Difference between revisions of "Leslie J. Johnson"

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(May 18, 1914 – July 3, 1982)
 
(May 18, 1914 – July 3, 1982)
  
'''Leslie Joseph 'Les' Johnson''' was a [[UK]] [[fan]] and bookseller from [[Liverpool]] active from the 1930s through to at least the 1970s. He was a founder of the [[British Interplanetary Society]] (BIS) and  attended the [[1937 Leeds Convention]]
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'''Leslie Joseph 'Les' Johnson''' was a [[UK]] [[fan]] and bookseller from [[Liverpool]] active from the 1930s through to at least the 1970s. He was a founder of the [[British Interplanetary Society]] (BIS) and  attended the [[1937 Leeds Convention]], and was a member of the [[Science Fiction Association]], joining in May 1937.
  
Johnson was the secretary of the the [[Universal Science Circle]], the UK's second fan group after the [[Ilford Science Literary Circle]]. The group dissolved around 1932 and in 1933 he was a founder of the BIS and became its first Hon. Secretary and later its treasurer, editor of the bulletin and the journal and a vice president. In 1934, he proposed to run a Liverpool chapter of the [[Science Fiction League]]. He attended the 1937 Leeds Convention with fellow Liverpudlian [[Eric Frank Russell]] and spoke at the [[Second British Convention]] in 1938. When a Liverpool branch of the [[Science Fiction Association]] was created in 1938 he almost inevitably became its president.
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Johnson was the secretary of the the [[Universal Science Circle]], the UK's second fan group after the [[Ilford Science Literary Circle]]. The group dissolved around 1932 and in 1933 he was a founder of the BIS and became its first Hon. Secretary and later its treasurer, editor of its bulletin and journal and a vice president. In 1934, he proposed to run a Liverpool chapter of the [[Science Fiction League]]. He attended the 1937 Leeds Convention with fellow Liverpudlian [[Eric Frank Russell]] and spoke at the [[Second British Convention]] in 1938. When a Liverpool branch of the [[Science Fiction Association]] was created in 1938 he almost inevitably became its president.
  
 
From 1937 to 1945 he was a partner with [[Ted Carnell]] in the Science Fiction Service mail-order book selling business. Their premises in Liverpool, known as 'The Office', became a focal point for local fans. Johnson would later run the Milcross Book Service with [[Frank Milnes]] and in 1951 their shop was used for the first meeting of the [[Liverpool Group]]. He occasionally attended further conventions including [[Thirdmancon]], the 1968 [[Eastercon]], and the first [[Faancon 1|Faancon]] in 1976
 
From 1937 to 1945 he was a partner with [[Ted Carnell]] in the Science Fiction Service mail-order book selling business. Their premises in Liverpool, known as 'The Office', became a focal point for local fans. Johnson would later run the Milcross Book Service with [[Frank Milnes]] and in 1951 their shop was used for the first meeting of the [[Liverpool Group]]. He occasionally attended further conventions including [[Thirdmancon]], the 1968 [[Eastercon]], and the first [[Faancon 1|Faancon]] in 1976

Revision as of 03:00, 25 August 2024

Did you mean the American Les Johnson?

(May 18, 1914 – July 3, 1982)

Leslie Joseph 'Les' Johnson was a UK fan and bookseller from Liverpool active from the 1930s through to at least the 1970s. He was a founder of the British Interplanetary Society (BIS) and attended the 1937 Leeds Convention, and was a member of the Science Fiction Association, joining in May 1937.

Johnson was the secretary of the the Universal Science Circle, the UK's second fan group after the Ilford Science Literary Circle. The group dissolved around 1932 and in 1933 he was a founder of the BIS and became its first Hon. Secretary and later its treasurer, editor of its bulletin and journal and a vice president. In 1934, he proposed to run a Liverpool chapter of the Science Fiction League. He attended the 1937 Leeds Convention with fellow Liverpudlian Eric Frank Russell and spoke at the Second British Convention in 1938. When a Liverpool branch of the Science Fiction Association was created in 1938 he almost inevitably became its president.

From 1937 to 1945 he was a partner with Ted Carnell in the Science Fiction Service mail-order book selling business. Their premises in Liverpool, known as 'The Office', became a focal point for local fans. Johnson would later run the Milcross Book Service with Frank Milnes and in 1951 their shop was used for the first meeting of the Liverpool Group. He occasionally attended further conventions including Thirdmancon, the 1968 Eastercon, and the first Faancon in 1976

He also wrote fiction, including collaborating with Russell on the SF story, 'Seeker of Tomorrow', published in Astounding in 1937. A solo story appeared in Tales of Wonder.

He was married to Hilda Johnson. His autobiography My Personal History of The British Interplanetary Society Liverpool 1933 to 1937 was published in 2020.


Person 19141982
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