Difference between revisions of "Elliot Shorter"

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(April 2, 1939 -- October 1, 2013)
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(April 2, 1939 – October 1, 2013)
  
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Elliot Shorter was a well-loved [[New York]] and [[Providence]] area [[fan]] and [[huckster]] who won [[TAFF]].  He was a [[Worldcon GoH]] at [[Heicon]], and tended to stand out in [[fannish]] circles as a 6'4" tall ex-marine and African-American.  (He was often confused with pro-football player Rosie Grier.) Shorter was involved in the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]] where he went by the name "Master El of the Two Knives". He was one of the founders of ''[[Locus]]'', serving as an assistant editor starting with issue 9.
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[[File:Shorter.jpeg|thumb|'''Elliot Shorter at [[Westercon 22]] in 1969.''' ]]
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'''Elliot Kay Shorter''', a well-loved [[New York]] and [[Providence]]-area [[fan]] and [[huckster]], won [[TAFF]] in 1970 and was [[Worldcon GoH]] at [[Heicon]].
  
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After [[Harlan Ellison]] collected more money than was necessary at [[St. Louiscon]] in the wake of the [[St. Louiscon Movie Screen Affair]], Shorter objected ("Just a gosh-darned minute, Harlan!") to Ellison's unilateral announcement that the extra money would be donated to [[Clarion Writers Workshop]].  Instead, the money was used to start an [[Worldcon Emergency Fund]]
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He tended to stand out in [[fannish]] circles. A 6'4" tall ex-[[Army]] MP, he was often mistaken for pro-football player Rosie Grier.
  
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At [[Heicon]], the formidable Shorter (though no one ever saw him actually be violent) noticed that the Heicon committee had neglected to arrange for seats at the [[Hugo Banquet]] for fellow [[GoHs]] [[Robert Silverberg]] and [[Herbert Franke]]. Silverberg and Franke were unable to get the committee's attention, whereat Shorter rose up and at full volume brought the issue to ''everyone's'' attention. They were quickly seated. According to some reports, he was the primary defender at the [[Battle of the Balcony]] at Heicon.
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Shorter was involved in the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]], which he joined in 1968 and where he went by the name "'''Master El of the Two Knives'''". He was one of the founders of ''[[Locus]]'', serving as an assistant [[editor]] starting with issue 9 and was an occasional contributor to [[Apaloosa]].
  
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He helped run [[SunCon]], as he was part of the [[7 in '77]] Worldcon bid, which initially found a site in [[Orlando]], but had to move to [[Miami]] when their original hotel went bankrupt.  He was a member of the [[Tolkien Society of America]], the [[Hyborian Legion]], [[ESFA]], the [[Lunarians]], the [[Fanoclasts]], [[NESFA]] and the [[City College of New York SF Club]] (where he worked on ''[[Engram]]'').  He was an original [[Fellow of NESFA]].
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After [[Harlan Ellison]] collected more money than was necessary at [[St. Louiscon]] in the wake of the [[St. Louiscon Movie Screen Affair]], Shorter objected ("Just a gosh-darned minute, Harlan!") to Ellison's unilateral announcement that the extra money would be donated to [[Clarion Writers Workshop]].  Instead, the money was used to start a [[Worldcon Emergency Fund]].
  
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Shorter participated in the [[fannish musicals]] ''[[Back to Rivets]]'' at [[Boskone 14]] in 1977 and again two years later in ''[[The Decomposers]]''.
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He was a member of the [[NYCon II]] [[committee]] and served as [[Sergeant-at-arms]] for the [[WSFS Business meeting]]. He helped run [[SunCon]], as he was part of the [[7 in '77]] Worldcon bid.  He was a member of the [[Tolkien Society of America]], the [[Hyborian Legion]], [[ESFA]], the [[Lunarians]], the [[Fanoclasts]], [[NESFA]] and the [[City College of New York SF Club]] (where he worked on ''[[Engram]]'').  He was an original [[Fellow of NESFA]].
  
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In 1979, Shorter opened [[Merlin's Closet]], a used and rare book store specializing in science fiction in [[Providence]], RI.
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Shorter participated in the [[fannish musical]] ''[[Back to Rivets]]'' at [[Boskone 14]] in 1977 and appeared two years later in ''[[The Decomposers]]''.
  
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He was involved in the [[Flushing in '80]] and [[Breckenridge in '85]] [[hoax bid]]s
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In 1979, Shorter opened [[Merlin's Closet]], a used and rare books store specializing in [[science fiction]] in [[Providence, RI]].
  
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Shorter ran for and won [[TAFF]] in 1970, traveling to Europe for the 1970 Worldcon. Because [[Heicon '70]] had announced that their [[Fan GoH]] would be whoever won [[TAFF]], Shorter was thus honored at the convention. Unfortunately, he never did a [[trip report]]. He was one of the world's slowest typists and didn't own a typewriter, so [[Joe Siclari]] and [[Jerry Kaufman]] set him up with a [[typewriter]] at the [[Cinemansion]].  Shorter sat in front of it and worked on his report. Click. Wait. Click. Wait. Click. Wait...when his hosts went to sleep the last thing they heard was Click. Wait. Click. Wait.  Eventually, about three pages were written and published.
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He was involved in the [[Flushing in '80]] and [[Breckenridge in '85]] [[hoax bid]]s
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Shorter ran for and won [[TAFF]] in 1970, beating [[Charlie Brown]] and [[Bill Rotsler]], and traveled to [[Germany]] for the 1970 Worldcon. [[Heicon '70]] had announced that their [[Fan GoH]] would be whoever won [[TAFF]], and Shorter was thus honored at the convention.  
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At [[Heicon]], the formidable Shorter (though no one ever saw him actually be violent) noticed that the Heicon [[committee]] had neglected to arrange for seats at the [[Hugo Banquet]] for fellow [[GoHs]] [[Robert Silverberg]] and [[Herbert Franke]]. Silverberg and Franke were unable to get the committee's attention, whereat Shorter rose up and at full volume brought the issue to ''everyone's'' attention. They were quickly seated. According to some reports, he was the primary defender at the [[Battle of the Balcony]] at Heicon.
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Unfortunately, he never did a [[trip report]]. He was one of the world's slowest typists and didn't own a [[typewriter]], so [[Joe Siclari]] and [[Jerry Kaufman]] set him up with a [[typer]] at the [[Cinemansion]].  Shorter sat in front of it and worked on his report. Click. Wait. Click. Wait. Click. Wait...when his hosts went to sleep the last thing they heard was Click. Wait. Click. Wait.  Eventually, about three pages were written and published in ''[[The Spanish Inquisition]]''.
  
 
{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}
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* 1970 -- '''[[Heicon '70]]''', [[TAFF]]
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* 1970 -- '''[[Heicon '70]]''', [[1970 TAFF Race|TAFF]]
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* 1976 -- [[Fellow of NESFA]]
 
* 1980 -- [[ConFusion 6 and/or 7]]
 
* 1980 -- [[ConFusion 6 and/or 7]]
  
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{{person | born=1939 | died=2013}}
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{{person | born=1939 | died=2013 |Locale=Providence, RI}}
 
[[Category:fan]]
 
[[Category:fan]]
 
[[Category:US]]
 
[[Category:US]]

Latest revision as of 11:43, 6 June 2023

(April 2, 1939 – October 1, 2013)

Elliot Shorter at Westercon 22 in 1969.

Elliot Kay Shorter, a well-loved New York and Providence-area fan and huckster, won TAFF in 1970 and was Worldcon GoH at Heicon.

He tended to stand out in fannish circles. A 6'4" tall ex-Army MP, he was often mistaken for pro-football player Rosie Grier.

Shorter was involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism, which he joined in 1968 and where he went by the name "Master El of the Two Knives". He was one of the founders of Locus, serving as an assistant editor starting with issue 9 and was an occasional contributor to Apaloosa.

After Harlan Ellison collected more money than was necessary at St. Louiscon in the wake of the St. Louiscon Movie Screen Affair, Shorter objected ("Just a gosh-darned minute, Harlan!") to Ellison's unilateral announcement that the extra money would be donated to Clarion Writers Workshop. Instead, the money was used to start a Worldcon Emergency Fund.

He was a member of the NYCon II committee and served as Sergeant-at-arms for the WSFS Business meeting. He helped run SunCon, as he was part of the 7 in '77 Worldcon bid. He was a member of the Tolkien Society of America, the Hyborian Legion, ESFA, the Lunarians, the Fanoclasts, NESFA and the City College of New York SF Club (where he worked on Engram). He was an original Fellow of NESFA.

Shorter participated in the fannish musical Back to Rivets at Boskone 14 in 1977 and appeared two years later in The Decomposers.

In 1979, Shorter opened Merlin's Closet, a used and rare books store specializing in science fiction in Providence, RI.

He was involved in the Flushing in '80 and Breckenridge in '85 hoax bids

Shorter ran for and won TAFF in 1970, beating Charlie Brown and Bill Rotsler, and traveled to Germany for the 1970 Worldcon. Heicon '70 had announced that their Fan GoH would be whoever won TAFF, and Shorter was thus honored at the convention.

At Heicon, the formidable Shorter (though no one ever saw him actually be violent) noticed that the Heicon committee had neglected to arrange for seats at the Hugo Banquet for fellow GoHs Robert Silverberg and Herbert Franke. Silverberg and Franke were unable to get the committee's attention, whereat Shorter rose up and at full volume brought the issue to everyone's attention. They were quickly seated. According to some reports, he was the primary defender at the Battle of the Balcony at Heicon.

Unfortunately, he never did a trip report. He was one of the world's slowest typists and didn't own a typewriter, so Joe Siclari and Jerry Kaufman set him up with a typer at the Cinemansion. Shorter sat in front of it and worked on his report. Click. Wait. Click. Wait. Click. Wait...when his hosts went to sleep the last thing they heard was Click. Wait. Click. Wait. Eventually, about three pages were written and published in The Spanish Inquisition.

Awards, Honors and GoHships:


Person 1939—2013
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