Chris Atkinson
(???? – )
Christine Atkinson is a British fan primarily active in the 1970s and 1980s. She was a fan writer and co-founder of The Women's Periodical (TWP), and served on the committee of Channelcon. She was a guest of honour at BECCON '87, the 1987 Eastercon. She was described in the programme book of Channelcon:
Chris reputedly discovered fandom in 1966, in a Yarmouth laundry basket. This experience was so hair-raising that she kept very quiet for a long time, but has recently, regained her courage sufficiently to co-produce a fanzine and write a few articles. In 1981, Chris won the Nova Best Fanwriter Award, and was also voted nearly as well dressed as Joseph Nicholas. She has never been on a con committee before, but is trying hard, and can easily be bribed with chocolate.
In an article in Twll-Ddu 18 demonstrating that "your average fan-reputation [can be] stripped down to a label with a couple of words on it" Atkinson was described as "enigmatic herbalist".
As alluded to above, her first convention was actually Yarcon, the 1966 Eastercon, although she didn't attend another convention, and seemingly had no interaction with fandom, until the mid-1970s. She was a member of SEACON 75, the 1975 Eastercon.
Much of her fanwriting appeared in Tappen. Two articles, "Yorcon II Photo Album" and "Life with the Loonies", were additionally collected in Fanthology 1981. A one-shot, Start Breaking Up, was produced with Linda Pickersgill in 1981; it topped the Ansible Fan Poll "Best British Fanzine Single Issue" for 1981/2.
At Silicon 5 in 1981 she was voted "best dressed UK fan", tied with Joseph Nicholas.
She was on the committee of Channelcon, the 1982 Eastercon, in charge of the dealers' room where a committee bio in the first progress report said:
Chris is one of those people who is rarely in the limelight of fandom, but is always in the wings to give invaluable help and advice etc. She is uniquely qualified to organise the bookroom since she has seen it from both sides — as a purchaser, cursing and swearing because the gangways are too congested, and as a book dealer, cursing and swearing about whatever they curse and swear about.
She also took on the art show and shortly before the convention she became vice-chairman. At the convention itself, and together with Linda Pickersgill, she founded The Women's Periodical (TWP).
In 1984 she was listed on the steering committee of the Britain in '87 bid that became Conspiracy '87, the 1987 Worldcon. At the convention itself she was listed in charge of Exhibits and Sales Area and Child Care.
BECCON '87 originally announced Atkinson and her husband Malcolm Edwards as guests of honour but they had separated by the convention and Edwards withdrew. A collection of fan writing, First Solo, was published to coincide with the convention.
After 1987 she largely withdrew from fandom. She later moved to Germany.
She was married first to fellow fan Roy Kettle and later to Malcolm Edwards.
- First Solo [1987]
- Start Breaking Up [1981] (with Linda Pickersgill)
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
- 1981 – Nova Award for best fan writer
- 1981/2 – Ansible Fan Poll "Best British Fanzine Single Issue"
- 1981/2 – Ansible Fan Poll "Best British Fanzine Article or Column"
- 1981/2 – Ansible Fan Poll "Best British Fan Writer"
- 1982 – Nova Award for best fan writer
- 1987 – BECCON '87
| Person | ????— |
| 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. |