AustLit

Widely published as a literary critic, John Foyster became involved in science fiction fandom in the late 1950s. He published his first fanzine, Emanation in 1961, followed by FNAC (it was later published as an electronic version, eFNAC). In 1966 Foyster became the main organizer of the Melbourne Eastercon. It has since been credited with relaunching Australian fandom. A few years later he was one of the organisers of the Nova Mob, a Melbourne-based group which met the homes of other members to critically discuss science fiction works. He was later involved with Critical Mass, a similar group from Adelaide.

In 1970 Foyster won first Ditmar Award, this being for his fanzine The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology. Around this same period he also began a campaign that ultimately led to Aussiecon I (the 1975 Worldcon). Two years later he helped establish the Down Under Fan Fund (DUFF) and the following year won his second Ditmar - for the story 'Let it Ring' (written as John Ossian). He won his third Ditmar in 1979 for his fanzine Chunder!. That same year he became the inaugural winner of a Guff award (known either as the Get Up-and-Over Fan Fund or the Going Under Fan Fund - depending on the direction of travel). He published his trip report in Stranger in Stranger Lands.

As a member of the Science Fiction Collective, he helped revive and publish the Australian Science Fiction Review from 1986 to 1991. He was also involved in all three Australian World SF Conventions (1975, 1985 and 1999). In addition to being active in fanzine publishing, Foyster was a fan historian with broad knowledge of the field. Around the time of Aussiecon 3, for example, he wrote Australian Fan History:1953-1966. A long time member of the Fantasy Amateur Press Association, he was responsible for contributing the zine, Candiru.

On his 60th birthday, Yvonne Rousseau, Juliette Woods and Damien Warman produced a special commemorative fanzine named Festzine. The following year Foyster received the A. Bertram Chandler Award for services to Australian science fiction and fandom.

Foyster died in early April 2003 froma brain tumour, having suffered a stroke in September 2001. He was a few days short of his 62nd birthday.

Sources: 'Obituary' eidolon.net; Australian Science Fiction Foundation; Fancyclopedia 3 and Science Fiction 46 (2009)