British Science Fiction Association

The British Science Fiction Association ( abbreviated: BSFA ) is founded in 1958, science-fiction fan organization consisting of writers, editors and booksellers, which aims to promote science fiction in any form. Its first president was Brian Aldiss, Arthur C. Clarke also held the chair. Stephen Baxter is currently Vice President. The BSFA publishes three magazines which are sent to all members, and gives the British Science Fiction Association Award.

Activities

The three published by the BSFA magazines are:

• Vector - a magazine with book reviews and reviews, published six times a year.
• Matrix - the newsletter of the BSFA, also contains book reviews and is published six times a year.
• Focus - a magazine that will be published in the works of members of the BSFA, published twice a year.

The British Science Fiction Association Award is presented annually. The winners will be chosen in an election of members of the BSFA and the participants of the British National Science Fiction convention ( a UK Fan Convention ). Members of the BSFA also sit on the Board of the Arthur C. Clarke Awards.

Foundation

The British Science Fiction Association was the fourth attempt to establish a nationwide organization of sci-fi fans. The first predecessor of the BSFA was founded in 1937 under the name Science Fiction Association of fans who had attended the first British science fiction convention in Leeds. It was dedicated to " Fiction and scientific progress of the stimulate interest in science ", but was dissolved again almost two years later due to the outbreak of the Second World War.

The second attempt was called the British Fantasy Society (which has no connection to the current organization of the same name ). It was founded in June 1942. The aim was to find some one hundred members better access to science-fiction works, what happened primarily through a large library. It was disbanded in November 1946.

1948 suggested Captain Ken Slater, to establish a new national fan organization. He led at that time a club called Operation Fantast, whose members exchanged books and magazines. The organization received the name of Science Fantasy Society. Since Slater was later seconded to Germany and the other committee members did not share his enthusiasm, the organization was in 1951 dissolved.

In the late fifties, the British science fiction fandom was in downtrend. The annual Eastercon ( a fan convention ) was mainly a gathering of friends with declining participation (150 in 1954, 115 in 1955, 80 in 1956, less than 50 in 1958 ). For this reason was discussed at the Eastercon in 1958 in Kettering ( Northamptonshire ) about how it should generally go with the British science fiction fandom. They came to the conclusion that both the British fanzines, as well as the conventions had become more and more an end in itself and had moved away from science fiction and more, hardly offered incentives for new visitors and virtually no connections with the British fan base more passed. The only way the establishment of a nationwide organization was seen. This should be dedicated to the serious study of science fiction, but at the same time included in their publications about the British fans, so newcomers easily could get a more personal connection to other sci-fi fans. After some discussion about the name ( it was feared, science fiction would find in the press a negative appeal ) was founded the British Science Fiction Association. After a year they had over 100 members.

Swell

• Weston, Peter: Behind the Scenes: Origins, Vector # 250, November / December 2006.