Jack Speer

John Bristol Speer (b.August 9, 1920 [cite web | last = Silver | first = Steven H | authorlink = Steven H Silver | title = August | work = Calendar Index | url = http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/aug.html | accessdate = 2007-11-16] – June 28, 2008) was a science fiction fan and historian, who wrote the first history of science fiction fandom: "Up to Now" in 1939. In 1944, he followed "Up to Now" with "Fancyclopedia", a dictionary of the jargon spoken by fans. [cite web | title = Guests of Honor | work = Noreascon Four | publisher = MCFI | date = 2001-2006 | url = http://www.noreascon.org/guests/ | accessdate = 2007-11-16]

Life and career

Speer was born in Comanche, Oklahoma. He was an attorney, practicing law for over 60 years. He received his B.A. degree from George Washington University and after WWII his LLB from the University of Washington. During WWII he worked for the Lend Lease Administration as an administrative aide for the American Food Mission to French North Africa. After the war, Speer met Ruth and married her in 1951. He practiced law in North Bend, WA.http://efanzines.com/UpToNow/N4SouvenirBook_SpeerExcerpt.pdf] Memorial service leaflet ]

From 1959 to 1961, he served a term as a Democrat in the Washington state House of Representatives, representing a district in King County. In 1962, Speer moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Speer continued to practice law and served two terms as the judge of the Bernalillo County Small Claims Court. Memorial service leaflet ]

In 1961, Speer developed a Civil War board game, which was notable for the fact that it followed the actual course of the war. And, he was a registered Parliamentarian, helping to judge high school debates throughout the state of New Mexico.cite web | title = Science Fiction Loses Eminent Historian, Fan | work = Obituary | publisher = Albuquerque Journal | date = 2008-07-01 | url = http://www.abqjournal.com/abqnews/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7786&&Itemid=2 | accessdate = 2008-07-03]

On 28 June, 2008, Speer passed away in his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was interred in Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Contributions to science fiction

Speer became infatuated with Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, and others at an early age. Speer related that he became a dedicated fan in 1934. In early fandom, he sometimes went by the name of John Bristol. In the 1940s, after founding editor E.E. Evans stepped down, Speer became the editor of the National Fantasy Fan Federation's fanzine, "The National Fantasy Fan". Speer was also an accomplished photographer. "His collection of photos of fannish faces is an excellent window on early fandom."

In 1940 at Chicon 1, the second WorldCon, Speer compiled a set of science fiction songs. Such songs are now known as filk. These earliest of filk songs were reprinted under the name of John Bristol in "Xenofilkia" no. 18, as "Various Songs", and in no. 19, as "Twilight Prelude". [ http://www.filk.com/filk_history.htm ] [http://places.to/xeno/ix.auth.html] At that Con, Speer and Milt Rothman suggested a costume party or masquerade. Their suggestion was readily adopted and is still popular with today's fandom.

Science Fiction author Harry Warner, Jr. commented that Speer was "the first to stress (fandom's) subcultural aspects. Single-handedly, he made fandom's ayjays something entirely different from the mundane amateur journalism groups." [cite book | last = Speer | first = Jack | title = Fancestral Voices | publisher = NESFA Press | date = 2004 | location = Boston | isbn = 1886778566] Warner considered Speer to be "one of the pioneer historians of fandom".

In 1995, Speer was inducted into the First Fandom Hall of Fame. In 2004, Speer was one of two Worldcon Fan Guests of Honor at NoreasCon 4 in Boston, Massachusetts. Speer's "Fancyclopedia" (1944), a dictionary of science fiction fan jargon, has spawned many imitators over the years. For over 70 years, Speer published his own amateur science fiction fanzine. This publication encouraged lively debates and demanded a high standard of literacy in the field. And, "Up to Now: A History of Science Fiction Fandom" (1939) is still used as a reference thanks to its recent appearance in electronic form.

Bibliography

*"Up to Now", 1939
*"Fancyclopedia", 1944
*"Fancestral Voices", edited by Fred Lerner, NESFA Press, 2004, ISBN 1886778566
* [http://efanzines.com/UpToNow/N4SouvenirBook_SpeerExcerpt.pdf "Last and First Fen] , a play, 2004

References

External links

*" [http://fanac.org/fanzines/Quandry/Quandry29-04.html Decline of the Best] ," by Jack Speer, "Quandry" 29.
*" [http://efanzines.com/UpToNow/index.htm "Up To Now"] ," by Jack Speer. New 2008 PDF edition at eFanzines.com.