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John Bangsund John Bangsund i(A31293 works by) (a.k.a. J. Bangsund)
Born: Established: 1939 ; Died: Ceased: 22 Aug 2020 Victoria,
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

A prominent Australian science fiction fan between the early 1960s and 1990s, John Bangsund estimates that he published up to around 200 or so zines during this time. His fanzine, Australian Science Fiction Review (1966-1969), did much to help revive science fiction fandom in Australia during the 1960s. Among his other, more prominent, publications were Scythrop (1969-72), Australian Science Fiction Monthly (1970-71), First Draft (1975-), Parergon Papers (1977-), the long-running Philosophical Gas (1970s-1990s), Stunned Mullet, Bundalohn Quarterly, The New Millennial Harbinger, Procrustean Papers, The Wrekin Heaves (1990-), and Fibonacci and Mehitabel (1994-).

After co-chairing the 9th Australian S.F. Convention (1970), and attending as Fan Guest of Honour at Ozcon (1974 Australian National SF Convention), Bangsund played a significant role in helping Australia win the rights to host the 1975 Aussiecon (along Andrew I. Porter). He also acted as Toastmaster at the Hugo Award ceremony during the convention. Bangsund's contributions to science fiction fandom were acknowledged in 2001 when he became the recipient of A. Bertram Chandler Memorial Award.

Aside from his work as a science fiction fan, Bangsund worked primarily as an editor, working in the areas of general and non-fiction. He has worked for Materials Handling and Packaging (assistant editor), The Age, Hansard (sub-editor), the Australian Government Publishing Service (his first position as editor), Rigby (Adelaide), and Meanjin (assistant editor, 1988-92). Bangsund was also closely involved for many years with the Victorian Society of Editors (he was eventually made a life member in honour of his many contributions to the Society).

Most Referenced Works

Personal Awards

2001 A. Bertram Chandler Award
1979 shortlisted Ditmar Awards William Atheling Jr Award For issue 10 of the fanzine Parergon Papers (published by ANZAPA in October 1978).
1979 shortlisted Ditmar Awards Best Fan Writer

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Scythrop 1969 Clifton Hill : John Bangsund , 1969-1974 Z1923015 1969 periodical (2 issues) Scythrop was an Australian science fiction fanzine which continued on from the Australian Science Fiction Review (formerly the Australian Science Fiction Newsletter). Edited and published by John Bangsund between 1969 and 1974, the first issue, December 1969, was numbered 21 (continuing on from the The Australian Science Fiction Review numbering).

Contributors to Scythrop included Mervyn Barrett, John Brosnan, A. Bertram Chandler, Harry Coachman, D. G. Compton, John Foyster, James Goodwin, Ursula K. LeGuin, Stanislaw Lem, Peter Mathers, Thomas Love Peacock, and George Turner. Cover art was contributed by John Sandler.

Following the publication of No 28 (Summer 1973-74) the fanzine went into a long hiatus. It was relaunched as the Australian Science Fiction Review (second series) in 1986.

Scythrop won the Ditmar Award for Best Fanzine in 1972.


1972 shortlisted Ditmar Awards Best Fan Website/Zine
y separately published work icon Australian Science Fiction Review Australian SF Review Melbourne : John Bangsund , 1966-1969 Z813110 1966-1969 periodical (4 issues) An Australian science fiction fanzine edited and published by John Bangsund the Australian Science Fiction Review started out as the Australian Science Fiction Newsletter. Twenty issues were published between 1966 and the end of 1969, at which time Bangsund relaunched it as Scythrop. Production of that zine ended in the summer of 1974, leading to a period of hibernation which lasted until Bangsund started a second series of the Australian Science Fiction Review in 1986.

Among the contributors to the first series of Australian Science Fiction Review were: Brian Aldiss, John Baxter, James Blish, A. Bertram Chandler, George Turner, Jim Ellis (as 'Jay Wallis'), John Foyster, Bruce Gillespie, Lee Harding, Langdon Jones, Ursula Le Guin, Michael Moorcock, Sam Moskowitz, Bernard O'Dowd, Thomas Love Peacock, Franz Rottensteiner, Bob Sessions (as 'Scribarius'), and Bob Toomey.

The Australian Science Fiction Review won the inaugural Ditmar Award for Best Fanzine (1969).
1969 winner Ditmar Awards Best Fan Website/Zine
Last amended 27 Aug 2020 08:12:59
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