British SF Conventions Volume 1: 1937-1951

The title should be self-explanatory. As in other such fanhistorical compilations, the story of these early UK conventions is told in the participants’ and observers’ own words, with explanatory and bridging commentary by Rob Hansen himself. A second volume will continue the saga to early 1957. Already published are 1957: The First UK Worldcon (volume three) and 1965: The Second UK Worldcon (volume five or six, yet to be determined), The cover photo from the London Festivention (1951) shows the editors of six of the seven SF fanzines then being published in the UK. From left to right: Mike Tealby (Wonder), Derek Pickles (Phantasmagoria), Fred Robinson (Straight Up), Walt Willis (Slant), Bob Foster (Sludge), Vince Clarke and Ken Bulmer (Science Fantasy News). First published as an Ansible Editions ebook for the Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund site on 1 June 2023. Approximately 63,000 words. ALL PROCEEDS FROM PAPERBACK SALES GO TO TAFF. From Rob Hansen’s Foreword: “Surprisingly, there were five conventions organized, announced, and held in the UK during World War Two despite travel under wartime conditions being a difficult and sometimes dangerous affair. For example, the train taking Cardiff fan Terry Overton to one of those conventions pulled out of the station during an air raid as bombs rained down on his (and my) home city. The NORCONs were only cons in the most basic of senses but 1944’s Eastercon was the most ambitious convention the UK had ever seen, as you will discover.”