Difference between revisions of "John Berry"
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John E. Berry (AKA '''Goon Bleary''') discovered [[fandom]] while serving as an English policeman (a sergeant specializing in fingerprinting) in Belfast. He had come across [[Walt Willis]]'s name and the title of Willis's [[fanzine]] while scrounging [[sf]] books and contacted Willis to make an appointment to meet him at [[Oblique House]]. [[Willis]] invited him to attend meetings of [[Irish Fandom]] (The [[Wheels of IF]]) and Berry became active, along with Willis, [[Bob Shaw]], and [[James White]]. (His English and police background made for some little awkwardness in the [[Belfast]] of the Troubles, but by and large [[IF]] transcended that.) He was known for playing [[ghoodminton]] with an exceedingly physical and violent style. | John E. Berry (AKA '''Goon Bleary''') discovered [[fandom]] while serving as an English policeman (a sergeant specializing in fingerprinting) in Belfast. He had come across [[Walt Willis]]'s name and the title of Willis's [[fanzine]] while scrounging [[sf]] books and contacted Willis to make an appointment to meet him at [[Oblique House]]. [[Willis]] invited him to attend meetings of [[Irish Fandom]] (The [[Wheels of IF]]) and Berry became active, along with Willis, [[Bob Shaw]], and [[James White]]. (His English and police background made for some little awkwardness in the [[Belfast]] of the Troubles, but by and large [[IF]] transcended that.) He was known for playing [[ghoodminton]] with an exceedingly physical and violent style. | ||
| − | He ran for [[TAFF]] in 1958, losing to [[Ron Bennett]] in a four-way race, but the following year was [[Fan GoH]] at [[Detention]], the [[Detroit]] [[Worldcon]] and was supported with a special [[John Berry | + | He ran for [[TAFF]] in 1958, losing to [[Ron Bennett]] in a four-way race, but the following year was [[Fan GoH]] at [[Detention]], the [[Detroit]] [[Worldcon]] and was supported with a special [[John Berry Fan Fund]]. (His 130,000-word [[trip report]], ''[[The Goon Goes West]]'' came from that trip.) |
With [[George Locke]], he founded the [[APA]] [[IPSO]] in 1960, the same year he won the ''[[Skyrack]]'' poll for Best [[Fan Writer]]. Although extremely active through 1962, his activity began to peter out and by 1964, following the publication with [[ATom]] of ''Harlequin'', he [[gafiated]], only becoming active in [[fandom]] again in the 1980s. He was a member of [[SAPS]] from 1958-1968. | With [[George Locke]], he founded the [[APA]] [[IPSO]] in 1960, the same year he won the ''[[Skyrack]]'' poll for Best [[Fan Writer]]. Although extremely active through 1962, his activity began to peter out and by 1964, following the publication with [[ATom]] of ''Harlequin'', he [[gafiated]], only becoming active in [[fandom]] again in the 1980s. He was a member of [[SAPS]] from 1958-1968. | ||
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{{recognition}} | {{recognition}} | ||
| − | * 1959 -- '''[[Detention]]''', [[John Berry | + | * 1959 -- '''[[Detention]]''', [[John Berry Fan Fund]] |
* 1960 -- ''[[Skyrack]]'' poll for Best Fan Writer | * 1960 -- ''[[Skyrack]]'' poll for Best Fan Writer | ||
Revision as of 10:31, 25 February 2020
(August 4, 1926 -- November 25, 2011)
(See John D. Berry for the United States fan and typographer.)
John E. Berry (AKA Goon Bleary) discovered fandom while serving as an English policeman (a sergeant specializing in fingerprinting) in Belfast. He had come across Walt Willis's name and the title of Willis's fanzine while scrounging sf books and contacted Willis to make an appointment to meet him at Oblique House. Willis invited him to attend meetings of Irish Fandom (The Wheels of IF) and Berry became active, along with Willis, Bob Shaw, and James White. (His English and police background made for some little awkwardness in the Belfast of the Troubles, but by and large IF transcended that.) He was known for playing ghoodminton with an exceedingly physical and violent style.
He ran for TAFF in 1958, losing to Ron Bennett in a four-way race, but the following year was Fan GoH at Detention, the Detroit Worldcon and was supported with a special John Berry Fan Fund. (His 130,000-word trip report, The Goon Goes West came from that trip.)
With George Locke, he founded the APA IPSO in 1960, the same year he won the Skyrack poll for Best Fan Writer. Although extremely active through 1962, his activity began to peter out and by 1964, following the publication with ATom of Harlequin, he gafiated, only becoming active in fandom again in the 1980s. He was a member of SAPS from 1958-1968.
He died in November, 2011, following a lengthy battle with cancer.
- Agent Provacative [2006]
- The Bleary Eyes
- Cloche by Night [1950s]
- Complete Faan [1958]
- The Damned Patrol [mid-60s]
- Fables of Irish Fandom [1998-99] (with Ken Cheslin)
- Harlequin [1964]
- Ipso Facto [1961-62]
- The Loneliness of the Long Distance Goat Herder
- Motley [1957-62] (for IPSO)
- Oneshots
- Out of Reitsch
- Pot Pourri [1958-68] (for SAPS)
- Retribution [1956-60]
- Robbery with Violets
- This Goon for Hire [1956] (one-shot with Chuck Harris for FAPA)
- Veritas [1956=59] (with Arthur Thomson for OMPA)
- Wholly Berry
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
- 1959 -- Detention, John Berry Fan Fund
- 1960 -- Skyrack poll for Best Fan Writer
| Person | 1926—2011 |
| This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names. |
