Slan Shack
The term “Slan,” meaning a member of the science fiction fan community, dates from a novel of that title by A. E. van Vogt. Originally published serially in Astounding Science Fiction in 1940, the story features a more evolved species of humans, called Slans, that are more intelligent than regular humans and possess psychic powers. In the story, the Slans are persecuted and killed for their differences. Within a few years of its publication, science fiction fans began referring to themselves as “slans”, coining the phrase “fans are slans,” believing that fans of the genre were naturally more intelligent than non-fans.
Early creators of science fiction fanzines formed a close community that extended beyond the exchange of writings to establish communal living situations. By 1943, fans Al and Abby Lu Ashley were sharing their house in Battle Creek, Michigan with other fans. This house became known as the “Slan Shack,” which then became a general term for any housing situation involving two or more science fiction fans. In this issue of En Garde, editor Al Ashley describes the Slan Shack as his “plan to buy a seven to nine room house, and rent rooms to fans only.” However Ashley expands from there in theorizing a larger scale corporation, owned and operated by fans, that could buy whole city blocks or neighborhoods.
Al Ashley.
En Garde #6. June 1943.
A version of this text has been digitized and is available through The FANAC Fan History Project.
Pfc. Paul H. Spencer reports spending weekends at Slan Shack.
Harry Warner, Jr.
Horizons #20. September, 1944
A version of this text has been digitized and is available through The FANAC Fan History Project.