First Fandom is an informal association of early, active and well-known science fiction fans.
In 1958, a number of fans at Midwestcon realized amid table-talk that they all had been active in fandom for more than 20 years. This inspired the creation of an organization for longstanding fans under the initial chairmanship of Robert A. Madle, who "in 1958 suggested the idea of forming an organization called First Fandom". Originally, only those fans who were known to have been active in fandom before the cutoff date, January 1, 1938, were eligible. Such fannish activity (or "fanac") including writing to letter columns in science fiction magazines, having been published in fanzines, or having participated in science fiction oriented clubs, or just generally doing fannish things.Madle, Robert A. "Bob Madle's American Letter", Nebula 40 (May 1959)
The term itself is an oblique reference to Olaf Stapledon's classic science fiction epic Last and First Men. In this book the stages of mankind are enumerated. Thus early 1950s historian of fandom Jack Speer began to label successive generations of fans as First Fandom, Second Fandom, Third Fandom, and so forth... all the way to Seventh Fandom and beyond.
Those applying to membership of the organization must prove they have had 30 years of continuous activity in science fiction fandom. If a person is not selected for membership, they may still become a Sustaining Patron. Patrons are not able to participate in the awards process.
First Fandom annually presents its First Fandom Hall of Fame Award, posthumous award, and Sam Moskowitz Archive Award for excellence in science fiction collecting, at the beginning of the Hugo Awards Ceremony at Worldcon (World Science Fiction Convention).
There is an analogous informal society in Finnish fandom called the Dinosaur Club; the cutoff being the first major Finnish con Kingcon.
Awards First Fandom recognizes people for their work within the science-fiction community.
First Fandom Hall of Fame Award
This award "is presented annually for contributions to the field of science fiction dating back more than 30 years. Contributions can be as a fan, writer, editor, artist, agent, or any combination of the five." It is usually presented at the Hugo Awards.
Posthumous Hall of Fame Award This award "is presented for contributions to the field of science fiction dating back more than 30 years. The Posthumous Hall of Fame award was established as a separate and equal award with unique criteria in 1994 at Rivercon XIX" and is also usually presented at the Hugos.
1990s 1994 Gerry de la Ree
1995 Cyril Kornbluth Mort Weisinger
1996 Henry Kuttner
1997 Mark Reinsberg
1998 Oswald V. Train Tom L. Sherred
1999 Lynn Hickman
2000s 2000 Theodore R. Cogswell Mark Schulzinger
2001 Gordon R. Dickson
2002 Martha Beck
2003 Philip Francis Nowlan
2004 Edgar Rice Burroughs
2007 Don H. Dailey
2008 Isaac Asimov
2009 Walter J. Daugherty
2010s 2010 Ray Cummings
2011 Oliver Saari
2012 James "Rusty" Hevelin
2013 Ted Dikty Raymond A. Palmer
2014 John 'Ted' Carnell Walter H. Gillings
2016 Olon F. Wiggin Lew Martin Roy V. Hunt
2017 Jim Harmon
2018 June Moffatt Len Moffatt
2019 Bob Shaw James White Walt Willis
2020s 2020 Chad Oliver
2021 Richard and Pat Lupoff
2022 August Derleth
2023 Ken Kelly Conrad H. Ruppert
2024 Alfred Bester Michael David Glicksohn Mike Resnick Peter Weston
2025 Damon Knight Kate Wilhelm
2026 Fredric Brown Myrtle R. Douglas
Sam Moskowitz Award Winners This award, named after the American writer, critic, and historian of science fiction Sam Moskowitz, is "for excellence in science fiction collecting". Most years, the award is presented at the World Science Fiction Convention.
1990s 1998 Christine Moskowitz
1999 Forrest J Ackerman
2000s 2000 Ray Beam
2001 Robert Weinberg
2002 Robert A. Madle
2003 Rusty Hevelin
2004 No award given
2005 No award given
2006 No award given
2007 No award given
2008 Robert C. Peterson Frank M. Robinson
2009 Joseph Wrzos
2010s
2010 No award given
2011 No award given
2012 Donn Albright
2013 Howard Frank
2014 Mike Ashley
2015 David Aronovitz
2016 Stephen D. Korshak Ned Brooks
2017 Jon D. Swartz
2018 Hal W. Hall
2019 Dr. Bradford Lyau
2020s 2020 John C. Tibbetts
2021 Kevin L. Cook
2022 Doug Ellis Deb Fulton
2023 John L. Coker III
2024 Joe Siclari Edie Stern
2025 Rob Hansen
2026 Andrew Porter David Ritter
References
Where not specifically cited Posthumous Hall of Fame Award winners via First Fandom Foundation Where not specifically cited Sam Moskowitz Archive Award via First Fandom Foundation
External links
First Fandom website