W. J. Passingham
(1897 – 1957)
William 'Bill' John Passingham was a UK pro and fan from London active in the 1930s. He attended the Third British Convention and was a member of the Science Fiction Association.
Passingham was a journalist who wrote several sf serials for popular weeklies that never found their way to book form. He was a near-neighbour of fellow journalist Wally Gillings and through him discovered the SFA or perhaps vice versa. Novae Terrae #28 (December 1938) reported enthusiastically:
We are honoured this month by being able to welcome as a member such a famous literary celebrity as Mr. W. J. Passingham the renowned author. Members will join this office in the confident and hopeful anticipation that Mr. Passingham will remain with us for many years to come.
He addressed the members of the Third Convention on the evening of May 21, 1939, as reported in Science-Fantasy Review #2:
W. J. Passingham followed up with the view that the average s-f yarn was little better than a fairy tale, because it was just as impossible. To put over fiction at all you must be convincing and accurate, so he insisted s-f should be this also, giving personal examples from his own experience to prove his point.
Ted Carnell added in The Satellite v2 #6 that Passingham:
... was devoid of notes, but he very quickly worked out some while other speakers were talking, and delivered some very useful advice to would-be authors.
In October 1939 Passingham approached Carnell as he'd identified a publisher for a British sf magazine. A number of meetings were held and each put up £50 to launch a magazine to be called New Worlds. However, the publishers went into liquidation in March without any magazine appearing.
Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.
| Person | 1897—1957 |
| 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. |
