Big Three

In the early days, with fandom's focus on the prozines, the Big Three meant the top three prozines of the time. (See the discussion from Fancyclopedia 1 and 2, below.)

Later, the Big Three was more likely to refer to towering figures among authors during the Golden Age. Two were indisputable: Robert A. Heinlein and A. E. van Vogt, who almost defined the new SF of 1938–48. (The third of the Big Three was usually whoever among Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke the speaker liked best.)

In the 21st century, van Vogt’s renown has waned, and many fans would likely agree with a January 11, 2023 Washington Post article by Eric Adelson, who named Heinlein, Asimov and Clarke. However, just as many would replace one of those three with Bradbury, so maybe one should speak of the Big Four.

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

The most important stfsy pros. Amazing Stories, Astounding Stories and Wonder Stories up to the early 40s; so called because for years they were the only prozines there were except for short-lived things like Flash Gordon, Miracle Science and Fantasy Stories, and Fanciful Tales. (Not counting Weird Tales, which wasn't science fiction.) From that time to about 1944 Astounding, FFM, and Unknown; after that till 1950, Astounding, FFM/FN, and the Standard Twins; thereafter and until the present Astounding, Galaxy and the Magazine of Fantasy and Science-Fiction.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

Amazing Stories, Wonder Stories, and Astounding Stories. So called because for years, in the early 1930's they were the only prozines there were except short-lived efforts such as Flash Gordon, Miracle Science and Fantasy Stories, and Fanciful Tales (and of course Weird Tales, which isn't science-fiction).

---

Fanspeak

1930s—

This is a fanspeak page. Please extend it by adding information about when and by whom it was coined, whether it’s still in use, etc.