Difference between revisions of "Sandy Sanderson"
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(December 15, 1931 – May 12, 1993) | (December 15, 1931 – May 12, 1993) | ||
| − | [[File:SandersonHP1957.jpeg|frame|left|'''Sandy Sanderson at [[Loncon]], 1957 | + | [[File:SandersonHP1957.jpeg|frame|left|'''Sandy Sanderson''' at [[Loncon]], 1957. ''Photo by [[Norman Shorrock]].'']] |
| − | '''Harold Peter "Sandy" Sanderson''' was a | + | '''Harold Peter "Sandy" Sanderson''' was a 1950s [[UK]] [[fan]] and [[editor]]. He is primarily remembered for the [[hoax]] he perpetuated with his creation of the [[Joan W. Carr]] persona, and then for his role in the love triangle of [[Inchmery Fandom]]. |
| − | + | Sanderson was from [[Manchester, UK]] and joined the [[Nor'west Science Fantasy Club]] group in 1952, apparently soon helping run the [[Mancon 1|Mancon]]. He was an Army Sergeant (which explains his military-style, surname-abbreviating [[nickname]]), and after learning of the [[Tucker Death Hoax]], started thinking of something in reverse. In 1953–6 was deployed to Egypt, whence he did fanac by mail (and occasional furloughs), providing him with an ideal opportunity to create a fictive [[femmefan]] in his unit's women's auxiliary. | |
| − | Sanderson | + | After he returned to a desk job in the War Office, Sanderson became a lodger in the home of [[Joy Clarke|Joy]] and [[Vince Clarke]], with whom he had become close during the hoax. Together they created the intensely prolific [[Inchmery Fandom]]. At some point, he and Joy began an affair, and in early June 1960, she dumped Vin¢ to marry and move to the US with Sanderson. (Vin¢ Clarke retained custody of their 18-month daughter, Nicki.) |
| − | Sanderson and Joy moved to [[New York]] with help from [[WSFS, Inc.]] | + | Sanderson was running for [[TAFF]] in the midst of this, but the [[1960 TAFF Race]] was won by [[Eric Bentcliffe]], with whom he had [[feud]]ed – Sanderson placed last out of three. However the deadline was on 15 June, so the starting bad publicity due to the breakup could not have influenced the results much (certainly not the July ''[[Ex-Inchmery Fan Diary]]'', [[Vin¢]]’s embittered acusing [[gafiation]] [[letter substitute]]). The running tallies<ref>http://gostak.co.uk/skyrack/skyrack20.htm </ref> show that Sanderson was by far the least popular in Britain consistently throughout all spring, even though he had a slight lead in the US. (Perhaps he was one of those people who are better through zine than in person? Or did his ambitious drive to victory rub his compatriots the wrong way?) |
| + | |||
| + | Sanderson and Joy moved to [[New York]] with help from [[WSFS, Inc.]] backers [[Belle Dietz|Belle]] and [[Frank Dietz]]. After that, their traces weaken. Lynch's obituary said: | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sandy's involvement with fandom diminished [in the U.S.] His last convention appearance was the [[1981 Worldcon]] in Denver, but he continued to show up from time to time in the [[letters column]] of a few fanzines, and maintained his interest in fandom right up until his death. | ||
'''More Reading:''' | '''More Reading:''' | ||
| − | * [https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/File770/File77098.pdf#page=8 Obituary] by [[Dick Lynch]] in ''[[File 770]]'' 98 (June 1993, p. 8). | + | * [https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/File770/File77098.pdf#page=8 Obituary] by [[Dick Lynch]] in ''[[File 770]]'' 98 (June 1993, p. 8). Contains largely retelling of the Carr affair in quotes from ''[[Wealth of Fable]]'' |
| − | *Photo on page 150 of [[Harry Warner]]'s ''[[A Wealth of Fable]]'' ([[SCIFI]], 1992). | + | * Photo on page 150 of [[Harry Warner]]'s ''[[A Wealth of Fable]]'' ([[SCIFI]], 1992). |
{{fanzines}} | {{fanzines}} | ||
* ''[[Aporrheta]]'' [1958–60] | * ''[[Aporrheta]]'' [1958–60] | ||
| − | * ''[[Clause]]'' [ | + | * ''[[Clause]]'' [1957–9?], for [[FAPA]] |
| − | * ''[[Femizine]]'' | + | * ''[[Femizine]]'' [1954–5/6, as [[Joan W. Carr]]] |
| − | * ''[[Goontact]]'' [1957] ( | + | * ''[[Goontact]]'' [1957] – one-off spoof 1st April "№ 13" with [[Vincent Clarke]] (editor), [[Joy Clarke]] and [[Chuch Harris]], [[OMPA]] and [[FAPA]] postmailing |
| − | |||
{{person | born=1931 |died=1993}} | {{person | born=1931 |died=1993}} | ||
Revision as of 11:44, 4 November 2023
(December 15, 1931 – May 12, 1993)
Harold Peter "Sandy" Sanderson was a 1950s UK fan and editor. He is primarily remembered for the hoax he perpetuated with his creation of the Joan W. Carr persona, and then for his role in the love triangle of Inchmery Fandom.
Sanderson was from Manchester, UK and joined the Nor'west Science Fantasy Club group in 1952, apparently soon helping run the Mancon. He was an Army Sergeant (which explains his military-style, surname-abbreviating nickname), and after learning of the Tucker Death Hoax, started thinking of something in reverse. In 1953–6 was deployed to Egypt, whence he did fanac by mail (and occasional furloughs), providing him with an ideal opportunity to create a fictive femmefan in his unit's women's auxiliary.
After he returned to a desk job in the War Office, Sanderson became a lodger in the home of Joy and Vin¢ Clarke, with whom he had become close during the hoax. Together they created the intensely prolific Inchmery Fandom. At some point, he and Joy began an affair, and in early June 1960, she dumped Vin¢ to marry and move to the US with Sanderson. (Vin¢ Clarke retained custody of their 18-month daughter, Nicki.)
Sanderson was running for TAFF in the midst of this, but the 1960 TAFF Race was won by Eric Bentcliffe, with whom he had feuded – Sanderson placed last out of three. However the deadline was on 15 June, so the starting bad publicity due to the breakup could not have influenced the results much (certainly not the July Ex-Inchmery Fan Diary, Vin¢’s embittered acusing gafiation letter substitute). The running tallies[1] show that Sanderson was by far the least popular in Britain consistently throughout all spring, even though he had a slight lead in the US. (Perhaps he was one of those people who are better through zine than in person? Or did his ambitious drive to victory rub his compatriots the wrong way?)
Sanderson and Joy moved to New York with help from WSFS, Inc. backers Belle and Frank Dietz. After that, their traces weaken. Lynch's obituary said:
Sandy's involvement with fandom diminished [in the U.S.] His last convention appearance was the 1981 Worldcon in Denver, but he continued to show up from time to time in the letters column of a few fanzines, and maintained his interest in fandom right up until his death.
More Reading:
- Obituary by Dick Lynch in File 770 98 (June 1993, p. 8). Contains largely retelling of the Carr affair in quotes from Wealth of Fable
- Photo on page 150 of Harry Warner's A Wealth of Fable (SCIFI, 1992).
- Aporrheta [1958–60]
- Clause [1957–9?], for FAPA
- Femizine [1954–5/6, as Joan W. Carr]
- Goontact [1957] – one-off spoof 1st April "№ 13" with Vincent Clarke (editor), Joy Clarke and Chuch Harris, OMPA and FAPA postmailing
| Person | 1931—1993 |
| 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. |
