Fortean Society.
• Furry Fandom - A fan group that enjoys watching cartoons of anthropomorphic animals.
• Franson Award - Formerly called The President's Award, this N3F award was renamed in honor of Donald Franson (1916-2003). The award began as a means for club presidents to show appreciation for the work of members who may have won the club's Kaymar Award, which can only be won once. See Kaymar Award.
• Frapping - Fanspeak for “blasted” (attributed to Bjo Trimble).
• Frappling - The fannish practice of putting strawberry jam into someone’s shoes.
• Freebies - The items given away at conventions (books, magazines, buttons, posters, bumper stickers, flyers, etc.), often displayed on a Freebie Table. Also, copies of fanzines sent out as payment (in lieu of money) to contributors by fanzine editors.
• Freebie Table - See Freebies.
• Freezine - A fanzine intended to be given away by the publisher rather than sold.
• Fringe fan - Someone who is interested in only a small part of fandom (as opposed to a trufan, which see).
• Furry - A devotee of anthropomorphic cartoon animals, sometimes depicted in a pornographic fashion.
• FSS - Abbreviation for the Futurian Society of Sydney, Australia.
• FUBAR - Abbreviation for Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition.
• Fugghead – One who speaks before he thinks, if he thinks at all; a stupid, assinine, moronic dolt (i.e., anyone you dislike).
• Fuggheadedness - See Fugghead.
• Funk - A fannish term referring to an esoteric outlook on life.
• Funnies - See Newspaper Sunday Pages.
• Future Fiction - A pulp, later digest-sized, SF magazine that went under several titles, including Future Combined with Science Fiction, Future Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Science Fiction Stories during its first series; and Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories, Future Science Fiction Stories, Future Science Fiction, and Science Fiction Stories during its second series. A total of 65 issues were published under these various titles. Editors included Charles D. Hornig (1939-1940) and Robert A. W. Lowndes (1941-1960).
• Futuria Fantasia - Title of Ray Bradbury’s fanzine that he published in the 19xxs after graduating from high school and attempting to become a professional author.
• Futurian House - Name of a house in the Kensington district of Brooklyn in which several of the Futurians (Wilson, Wylie, Michel) lived in 1939. The idea for a house of Futurians who would live together and share expenses was that of Pohl and his financee Doris Baumgardt who planned to marry and move in with the others, but never did.
• Futurians - Initially formed in 1938 as the Futurian Science-Literary Society, the Futurian Federation of the Worlds was created in 1939 and known more generally as the New York Futurians or simply Futurians. The group is famous today because of the many later SF professionals who were members, among them Isaac Asimov, James Blish, Hannes Bok, Virginia Kidd, Damon Knight, Cyril Kornbluth, David Kyle, Robert Lowndes, Judith Merril, John Michel, Frederik Pohl, Richard Wilson, and Donald Wollheim.
• FVA - Abbreviation for Fantasy Veterans Association.