Worldcon and Social Commentary in Fanzines

Worldcon program covers through the years, paired with fanzine social commentary from the same time period.

  • 1951 Worldcon program featuring artwork by Hannes Bok<br /> Social commentary: Fanzines <br /> In this article, American fan Robert Bloch, who would go on to professional success as the author of the novel Psycho (1959), which inspired the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, satirizes the anti-communist activities of Senator Joseph McCarthy.
  • 1962 Worldcon program featuring artwork by Ed Emshwiller (Emsh)<br /> Social commentary: Fanzines <br /> Articles in zines like Kipple (1960 – 1984), by American fanzine publisher Ted Pauls, included commentary on the American bombing of Hanoi during the Vietnam War. <br /> Among post-WWII American fanzines, Kipple had a distinct editorial emphasis on politics and foreign affairs.
  • 1966 Worldcon program featuring artwork by Frank Kelly Freas<br /> Social commentary: Fanzines <br /> 1966 saw writers like Ted Pauls commenting on the prospect of racial integration in the United States.<br /> Kipple, by American fanzine publisher Ted Pauls, had a distinct editorial emphasis on politics and foreign affairs.
  • 1968 Worldcon program featuring artwork by Jack Gaughan<br /> Social commentary: Fanzines <br /> In this article, American fanzine writer and publisher Karen Anderson reflects on the original NASA astronauts of the Apollo 1 mission, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee who died tragically during a training exercise on January 27, 1967.
  • 1968 Worldcon program featuring artwork by Jack Gaughan<br /> Social commentary: Fanzines <br /> In this article, American fanzine writer and publisher Karen Anderson reflects on the original NASA astronauts of the Apollo 1 mission, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee who died tragically during a training exercise on January 27, 1967.
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▷Worldcon and Social Commentary in Fanzines