399. Fandom, Conventions, and Sci-Fi History with Ben Yalow

Podcast: Writers of the Future Podcast · John Goodwin

Opublikowano: 2026-09-26

Legendary convention planner Ben Yalow explores the fascinating history, evolution, and cultural impact of science fiction and fantasy fandom on the Writers of the Future Podcast. Ben shares his incredible origin story, detailing how legendary editor John W. Campbell personally dragged him into fandom at a New York convention in 1971. The conversation dives into the definition of fandom, tracking its roots back to the reader letter columns of 1926 and the earliest conventions of the late 1930s. Ben addresses the perceived divide between classic literary sci-fi conventions and massive modern pop-culture events like DragonCon, arguing that the community exists on a...