SFS

The Science Fantasy Society (SFS) was another attempt to create a national fan organisation in the UK. Formed in 1948, it lasted until 1951 and attracted just over 100 members. It was a successor to the British Fantasy Society, ran in parallel with the British Fantasy Library and Operation Fantast, and was a precursor to the BSFA. Its official organ was Science Fantasy News, edited by Vin¢ Clarke, with occasional supplementary 'minor' issues.

In the aftermath of the 1948 Whitcon Ken Slater decided the time was right to create a new national fan organisation and to kickstart the idea he issued a circular dated August 1, 1948 titled The Time Has Come. This led to a meeting on September, 26 at the home of Owen Plumridge attended by Vin¢ Clarke, Jimmy Clay, Frank Fears, John Newman and Slater followed by an open meeting of London fans on October 9.

The first issue of Science Fantasy News appeared late in 1948 and listed a committee of Clarke, Clay, Fears, Newman, Plumridge and Slater plus Charles Duncombe and grouped the membership into five regions. An editorial explained:

It is intended that this magazine shall provide a common meeting ground for all lovers of science, weird, and fantastic literature. In it, all are welcome to air their views, opinions, likes and dislikes, for it is 'our' magazine. Literally that, for the editorial 'we' is used in the plural sense, and it means all of us.

Subscription rates were 5/- (five shillings) per annum.

The second issue in March 1949 included a list of 73 members and the news news that Newman was stepping down for health reasons, to be replaced by Ted Tubb. L. E. Bartle would be running the contact bureau. The 'minor' #2 reported that the Society had attracted some new members through an advertisement in Exchange and Mart.

'Minor' #3 included discussion of the relationship with the British Fantasy Library where it was felt that as the BFL had about 50 members who weren't in the SFS 'a general merger (ie. with a common subscription, etc.) is not possible at present, although this point should be left open for future discussion.'

After a gap of six months, #4 promised a return to a regular monthly schedule. Plumridge stepped down as as SFS treasurer with Ken Bulmer taking over. However, #5 was dated 'Summer' because ' outside events caused a severe cut in our leisure time'. It included the second full membership list. There was no #6 and #7 didn't appear until March 1951, bringing news of Festivention. #8 was a few months later but an editorial suggested the Society was wavering:

But the original dues paid in by members are very near the vanishing point, and we have been debating whether it is worth while keeping up the SFS when so few appear to be in need of a national organisation ... Therefore, if you think that the SFS should continue, we would be glad to hear from you and will give every consideration to your reasons. If the general opinion is that an independent organ with the aims outlined above, a review 'zine for your opinions more than an amateur story magazine, would be a satisfactory substitute for a Society, then this issue of SFN will be the last published under the aegis of the SFS. Science Fantasy News Vol. 2. No. 1. will be an independent 'zine, and that issue will be sent when published to all present SFS members and to many other fans.

It seems that the members did not 'think that the SFS should continue'. The ninth issue duly appeared as an independent publication a few months later. SFS founder Ken Slater pronounced the Society 'a glorious ... flop' and that 'British fandom flatly refuses to be organised'. Ken Bulmer's treasurer's report revealed that the SFS had made a net loss. Science Fantasy News would continue intermittently as an independent publication until 1960.

See also Science Fantasy Society membership 1948-1951 for a list of all known members.

• links to SFS publications at fiawol.org

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

Science Fantasy Society, sometimes with a prefixed English ---. It was organized just after the Whitcon by Ted Tubb, Ken Slater, Vin¢ Clarke, and a few others. It had an elaborate regional bureaucracy which amounted to nothing and a mailing system built around SF News, published by the Epicentre bhoys; the irregularity of the latter (the latter publication, clot) played hell with activity, and eventually Slater, who had been working Operation Fantast independently before the foundation of SFS, cut loose and set up on his own again. SFS ceased to exist shortly thereafter.

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Club

1948—1951

This is a club page. Please extend it by adding information about when and where the club met, when and by whom it was founded, how long it was active, notable accomplishments, well-known members, clubzines, any conventions it ran, external links to the club's website, other club pages, etc. When there's a floreat (Fl.), this indicates the time or times for which we have found evidence that the club existed. This is probably not going to represent the club's full lifetime, so please update it if you can!