ISBN 978-1-916508-13-2 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-916508-12-5 (ebook)
Ansible Editions, October 2023
Cover photo: Ethel Lindsay, Frances Evans and Frances Glynn at the Supermancon (Eastercon 1954). Photographer: Eric Bentcliffe.
The trade paperback Generation Femizine is published simultaneously with the ebook in October 2023. 148 paperback pages; over 67,000 words. All proceeds from sales go to the TransAtlantic Fan Fund.
In this compilation, Rob Hansen surveys the early presence of women in UK science fiction fandom, identifies our first known female fan, and shows the lead-up to the fanzine Femizine (1954-1960) – the first true rallying point for female British fans. Each major contributor is represented by a mini-biography and a photograph, followed by a selection of her writings in Femizine and/or contemporary fan publications. Rob Hansen supplies necessary context and commentary, tells how it all ended, and adds appendices dealing with the male response (reviews in professional sf magazines), the Great Hoax, the full bibliographical details, and an international listing of “Female Fannish Firsts”.
Order the print edition Free ebook download About the authorFemizine (not to be confused with the later similarly-titled US zine Femzine) was launched at SUPERMANCON, the 1954 Eastercon, held that year in Manchester. The idea of an all-female fanzine had been bubbling up for a while and several letters had passed between Frances Evans, Joan Carr, and Ethel Lindsay shortly before the convention in which they decided it was time. Carr volunteered to edit the zine and a flyer was produced in time for the con, with the first issue appearing soon afterwards. As can be seen from the cover photo (taken at the event by Eric Bentcliffe) there was a certain amount of excitement among female fans at this finally happening.
As is now widely known, “Joan Carr” did not exist (see Appendix 1). She was created as a hoax to be played primarily on the Nor’west Science Fantasy Club (NSFC), who then met regularly in Manchester....