Difference between revisions of "Erle Korshak"
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| − | (1923 | + | (1923 –) |
| − | Erle Melvin Korshak (who often went by '''Mel Korshak''' in his younger days) discovered [[sf]] in 1934 with the August ''[[Astounding]]'' and became a "rabid" collector in 1937. By 1939 he was a well-known [[fan]] and one of the leaders of the [[Moonstruck Press]] [[publishing house]]. | + | '''Erle Melvin Korshak''' (who often went by '''Mel Korshak''' in his younger days) discovered [[sf]] in 1934 with the August ''[[Astounding]]'' and became a "rabid" [[collector]] in 1937. By 1939, he was a well-known [[fan]] and one of the leaders of the [[Moonstruck Press]] [[publishing house]]. |
| − | He was one of the organizers, with [[Mark Reinsberg]] and [[Bob Tucker]], of [[Chicon I]], the second [[World Science Fiction Convention]], held at the [[Hotel Chicagoan]], September 1-2, 1940. He was secretary of the [[concomm]] and presided over the first day of the con as "temporary chairman", when Reinsberg, the chairman, fell ill. The earliest lists of [[Worldcons]] (though not [[Chicon]]'s own!) named him as the [[chairman]], though Reinsberg was restored to that position in the list published by [[Discon II]] in 1974. | + | He was one of the organizers, with [[Mark Reinsberg]] and [[Bob Tucker]], of [[Chicon I]], the second [[World Science Fiction Convention]], held at the [[Hotel Chicagoan]], September 1-2, 1940. He was secretary of the [[concomm]] and presided over the first day of the [[con]] as "temporary [[chairman]]", when Reinsberg, the chairman, fell ill. The earliest lists of [[Worldcons]] (though not [[Chicon]]'s own!) named him as the [[chairman]], though Reinsberg was restored to that position in the list published by [[Discon II]] in 1974. |
| − | After [[World War II]], Korshak established a used book business, which led in 1947 to [[Shasta Publishers]], one of the first hardback [[SF]] speciality presses. The company's first major book was ''[[The Checklist of Fantastic Literature]]'' by [[Everett F. Bleiler]] (1948), a pioneering work of SF bibliography. This was followed by major works by [[Robert A. Heinlein|Heinlein]], [[Alfred Bester|Bester]], [[Fredric Brown]] and others. Unhappily, overambitious expansion and an ill-fated effort to diversify into mainstream publishing brought the venture to an end in 1957. The verdict of [[Jack Chalker]] and [[Mark Owings]] in ''[[The Science Fantasy Publishers]]'' was that Shasta and Korshak "had more lasting impact than many major specialty presses of today ever will or could". | + | After [[World War II]], Korshak established a used-book business, which led in 1947 to [[Shasta Publishers]], one of the first hardback [[SF]] speciality presses. The company's first major book was ''[[The Checklist of Fantastic Literature]]'' by [[Everett F. Bleiler]] (1948), a pioneering work of [[SF]] [[bibliography]]. This was followed by major works by [[Robert A. Heinlein|Heinlein]], [[Alfred Bester|Bester]], [[Fredric Brown]] and others. Unhappily, overambitious expansion and an ill-fated effort to diversify into mainstream publishing brought the venture to an end in 1957. The verdict of [[Jack Chalker]] and [[Mark Owings]] in ''[[The Science Fantasy Publishers]]'' was that Shasta and Korshak "had more lasting impact than many major specialty presses of today ever will or could". |
| − | Korshak did not have much contact with [[fandom]] for the next 30 years. After graduating from law school, he became successful as a lawyer and businessman in California and Nevada. Starting in the late 1980's, he began attending conventions again. With his son, [[Stephen D. Korshak]], he revived the [[Shasta]] imprint (as " | + | Korshak did not have much contact with [[fandom]] for the next 30 years. After graduating from law school, he became successful as a lawyer and businessman in California and Nevada. Starting in the late 1980's, he began attending conventions again. With his son, [[Stephen D. Korshak]], he revived the [[Shasta]] imprint (as "Shasta-Phoenix") in 2009 to publish collections of classic [[SF]] [[art]]. |
He published ''[[Putting My Two Cents In]]'' to explain why [[Denver]] won the [[1941 Worldcon]]. | He published ''[[Putting My Two Cents In]]'' to explain why [[Denver]] won the [[1941 Worldcon]]. | ||
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| − | He was the subject of an Original Member Spotlight feature by [[John L. Coker | + | He was the subject of an Original Member Spotlight feature by [[John L. Coker III]] and [[Jon D. Swartz]] in the New Series #48, 2nd Quarter 2016 issue of ''[[Scientifiction: The First Fandom Report]]''. |
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| + | For an early short biography, see {{WhosWho1940|page=9}}. Korshak was attending cons as recently as 2019. | ||
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| + | {{recognition}} | ||
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| + | 1996 — [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]] | ||
| + | 2001 — [[Barry R. Levin Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature Lifetime Collectors Award]] | ||
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{{person | born=1923}} | {{person | born=1923}} | ||
Revision as of 03:33, 24 December 2020
(1923 –)
Erle Melvin Korshak (who often went by Mel Korshak in his younger days) discovered sf in 1934 with the August Astounding and became a "rabid" collector in 1937. By 1939, he was a well-known fan and one of the leaders of the Moonstruck Press publishing house.
He was one of the organizers, with Mark Reinsberg and Bob Tucker, of Chicon I, the second World Science Fiction Convention, held at the Hotel Chicagoan, September 1-2, 1940. He was secretary of the concomm and presided over the first day of the con as "temporary chairman", when Reinsberg, the chairman, fell ill. The earliest lists of Worldcons (though not Chicon's own!) named him as the chairman, though Reinsberg was restored to that position in the list published by Discon II in 1974.
After World War II, Korshak established a used-book business, which led in 1947 to Shasta Publishers, one of the first hardback SF speciality presses. The company's first major book was The Checklist of Fantastic Literature by Everett F. Bleiler (1948), a pioneering work of SF bibliography. This was followed by major works by Heinlein, Bester, Fredric Brown and others. Unhappily, overambitious expansion and an ill-fated effort to diversify into mainstream publishing brought the venture to an end in 1957. The verdict of Jack Chalker and Mark Owings in The Science Fantasy Publishers was that Shasta and Korshak "had more lasting impact than many major specialty presses of today ever will or could".
Korshak did not have much contact with fandom for the next 30 years. After graduating from law school, he became successful as a lawyer and businessman in California and Nevada. Starting in the late 1980's, he began attending conventions again. With his son, Stephen D. Korshak, he revived the Shasta imprint (as "Shasta-Phoenix") in 2009 to publish collections of classic SF art.
He published Putting My Two Cents In to explain why Denver won the 1941 Worldcon.
He was the subject of an Original Member Spotlight feature by John L. Coker III and Jon D. Swartz in the New Series #48, 2nd Quarter 2016 issue of Scientifiction: The First Fandom Report.
For an early short biography, see Who's Who in Fandom 1940, page 9. Korshak was attending cons as recently as 2019.
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
1996 — First Fandom Hall of Fame 2001 — Barry R. Levin Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature Lifetime Collectors Award
| Person | 1923— |
| 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. |
