British SF Conventions Volume 4: 1958-1965

This is chronologically the fourth volume in Rob Hansen’s history of the early UK science fiction conventions, though the fifth to be published. As in other such fanhistorical compilations, the story is told in the participants’ own words, with explanatory and bridging commentary by Rob Hansen himself. Happily this was a golden age of humorous convention reporting, with many laugh-out-loud observations. Guests of Honour during this period included Kingsley Amis, E.J. (Ted) Carnell of New Worlds, and Bruce Montgomery alias Edmund Crispin. Also on the scene, both as striving professionals and badly behaved fans, were Brian Aldiss, Harry Harrison and Michael Moorcock. Among the burning questions of the day that are fully and frankly answered in this volume are... • WHO was shut in an author’s wardrobe by two other authors? • WHICH was the only Eastercon to be named after a fan? • WHEN did a convention lose its hotel days before the event? • WHAT is the Doc Weir Award? • HOW did newcomers usurp the old guard? • WHO was seen copyediting the Bible? The cover photo from LXIcon, the 1961 Eastercon held in Gloucester, shows Jimmy Groves, Ted Forsyth and Ethel Lindsay in the convention hall. Photographer: Terry Jeeves. First published as an Ansible Editions trade paperback in aid of the TransAtlantic Fan Fund on 1 December 2025. 116,000 words. All proceeds from paperback sales go to TAFF.