Baltimore Science Fiction Society

Baltimore Science Fiction Society

The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a literary society focusing on science fiction, fantasy and related genera. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the BSFS sponsors Balticon, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention, and a young writers contest for Maryland students named "The Jack L. Chalker Young Writers Contest." It maintains a free lending library, and conducts other public outreach events promoting literacy.

The BSFS has presented the Compton Crook Award each Balticon SM (since 1983) for "... the best first novel in the genre published during the previous year ...". The list of eligible books is published in the monthly newsletter so all club members will have a chance to read and vote. The winning author is invited to Balticon SM (BSFS pays transportation and lodging) and presented with the cash award. Compton Crook, who used the nom de plume Stephen Tall, died in 1981. He was a long time Baltimore resident, a Towson University professor, and, of course, a science fiction author.

History

The Baltimore Science Fiction Society was first formed on January 5, 1963, on the back seat of a Trailways bus, by people returning from a meeting of the Washington Science Fiction Association (WSFA). It went into suspended animation as an organization after an election of officers which proved disastrous on October 12, 1968, on a (non-functioning) streetcar. Its only production of consequence was starting Balticon SM (1966) and it has in common with the present group only the name, spirit, Balticon, and continuity of the same three founding members.

There was no formal BSFS during the intervening years, but several fans managed to keep the Balticon SM tradition alive by holding Balticons SM number 3 through 8.

Present

The present Baltimore Science Fiction Society was re-started in 1974 when it was incorporated in the State of Maryland. It applied for and was granted IRS tax exempt status.

BSFS is the third Science Fiction society in the country to own their own meeting place. LASFS (Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society) and NESFA (New England Science Fiction Association) are the other two. The former theater at 3310 East Baltimore Street, in the Highlandtown section of Baltimore, is being slowly renovated as time and money allow. On December 15, 2004 after a long fight by BSFS the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled favorably on the tax exemption status of the BSFS building, [ [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/marylandstatecases/coa/2004/49a04.pdf "Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc. v. SDAT"] , 384 Md. 402, 863 A.2d 969 (2004)] reversing a ruling by the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation. The decision forced the State to revise the Maryland Property tax code for literary organizations and other non-profit organizations that serve an educational purpose.

BSFS maintains a popular SF resources website with something for everyone who likes science fiction in any of its cultural art forms.

References

External links

* [http://www.bsfs.org Baltimore Science Fiction Society Official Website]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Science fiction fandom — or SF fandom is a community of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy literature, and in contact with one another based upon that interest. SF fandom has a life of its own, but not much in the way of formal organization… …   Wikipedia

  • Science fiction libraries and museums — With the growth of science fiction studies as an academic discipline as well as a popular media genre, a number of libraries, museums, archives, and special collections have been established to collect and organize works of scholarly and… …   Wikipedia

  • 40th World Science Fiction Convention — The 40th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Chicon IV, was held September 2–6, 1982 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The chairmen were Ross Pavlac and Larry Propp; Larry Smith and Bob Hillis were… …   Wikipedia

  • 41st World Science Fiction Convention — The 41st World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as ConStellation, was held 1–5 September 1983 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The chairman was Michael J. Walsh.The guests of honor were John Brunner …   Wikipedia

  • Highlandtown, Baltimore — Highlandtown is a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, United States.The area currently known as Highlandtown was established in 1866 when the area known as Snake Hill was established as a village outside of the Baltimore city limits. The first… …   Wikipedia

  • Baltimore, Maryland — Infobox Settlement official name = City of Baltimore settlement type = City nickname = Charm City , [Popik, Barry. [http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new york city/entry/summary9/ Charm City (summary)] . The Big Apple. Nicknames of Other Places …   Wikipedia

  • Baltimore — This article is about the city in Maryland. For the surrounding county, see Baltimore County, Maryland. For other uses, see Baltimore (disambiguation). City of Baltimore   Independent city   …   Wikipedia

  • Portal:Speculative fiction — Shortcut: P:SF …   Wikipedia

  • Flat Earth Society — For the Belgian band, see Flat Earth Society (band). A Flat Earth model depicting Antarctica as an ice wall surrounding a disk shaped Earth. The Flat Earth Society (also known as the International Flat Earth Society or the International Flat… …   Wikipedia

  • Fortean Society — The Fortean Society was started in the United States in 1931 during a meeting held in the New York flat of Charles Hoy Fort in order to promote the ideas of American writer Charles Fort. The Fortean Society was primarily based in New York City.… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”