Mark Nelson
(1968 -- )
Mark Nelson discovered RPG fanzines ca. 1983/1984 and gradually moved to postal diplomacy fanzines, completing the transition by 1987. Postal diplomacy has been the focus of his fanzine activity since then, though he hasn't published any diplomacy related fanzines since the early 1990s.
As an undergraduate he was a member of the Leeds University SF Society, 1986-1989, where he met Steve Glover in October 1987. This led to a flirtation with SF fanzines which intensified after he met Vinc Clarke at Iconoclasm (June 16-18, 1989). In September 1990 he returned to Leeds University as a postgraduate, living near Steve and Jenny Glover. This had the happy outcome that their house became his lending library for fanzines. (History does not record what the Glovers thought about this arrangement.) During this time he had a very short-lived apazine in Earth Calling Biscuit Barrel, but the pressure of contributing to a monthly apa zine about SF was too much. By the mid-90s, he had largly gafiated from both his postal diplomacy activities and his involvement in SF fanzines.
He moved to Australia in 2000 and through the inspiration of Jenny Glover, had a short fling with ANZAPA (2001-2002). IN 2023, he rejoined it since he was spending more time at home, as a consequence of becoming a parent.
Nelson blames a number of people for his involvement in fandom: Steve and Jenny Glover for providing so much encouragement over numerous years, Vinc Clarke for providing an introduction to UK fanzine fandom, and David Grigg for his encouragement with regard to ANZAPA. (And to Jenny Glover, whose contributions to ANZAPA in 1992-1995 brought it to Mark's attention in 2000).
Since he specializes in attending SF conventions in Leeds: four from 1988 to 1993 and as he no longer lives in Leeds, he supposes that this means he will never attend a convention again.
- Brandy Hall (for N'APA)
- Mathom (for ANZAPA)
- Tarnover City (for Earth Calling Biscuit Barrel)
- The Raven Speaks (for the RPG APA Drunk & Disorderly).
- Lots of postal diplomacy fanzines.
If pressed he will also admit to editing one issue of the Leeds University Science Fiction Society clubzine Black Hole. But he would very much like to forget about that.
| Person | 1968— |
| This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names. |
