So, Kenlon is a fabulous Game Master, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my husband. I’ve been in games where the GM, well, those games weren’t so fun. This Exalted game has been running for two and a half years. He started the game soon after our separation every other weekend but when I started visiting him it changed to every weekend by popular demand from his players. Before I joined the game I helped with the concept of one of the non player characters, a Lunar Exalted (there are different types of exalted) who are bonded to the Solar Exalted.

After helping him refine her character concept and finding a name for her I was asked to draw a portrait of Gentle Claw. She was a fighter (as all Lunars are) but she was compassionate and kind as well. Then, things did not go so well when she came into contact with the Solars, especially with the Solar she is bonded to. It ended with her running away. Then the Solars forgot about her. They didn’t look for her or do anything to help her return to them. And now, she has changed (and if I tell you what I do know about this change the GM will “kill” me as the group doesn’t know what I know. Kenlon only told me because I was not in the game and no plans were being made for me to be in the game at the time.). I was asked to draw her portrait again but with the changes in place. So I did.

First is Gentle Claw as she should be. The second is Gentle Claw as she now is. Click on each image to see the full sized image.

Before and After

I have a small light table. I used it to trace the basic features of Gentle Claw and then started to make subtle line changes. She is gaunt looking, much thinner, so her whole face is drawn in, her eyes hollower, hence the dark circles. Her small smile is gone – lips turned down instead, her eyes are narrowed instead of more open, her eyebrows are lowered, no longer up, changing her expression from an open warm one to harsh and cold. Of course she now has boy short hair, and new dark tattoos (all Lunars have tattoos but they’re silver not dark and hers didn’t come up on her shoulders and face, so these are different).

After making all these changes I was still able to see Gentle Claw as she is supposed to be. When I turned off the light table I gasped in shock. I couldn’t believe it. The difference was astonishing. All I had done was change a few lines by mere millimeters and now she looks horrifyingly different.

When I showed the final version to my husband he said, “That’s horrifying.” Which, he confirmed, meant that I did my job right. I felt so bad. This will hopefully help the group to visualize the difference and lead them to question their current assumptions.

Art is an amazing thing isn’t it? Just a few subtle line changes can so drastically change the look of a face. Let alone changing the hair and adding tattoos. A face so nice and kind looking can so easily be changed to something so cold and hard, all because of the placement of the lines were subtly altered. I have never experienced this sort of thing before as an amateur artist. I suddenly feel I have a greater appreciation for the work artists put in to achieve a particular feeling or mood in their work.

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.

G

• GAFIA - Acronym for Getting Away From It All. Originally used to mean getting away from the mundane world to join fandom; more recently, it has meant just the opposite: giving up fandom and returning to more mundane activities.
• Gafiate - To leave fandom. See GAFIA.
• Galactic Central – A publishing company created by Gordon Benson, Jr. in the early 1980s as a way of providing SF fans with inexpensive but comprehensive author bibliographies. Phil Stephenson-Payne joined the company in the late 1980s and took over as Benson’s health failed.
• Galaxy - Abbreviated title for the magazine Galaxy Science Fiction, published regularly from 1950 to 1980, and revived briefly during 1994-1995. GalaxyOnline, published by Ben Bova, appeared on the Internet in the late 1990s.
• Galaxy Science Fiction Novels – A series of original and reprint novels and collections published in conjunction with Galaxy Science Fiction from 1950 until 196l. The first 31 issues were in digest size, with cover/paper stock identical to that of Galaxy, the parent magazine. Issues 32 through 35 were in a standard mass-market small paperback size. The final 11 books in the series were published by Beacon Books as a kind of SF pornography in large mass-market paperback size. Several of the titles were award-winning SF books.
• Gallun Award – See Raymond Z. Gallun Award.
• Gamer - One who regularly participates in role-playing games.
• Games - Many games created by Sf/fantasy fans are played at fan gatherings. Some of these are listed separately. See Gaming Room.
• Gaming - Taking part in a SF/fantasy adventure, using a persona developed with the aid of a guidebook or dice and often taking place at a convention.
• Gaming Room – At many conventions a Gaming Room is set up in which various games are played and from which other games are directed, such as Dungeons and Dragons, which see.
• GAMOIA - Getting Away from Most Of It All.
• Garb - Costumes worn by the Society for Creative Anachronism at various fan events. It is intended that such costumes be historically accurate, and many have been entered in con masquerades.
• Gaughan Award – The Jack Gaughan Memorial Award is presented annually at the Boskone Convention to the most promising new artist in the SF field.
• Gct/gct – Short for good comment to, an expression of approval.
• Geek - A socially inept, but generally harmless person, often an adolescent male. The original stereotype of a SF fan was that of a geek.
• Geffen Awards – Genre awards named for Amos Geffen, co-founder of the Israeli Society of Science Fiction and Fantasy and a founding publisher of SF in Israel.
• Gen. - Short for genzine or generalzine, which see.
• General Semantics – See Null-A.
• General Technics - See Techie.
• Generalzine – A fanzine not written by the editor alone.
• Genzine – A general fanzine, one intended to have universal interest.
• Gerfandom - Fandom in Germany and Austria.
• Gernsback Awards – The Gernsback Awards were created by SF personality Forrest J Ackerman as a sort of retrospective Hugo Award for SF works published before 1953 (the first year Hugo Awards were given).
• “Get’em” story - A story in a fanzine in which the protagonist is mistreated in some fashion.
• GGA/Gga/gga – Abbreviations for Good Girl Art, which see.
• GGFS - Short for Golden Gate Futurian Society, a SF club active in the San Francisco Bay area during the 1940s-1950s.
• Ghid-Ghid - Noun having several meanings, originally referring to the sex organs.
• Ghods - The ghods of fannish mythology include FooFoo (or Foo), GhuGhu (or Ghu), Roscoe, Herbie, The Great Spider, Pthalto, Bheer, etc.
• Gholy Ghible – The sacred scriptures of GhuGhu, which see.
• Ghost - Someone who attends a con without paying for membership. Also, to attend a con in such a manner. See Con.
• GhuGhu – The first ghod of fandom whose chief prophets were Donald Wollheim and John Michel, usually referred to as Ghu. Today Ghu is thought of as a mostly benign fannish deity, usually invoked in moments of exasperation.
• Ghu Year’s Day - June 20, the New Year of the Ghuists, is celebrated on the summer soltice. Celebrants wear something purple.
• Glerbins - Fandom’s gremlins, creatures that foul up everything.
• GM - Abbreviation for Grand Master, which see.
• Golden Gryphon Press – A specialty press founded in 1997 by Jim Turner, a long-time editor at Arkham House. Upon his death in 1999, Gary Turner and his wife Geri took over the operations. Jim Turner won the 1999 World Fantasy Award for his work at Golden Gryphon Press.
• Glop - A disgusting mess, often referring to a nutritious (but unappetizing) food.
• Gofer/Gopher - Volunteers who work at a con, also called helpers. For their work they receive various advantages at the con, such as free membership.
• Gofer Hole – The place at a con from which gofers are assigned to their various stations. See Gofer.
• GoH - Abbreviation for Guest of Honor. Most SF conventions have at least one GoH.
• Golden Age – Term used to describe the most interesting, memorable, and influential period of a product. See Golden Age of Science Fiction.
• Golden Age of Science Fiction – Generally speaking, the “Golden Age” of SF refers to the period from the late 1930s to the early 1940s when such authors as Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Theodore Sturgeon, and A. E. van Vogt were publishing their stories in Astounding Science Fiction, edited by John W. Campbell, Jr. (An excellent example of Astounding in this period is the July 1939 issue, reprinted in 1981 in hardcover book form by Southern Illinois University Press).
• Golden Duck Awards – Awards given annually in several categories for excellence in children’s science fiction books. The Hal Clement Award is one of the categories.
• Gongulator - A type of mimeograph that incorporates an e-stenciler, but works from the users’ point of view—like the photocopier it resembles.
• Good - A grading classification between fine and fair. See Grading.
• Good Girl Art – An expression coined to indicate artwork in SF/fantasy pulps, paperbacks, comic books, and other publications that feature attractive and scantily clothed women. Often these women are pictured in bondage or other perilous situations.
• Goon - Fandom’s answer to the private eye of mystery fiction.
• Go pro - To become a professional author by receiving payment for a piece of work.
• Gosh Wow/Goshwow/Goshwowboyoboy – Cries of joy frequently uttered by neofans. A fanzine titled Gosh Wow! was published in the late 1960s.
• Gostak - A meaningless noun. From the story by Miles J. Breuer, “The Gostak and the Doshes” (Amazing, May 1930), apparently picked up from an early text in semiotics (The Meaning of Meaning, first published in 1923).
• Goths - A group of people, usually young, with an interest in vampires, dark clothing, and moody music.
• GR - Short for Galactic Roamers.
• Grading - A system for rating the condition of collectibles, using mutually accepted standards. Grades such as Mint, Fine, Good, Fair, and Poor (and gradations in between) generally are used.
• Grand Master – The Nebula Award for lifetime achievement in SF and/or fantasy, presented by the SFWA.
• Granfalloon - A SF fanzine that contained book reviews and a letter column. It was published by Linda Eyster and Suzanne Tompkins.
• Graphic album – A large comic book of stories in the comic format, usually bound in hardcover. See Graphic story/novel.
• Graphic story/novel – An original, artistic and/or literary story or novel told in the comic format (term coined by Richard Kyle, editor-publisher of the fanzine Graphic Story World). See Graphic album.
• Great Bird of the Galaxy – Nickname of Star Trek fans for ST creator Gene Roddenberry.
• The Great Spider – A ghod of SF fandom, first proselytized by John Kusske of Minneapolis in the late 1960s. See Ghods.
• Grok - An action that combines thought, emotion, and ESP (which see). From Robert A. Heinlein’s novel Stranger in a Strange Land.
• Grommish - How a person feels the next morning after a terrible night. Term is attributed to Bjo Trimble.
• Grotch - To complain.
• Grotched - To be irritated.
• Group/Groupzine – A fanzine done by/for a particular fan group.
• Grundge - A groaning sound.
• GUFF - Going Under Fan Fund (see Fan funds).
• Gutter - The space between panels in a comic strip or book is known as the gutter.

H

• Hal Clement Award – Named for the grandmaster SF writer, this award is given annually for children’s SF. See Golden Duck Awards.
• Hanging fee – A nominal fee charged by a con to an artist for space in an art show. See Art show.
• Hard core stories – See Hardware stories.
• Hard Science Fiction – Term for stories that emphasize the scientific aspects of SF, usually featuring plots involving mathematics, physics, or chemistry. Origin of term attributed to James Blish.
• Hardware stories – Stories that deal with problem-solving in a high-tech environment. Also called Nuts ‘N’ Bolts or Hard-core stories.
• HC/hc – Abbreviation for a hardcover book (including a hardcover edition of a comic book), as opposed to a paperback. Also (when capitalized), abbreviation for Hydra Club, which see.
• ‘H’ Day – See Holy Herbie Day.
• HDBK/hdbk – Abbreviation for Handbook.
• Headlights – Term used for illustrations that emphasize a woman’s breasts, seen frequently on the covers of early SF pulp and comic book magazines.
• Hecter Graf – A punnish name for hekto (hectograph) , attributed to Forrest J Ackerman.
• Hecto/Hekto – Short for hectograph, an early method of reproduction, later replaced by mimeo and ditto.
• Hectographer’s hands – A malady afflicting users of hectographs and ditto machines, who find that no matter how carefully they handle the materials, smudges of purple appear on their fingers, and mysteriously spread to the backs of their hands and elsewhere.
• Heesh – Short for he or she, as the case may be.
• Heicon ’70 International – The 1970 World SF Convention, held in Heidelberg, Germany. Guests of Honor were Herbert W. Franke (Germany), Robert Silverberg (U.S.), and E. C. Tubb (U.K.). John Brunner was toastmaster. Manfred Kage was Con Chair.
• Heinlein Award – Award established by The Heinlein Society to recognize “outstanding published works in hard SF and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space.” The award will be given periodically but no more often than annually.
• Herbangelism – Fannish religion of belief in Herbie, which see.
• Herbie – A fannish deity. See Ghods.
• Herbiemas – January 11th, commemorates the birthday of the fannish ghod Herbie. Also known as the Herbangelist Universal Gift Exchange Day (because the date was chosen to take advantage of holiday sales and opportunities to exchange and/or recycle Christmas gifts).
• Hermit – Term used to describe reclusive SF fans, such as Harry Warner (the Hermit of Hagerstown).
• HHOK – Abbreviation for “Ha, ha, only kidding,” an expression frequently used in apa fanzines and other fannish publications. See HHOS.
• HHOS – Abbreviation for “Ha, ha, only serious,” an expression frequently used in apa fanzines and other fannish publications. See HHOK.
• Hieronymus Machine – John W. Campbell’s gadget for demonstrating psionic powers. Name taken from Baron Munchausen’s middle name.
• Hoax – A popular SF fan activity, especially during the 1930s-1940s. See Fan hoaxes.
• Hogu Awards – A mock award ceremony, in which token awards are given to what the donors think is the worst SF of the year. A spoof of the Hugo Awards, created by Tom Digby, and inspired by a typo occurring on a Hugo Award Ballot.
• Holy Floor Plans – Floor plans for the facilities of a proposed Worldcon, presented during the bid made for the convention.
• Holy Herbie Day – April 1st , also known as ‘H’ Day. A time to worship Herbie and feast. See Ghods.
• HOMer Award – The HOMers, annual SF awards in a variety of categories, are voted upon by the membership of an electronic bulletin board service for on-line pros and fans, CompuServe Science Fiction and Fantasy Forum.
• HOMers – See HOMer Award.
• Horror Writers Association – See Bram Stoker Award.
• Hot Fout – See Fout.
• House names – Pseudonyms used by publishers of pulp magazines or books, sometimes called “floating pseudonyms.” House names were used to conceal the fact that more than one person was writing a particular series (e. g., “Kenneth Robeson” as the author of the Doc Savage stories). House names were also used for other purposes, but in general it was to conceal the fact that a particular author had written a particular story.
• Howard Awards – The Howard Awards are in the form of a misshapen bust of genre author Howard Phillips Lovecraft, created by Gahan Wilson.
• Hoy Ping Pong Day – November 23rd, the birthday of Arthur Wilson “Bob” Tucker, famous SF fan and author. Hoy Ping Pong was one of his early fannish pseudonyms.
• HPL – Initials of famous genre author Howard Phillips Lovecraft, by which he is often identified. An extensive fandom devoted to HPL still exists.
• HSFS – Short for the Hanover Science Fiction Society.
• HTF – Dealers’ abbreviation for Hard to find.
• Huckster/Huxter – See Dealer.
• Hucksters’ Room/Huckster Room – Name given to the area at a convention where dealers sell their merchandise. See Dealer.
• Hugo Awards – Annual achievement awards presented at Worldcons in a variety of categories, including fannish activities. The award is named for SF legend Hugo Gernsbach.
• Humorzine – A fanzine featuring humor.
• HWA – Short for Horror Writers Association.
• Hyborian Legion – A fan club for fans of Robert Howard’s Conan and other fantasy heroes. The club fanzine is Amra.
• Hydra Club – An organization of professional SF writers, artists, and editors that was formed with nine charter members (hence the name) in September 1947, with no stated purpose at all other than getting together on a regular basis. A brief history of the club (by Judith Merril) and caricatures of 41 of the club members (by Harry Harrison) appear in the November 1951 issue of Marvel Science Fiction. Other prominent members were Isaac Asimov, Fredric Brown, L. Sprague de Camp, Lester del Rey, H. L. Gold, Daniel Keyes, Damon Knight, Willy Ley, Frederik Pohl, and Theodore Sturgeon.
• Hyperfanac – Short for hyper fan activity: “Running like mad to stay even.”

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.

D

• DAAPA - An APA based in the city of Dallas, Texas. See APA.
• DAGR – Abbreviation for the Dragon Alliance of Gamers and Role-Players. See Dragon*Con.
• D’Apa – An APA based in the city of Denver, Colorado. See APA.
• Dark fantasy – A sub-genre of fantasy containing Gothic or horror elements, often involving magic used for evil.
• Dasa Award – Presented by the German SF magazine, Dasa, for the best SF and fantasy novels of the year.
• Daugherty project – A fannish project so grandiose that it is unlikely to ever happen. Named for 1940s Los Angeles fan, Walter Daugherty, who was known for his complicated fannish plans that rarely came to pass.
• Davis Readers Awards – Awards in several categories given annually since 1987 by Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact Magazine (formerly Astounding SF) and Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine (both published by Davis Publications) by means of polls of the magazines’ readers. After the magazines were sold to Dell Publications in 1992, the awards were renamed the Dell Readers Awards.
• Davodd – Fan name of SF actifan David Speakman.
• DAW/daw – Short for SF personality Donald A. Wollheim. Another nickname for Wollheim during his fan years was “the W.” Wollheim also wrote under several pseudonyms over the years: Arthur Cooke, Verne Gordon, Braxton Wells, Graham Conway, and Lawrence Woods, but most frequently as David Grinnell and Martin Pearson.
• DAW Books – The SF/fantasy imprint started in 1972 by Donald A. Wollheim after he left his editorship at Ace Books.
• Dawn Patrol, The – An international organization of science fiction, aviation, and aeronautics enthusiasts founded in 1998 by Roger “Pinky” Tener. Each weekday morning Tener publishes the email newsletter The Chronicles of the Dawn Patrol.
• Day, Donald B. – SF fan who was active in local and national affairs beginning in 1946, and was Chairman of the 8th Worldcon (Norwescon) in Portland in 1950. For three years he edited The Fanscient. Day’s Perri Press, which was founded for publication of his Index to the Science Fiction Magazines, 1926-1950, but became established as a spare-time offset and letter-press printing shop of five presses, with a regular business location and a partner.
• Daydex – Term used in SF fandom to refer to Donald B. Day’s reference work, Index to the Science Fiction Magazines, 1926-1950.
• Deadwood – A member of an APA who publishes only the bare minimum to maintain membership.
• Dealer – A person who sells merchandise at conventions (usually books, magazines, art prints, sculpture, jewelry, buttons, memorabilia, and other genre-related items). Also known as a Huckster or Huxter.
• Dealers’ Room – Name given to the area at a convention where dealers sell their merchandise.
• Dealers’ Row – Assigned rooms on a floor of a hotel at a con where dealers can sell their wares. These rooms are set up with the approval of the con and the hotel when all the space in the official dealers’ room has been taken.
• Defect – An obvious flaw in any collectible. A defect can significantly lower the value of a collectible.
• Degafiate – To resume fanac after gafiation.
• Delap’s F&SF Review – Edited by Richard Delap (and sub-titled “A Review Journal of Fantasy and Science Fiction”), Delap’s F&SF Review was a fanzine that later developed into a magazine, and was published from April 1975 to March-April 1978. It was dedicated to compact but thorough reviews of all SF/fantasy published.
• Dell Dimers – See Dimers.
• Dell Readers Awards – See Davis Readers Awards.
• Dentention – The 1959 Worldcon, held in Detroit, Michigan. Poul Anderson was GoH; John Berry was fan GoH; Isaac Asimov and Robert Bloch were toastmasters; Roger Sims and Fred Prophet were Con Chairs.
• Denvention – The third Worldcon, held in Denver, Colorado in 1941. Robert A. Heinlein was GoH; Olin F. Wiggins was Con Chair.
• Denvention Two – The 1981 Worldcon, held in Denver, Colorado. Clifford D. Simak and C. L. Moore were Guests of Honor; Rusty Hevelin was fan GoH; Ed Bryant was toastmaster; Suzanne Carnival and Don C. Thompson were Con Chairs.
• Detention –  The 1959 Worldcon, held in Detroit, MI. Poul Anderson was GoH; Isaac Asimov and Robert Bloch were toastmasters.
• Dianetics – The “science of mental health” created by pulp writer L. Ron Hubbard. This first SF psychotherapy was introduced in an article that appeared in the May 1950 issue of Astounding. Dianetics was the foundation for Hubbard’s Scientology, the first SF religion.
• Dickheads – Fans of the work of author Philip K. Dick.
• Dickian – Adjective form of the name of author Philip K. Dick.
• Digest – A magazine of approximately 5.5 by 7.5 inches. Astounding Science Fiction was changed from pulp size to digest size with the November, 1943, issue. Some SF digests were “pulps,” while others were “slicks” (or some combination of the two).
• Dikini – Nickname for SF fan Dick Eney.
• Dimers – Name given by collectors to the rare Dell “ten-cents books,” launched in 1951 by Dell Publishing Company. A total of 36 titles of these thin (only 64 pages), staple bound volumes appeared. Of interest to SF fans/collectors is the last book in the series, Robert Heinlein’s Universe, with Robert Stanley cover art (his first published SF art).
• Dinah – Nickname for the British fanzine Dawn Shadows, published by SF fan James Rathbone in the early 1940s.
• Dinosaurs of Science Fiction – Title by which members of First Fandom refer to themselves. The official publication of the organization is Scientifiction: The First Fandom Report, currently edited by Joseph P. Martino. Jon D. Swartz is Special Features Editor.
• Dirty Old Pro – Affectionate nickname given by fans to some professionals.
• DisCon – The 1963 Worldcon, held in Washington, D. C. Murray Leinster was GoH; Isaac Asimov was toastmaster; George Scithers was Con Chair.
• DisCon II – The 1974 Worldcon, held in Washington, D. C. Roger Zelazny was GoH; Jay Kay Klein was fan GoH; Andrew J. Offut was toastmaster; Jay and Alice Haldeman were Con Chairs.
• Disty – An issue or mailing of an amateur press association (APA); short for distribution. Used frequently in e-zines.
• Ditmar Award – The Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy Achievement Award, known as the Ditmar, is given in several categories each year at the Australian National SF Convention.
• Ditto – Short for dittograph, a spirit duplicating process using a spirit master and a fluid. Also, a convention for editors/publishers of fanzines that began in Toronto in 1988 as a one-shot convention. It became a repeating event held in the fall of each year in various cities. Ditto 16 was held in Eugene, Oregon in 2003.
• Dittozine – Fanzine produced by ditto, which see.
• The Diversifier – Popular SF fanzine of the 1970s, published from 1974 to 1979 for 20+ issues.
• Dixie Fan – A fan from the South.
• DJ/dj – Short for dust jacket, which see.
• D’J – Short for the fanzine D’Journal, which see.
• D’Journal - Early SF fanzine of Wilson (Bob) Tucker, first published in the Spring of 1935.
• DNP – Abbreviation for Do Not Print. See DNQ.
• DNQ – Abbreviation for Do Not Quote, a postscript sometimes added to a LOC (which see), indicating that the author of the letter does not wish to be quoted. See DNP.
• Doctored – Dealer’s term for a repaired or rebuilt book, usually used in a negative fashion (as in “an undoctored copy” of this rare book).
• Doctor Who Bulletin – A media fanzine published in the 1980s-1990s. Originally devoted to the Doctor Who series, it eventually widened its scope to cover other SF films and TV.
• Doë – Pronounced Dough-ee. See Perri, Leslie.
• Doorknob – A person with about as much personality as one.
• Dork – Short for a doorknob, which see.
• DoS – Abbreviation for the SF fanzine Don-o-Saur, published in the 1970s by Don C. Thompson.
• DOT – Short for Derelicts of Toronto.
• Double Bill – Popular SF fanzine published by two fans named Bill: Bill Bowers and Bill Malardi. Volume 1, Number 1 was dated October 1962.
• The Double: Bill Symposium – A 110 page one-shot fanzine, edited by Bill Bowers and Bill Malardi (D&B Press, Akron, Ohio), and published in 1969. It consists of 94 replies to a questionnaire for pro SF writers/editors. The questionnaire was created by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.
• Double-fans/double fans – Fans active in two fandoms, such as Comic Fandom and SF Fandom. See Multi-fans.
• Douglas Adams Award – Annual award given for innovative comedy writing on BBC Radio, first presented in 2001. The award is named for the British writer Douglas Adams (1952-2001) who wrote the popular radio series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (originally broadcast in 1978) that resulted in a novelization of the satirically humorous work by the same title in 1979.
• DM – Short for Dungeonmaster, which see.
• Dragon*Con – Annual convention that originated in 1987 as an outgrowth of a SF and gaming group, the Dragon Alliance of Gamers and Role-Players (DAGR). The International Horror Guild Annual Awards are presented at the Dragon*Cons.
• Drobe – An uncomplimentary term for an attendee of a SF con, often in costume, who wanders around the venue without interacting with other fans or otherwise participating in con activities.
• D.S.C.R. – Abbreviation for the Doc Savage Club Reader, a fanzine published in the late 1970s-early 1980s.
• DSFL – Short for Detroit Science-Fantasy League.
• DUFF – The Down Under Fan Fund, a cultural exchange program, in alternate years sends an Australian SF fan to North America and a North American fan to Australia.
• Dum-Dums – Annual conventions of The Burroughs Bibliophiles. The term is borrowed from the Tarzan books, where it was used to describe the trial revelries of the great apes as they danced by the light of the moon.
• Dungeons and Dragons – First of the standardized role-playing games, devised by Gary Gygax in 1974. The game involves creating a character and taking that character through a series of adventures with other characters developed by other players. Much of the action takes place in the minds of the players, led by a Dungeonmaster (which see).
• Dungeonmaster – The leader of a game of Dungeons and Dragons, also called the DM. The DM is in charge of a Dungeons and Dragons adventure, and can create whatever is needed to keep things going.
• Duper/Dupper – A duplicating machine, such as a mimeograph or hektograph.
• Dust jacket – A paper cover that protects a book, usually with cover art in addition to the title of the book and the author’s name.
• DW/dw – Short for Dust Wrapper. See Dust jacket.
• DW³ – Collectively the three Futurians Don Wollheim, Dirk Wylie, and Dick Wilson.
• DWB – Abbreviation for the Doctor Who Bulletin, which see.
• Dystopia – A negative utopia.

E

• Eastern Massachusetts Fantasy Society – See The Nameless Ones.
• Edgar Awards – The Edgars (Edgar Allen Poe Awards), also known as the American Mystery Writers Awards, are given annually by the Mystery Writers Association of America (MWA). SF authors have won several of these awards.
• Edgar Allen Poe Award – See Edgar Awards.
• Edward E. “Doc” Smith Award – Given by NESFA at the annual Boskone convention, this award (also known as The Skylark Award and the Lensman Award), honors Smith’s Lensman series of stories. The award consists of a trophy with a large lens.
• E. Everett Evans Award – Award founded by SF personality Forrest J. Ackerman to honor outstanding service to the SF field. It is named for SF writer Evans (1893-1958) and given to individuals not previously recognized for such contributions. Also known as the Big Heart Award.
• 11th Worldcon – The 1953 World SF Convention, held in Philadelphia, PA. Willy Ley was GoH; Isaac Asimov was toastmaster; Milton Rothman was Con Chair.
• Empire for the SF Writer – Founded in 1974 “to assist, inform, and entertain the science fiction writer,” Empire SF specialized in material for aspiring writers. It was published by Kevin O’Donnell, Jr., and edited first by Mark J. McGarry and then by Mary Kittredge.
• The Enchanted Duplicator – Famous SF fan epic written by Walt Willis and Bob Shaw in 1954 that follows the adventures of Jophan as he travels from the land of Mundane to the land of Trufandom in search of the Magic Mimeograph with which to publish the perfect fanzine. Along the way he overcomes the Circle of Lassitude and other pitfalls. See Circle of Lassitude.
• Endeavour Award - Presented at the annual OryCon to honor a science fiction or fantasy novel or a single-author collection created by a Pacific Northwest writer. The award is named for the ship of the Northwest explorer Captain James Cook. The first winner was Greg Bear’s Dinosaur in 1999.
• Eney’s Fault – An earth fracture underlying Arlington, Virginia.
• Eofan – Early term used to denote SF fans who were active during the 1930-1933 period, and whose activities may extend into the present.
• Eofandom – See Eofan.
• EGLMSFCMS – Abbreviation for the Elves’, Gnomes’ and Little Men’s Science Fiction, Chowder and Marching Society. See Invisible Little Man Award.
• Egoboo/ego-boo – Praise for fannish accomplishment, short for ego boost/ego boosting.
• Egobuck – An award given by the LASFS for services to the club. See LASFS.
• Egoscan/egoscan/ego-scan – Quickly reading a fanzine to see if one’s own name is mentioned. See Egoscanning.
• Egoscanning – In apas, the process of looking through the mailing of comments to oneself before settling down to read the rest of the comments.
• Eisner Awards – See Will Eisner Awards.
• Eld – Short for Elders.
• Elder Gods – Background deities in stories by H. P. Lovecraft and Richard S. Shaver.
• Energumen – Hugo award-winning SF fanzine (1972), edited by Michael and Susan Glicksohn).
• Engram – A mental block causing confusion in the individual having it (from Dianetics, which see).
• Ephless El – SF fan Elmer Perdue, who lacked the F key on his typer.
• Epic – In fannish circles, an epic is any classic and/or well-received work or series of works (e. g., Tucker’s The Neo-Fan’s Guide to Science Fiction Fandom).
• E-Publishing/e-publishing – Short for Electronic publishing.
• ERB – Initials of genre author Edgar Rice Burroughs, by which he is often identified.
• Erbania – British fanzine devoted to the life and works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, beginning with the first issue dated April 1956. It was published by D. P. Ogden of Blackpool, England.
• ERB-dom – Hugo-award winning fanzine (1965/Amateur Magazine), devoted to the life and works of ERB and related topics, and edited by Camille “Caz” Cazadessus. The only Burroughs fanzine ever to win the Hugo award, at one time it assimilated the venerable Fantasy Collector.
• ERG Quarterly – SF fanzine published for 30+ years by British fan Terry Jeeves.
• ESFA – Abbreviation for the Eastern Science Fiction Association.
• ESFS – Abbreviation for the Eugene Science Fiction Society.
• ESP – Abbreviation for Extra-sensory perception, one of the so-called psi powers, which see.
• Essef – An early fannish spelling of science fiction (i. e., SF).
• E.T. – An Extra-Terrestrial, or alien.
• Eternity Science Fiction – Beginning as a fanzine with the first issue (first series) dated July 1972, Eternity SF became a semi-prozine with the first issue of its second series, dated November 1979. It was published for a total of six issues, all edited by its publisher Stephen Gregg, and sought to emphasize SF poetry and graphic art.
• European Science Fiction Society – An international organization of SF professionals and fans founded in 1972 at the first Eurocon in Trieste, Italy. Eurocons are held “at least every two years,” at which time awards in a variety of categories are presented.
• Evans-Freehafer Award – Sponsored by Walter J. Daugherty and presented each October by LASFS for unselfish service to the club in the year preceding. The first recipient was Al Lewis in 1959.
• Event – A meeting of the Society for Creative Anachronism, which see.
• Excerpting – Taking pages of a story (or artwork) from a magazine and binding them separately.
• Ex-fan – One who walks out of fandom, either quietly (in which case s/he is seldom missed) or loudly (denouncing those who remain behind, and sometimes blaming them for all his/her troubles).
• Ex. Lib. – Short for ex libris, the term refers to a former library copy of a book. Usually such books are seen by collectors as reading or filler copies.
• Ex libris – See Ex. Lib.
• Exonumia – Dealer’s term for coin-like collectibles such as medals, tokens, badges, ribbons, etc. Premiums from SF radio and TV programs often are included in the stock of such dealers.
• Exonumist – A collector or dealer in exonumia, which see.
• Eyetracks – Marks left on the printed page by careless reading habits.
• E-zine/e-zine – Short for electronic fanzine, i. e., a fanzine distributed via e-mail or by the World Wide Web.

Below is a sampling of the categories and winners. A complete list of finalists and winners is available at: http://www.gamespot.com/special_features/bestof2006/index.html

In addition to the editorial awards, GameSpot’s audience can cast their votes in more than 40 award categories. The GameSpot Readers’ Choice winners will be revealed on January 26, 2007.

Game of the Year: Gears of War (X360)

Best Action Adventure Game: Dead Rising (X360)

Best Fighting Game: Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (X360)

Best Game No One Played: GTR 2 (PC)

Best Game Boy Advance Game: Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation

Best GameCube Game: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Best Graphics, Artistic: Okami (PS2)

Best Graphics, Technical: Gears of War (X360)

Best Licensed Music: Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure (XBOX, PC, PS2)

Best Multiplayer Game: Gears of War (X360)

Best New Character(s): Delta Squad from Gears of War (X360)

Best New Gaming Hardware: Nintendo Wii

Best Nintendo DS Game: Elite Beat Agents

Best Original Game Mechanic: Free-Motion Controls in Madden NFL 07 (Wii)

Best Original Music: Bully (PS2)

Best PC Game: Company of Heroes

Best Platformer: Daxter (PSP)

Best PlayStation 2 Game: Final Fantasy XII

Best PlayStation 3 Game: Resistance: Fall of Man

Best PSP Game: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Best Puzzle Game: Exit (PSP)

Best Rhythm/Music Game: Elite Beat Agents (DS)

Best Role-Playing Game: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, X360)

Best Shooter: Gears of War (X360)

Best Strategy Game: Company of Heroes (PC)

Best Traditional Sports Game: Madden NFL ’07 (Wii)

Best Use of Xbox 360 Achievement Points: Dead Rising

Best Nintendo Wii Game: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Best Xbox 360 Game: Gears of War

Best Xbox Game: NCAA Football ’07

Biggest News : The Saga of the PlayStation 3 Launch

Most Improved Sequel: Tomb Raider: Legend (X360, Xbox, PS2, GC)

Most Surprisingly Good Game: Saints Row (X360)

A new web site launched that may be of interest to role-playing fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover series of books.

Called The Red Sun, the fan-crafted site launched over the weekend. The RPG uses a blend of in-character message board posts and fan fiction to build the player-generated storylines.

The game is open to the public to create user accounts and join in on the fun. Since it is still in its rough starting stages, The Red Sun may be more malleable in its plot direction (a boon to creative new players) than more established BBS-based RPGs.

The Red Sun describes itself as a “game is set in the Recontact era – Terra discovers Darkover for the first time … again. Shattered Chain, The Winds of Darkover, Spell Sword and Forbidden Tower are books set in this time. Terrans think Darkovans are a primitive, violent people while Darkovans feel pretty much the same things about Terranans.”

In the same introductory message, the main site administrator (with the board nickname of Zandru) warns MZB purists that the “game does not always follow MZB canon. Rather, just like MZB herself did in her work, I’ll make minor changes to allow for the best stories and game balance.”