A Mile Closer to the Stars
Science fiction fannish history was made here in Denver in pre-war 1941 as the third site of the newly created World Science Fiction Convention. In post-war 1959 the Big Heart Award was created by two prominent fans, Forrest J Ackerman and Walter Daugherty. They did so in the name of that era's special fan and pro E. Everett Evans who, in passing, personified our remarkable spirit of science fiction fandom. In 2006,
Gathered together this week we continue to exemplify with a special award that spirit as part of a world-wide nameless society called "fandom." We have close and long range friendships, have clubs, web sites, and attend get-togethers called conventions. And among us there are some special fans who are known for their selfless deeds -- each one of whom has a spirit of big-heartedness, specially singled out once a year for The Big Heart Award.
The Award is now named after its creator as the Forrest J Ackerman Big Heart Award. This retires, with special honor after many decades, the more familiar E. Everett Evans name. This unique tribute annually goes to one individual, sometimes more, who personifies our very special friendly society. The chosen represent that spirit. Each selected fan is recognized as one who over years has unstintingly, generously, warmly, compassionately, unselfishly, personally given of time and energy to our unique group.
Fandom, in those formative days of the twenties under Hugo Gernsback, was only a handful of activists writing letters to the single magazine, or later to the two or three other so-called pulps. The enthusiastic readers called themselves "fans". We, today, are the descendants of those early fans. In fact, some of those "dinosaurs" are still around, identifying themselves as "First Fandom," dating before the first worldcon in 1939. Once upon a time every convention-goer personally knew the current fan who was that year's Big Heart. Nowadays that isn't possible, but the intimate camaraderie is still deeper and stronger than ever.
At the beginning of the new millenium, the award presenter David A. Kyle of the original First Fandom was chosen to carry on our tradition. The ideals of the award continue to flourish.
From the very first honorees in 1959 -- E.E."Doc" Smith and Bob Bloch known both as fans then -- to the two recipients from Australia and Japan in 2007 -- the choices have been varied, many obscure and unsung, but all beloved and worthy.
We continue to honor those special fans, showing our affection for very exceptional people, representatives of the deep friendships we find in fandom. It is worthy and appropriate for the award to be given once more on the occasion of the Hugo Ceremony.
In the new millenium the following persons were honored:
| 2008 | Suford Lewis (United States) |
| 2007 | Atsushi Morioka (Japan) Robin Johnson (Australia) |
| 2006 | Forrest J Ackerman --special award-- "The Biggest Heart of all" (for recognition as founder and administrator of the Big Heart Award for four decades) |
| 2005: | Waldemar Kumming (Germany) John-Henri Holmberg (Sweden) Ina Shorrock (UK) |
| 2004 | Erwin S. "Filthy Pierre" Strauss |
| 2003 | John Hertz |
| 2002 | Pat Sims |
| 2001 | Steve & Sue Francis |
| 2000 | Robert Silverberg |