AustLit

Science fiction fan, editor, fanzine publisher and proprietor of Australia's first specialist SF bookshop, Space Age Books, Merv Binns was a founding member the Melbourne Science Fiction Club (MSFC), formerly the Melbourne Science Fiction Group. At the time an employee of McGill's Newsagency, one of the few places in Melbourne that stocked science fiction magazines at that time, Binn's joined the group in 1952, the year it was formed. This association not only saw him take responsibility for improving the range of sf literature available through McGills, and also led to the club renting some space from the newsagency for its meetings. Subsequently elected the club's first librarian, Binn's access to a Roneo duplicator provided him the opportunity to produced the club's fanzine. In 1966, the McGill's warehouse at 19 Somerset Place was the venue for the seventh Australian Natcon, Olympicon.

In 1971 Binn's opened Space Age Books. Its initial upstairs premises did not have room for club meetings, but when the shop had moved to larger premises on Swanston St, it had space for the club library and club meetings. He also founded another club, the Melbourne Fantasy Film Group, using his connections to source films, including a rare copy of Metropolis. In 1981 he ran a Cinecon convention that had Bob Bloch as its Guest of Honour.

Among the fanzines published by Binns were Australian Science Fiction News (aka Australian SF News), Out of the Bin, and The Rubbish Bin(n)s.

Binn's service to the sf fan community has been recognised by his peers on a number of occasions. He was Guest of Honour at the Ninth Australian Science Fiction Convention (1970), at Ozcon '74; at Wellcon B (1980) and among the Guests of Honour at Conjunction 3 (1992). In 1994 he also became the second recipient of the A. Bertram Chandler Award. His other achievements include being Chair of 1981 Cinecon convention; winner of the 1985 Ditmar Award for Best Australian Fanzine (for Australian SF News); the Big Heart Award (2010) and the Infinity Award (2012).

Binns continues to publish fanzines, and is working on his fannish memoirs.