(Norman decided that one article could not sufficiently cover the infinite facets of personality and thought that combine to make up the entity known as Norman G. Browne. Therefor he is doing three article; Each article will show a different view; each article wall be writen in a different style; each article will be writen by and about - Norman G. Browne. The next in the series will deal with Browne the individual and the third will deal with Browne the philosopher .... NGB)

NORMAN G. BROWNE - FAN

H. L. Gold introduced me to Ted Sturgeon and Ted Sturgeon introduced me to fandom. Ted introduced me to fandom by telling me about the Nolacon and. suggesting that I try and attend it. I did.

At the Nolacon, I was an outsider, an onlooker; I knew nobody and nothing. I felt strangly set apart from these people who were fans. They talked and acted beyond my powers of comprehension and understanding. They talked about people, places, and events of which I had no knowledge. To me they seemed to be talking on a higher plane; a plane far, far beyond my reach. Knowing so much about what they discussed, they seemed to be combining telepathy and speech in their conversation. It was interesting - in a tantalizing sort of way.

I left the Nolacon with an overwhelming desire to become a fan; to become one of them, to talk with them in their own language, to understand what they understood, to enjoy what they enjoyed.

My first act when I got home from the Nolacon was to organize a S-F club. This took considerable time due to the fact that I had no knowledge or experience in fandom or stf and knew nothing about organizing clubs. But by dint of sheer work and luck, the club was organized and had its first meeting in Dec. of that same year. At a later meeting I was installed as President of the club. I had created a steping-stone toward the culmination of my quest.

As President of the Vancouver S-F Society, I pushed stf and my club as hard and as strong as I could in my immediate area. Thus, from an utter unknown, I had made myself known and had created a sphere of influence to cover the Vancouver area. Gradualy, I extended this sphere of influence to encompass the whole of British Columbia.

As President of this club, I became contact man with outside fandom. Through a prozine letter-column, I learned of the existence of the Canadian S-F Association and contacted them. Also, through the same medium, I learned of the existence of the Seattle S-F Society 100 miles to the south of us and got in touch with them. The very nature my position made the making of outside contacts unavoidable; and through those contacts, I met, and corresponded with others. I was corresponding with fans; one of the prime activities of fandom; I had pushed myself up one step farther toward my quest; and I was making my existence known to more and more of fandom.

You can't become a stamp collecter overnight; you can't become a magician overnight; you can't become a Mason overnight. I realized that you have to study and learn about a group if you wish to become a member of. them. I studied and learned about fandom. I learned through my correspondence; I learned through my position as President of a stf club; I learned by buying and reading fanzines. I studied and I learned; I am still studying and learning.

Meanwhile, I continued to force the fact of my existence to the attention of more and more fans. I picked up more correspondents. I joined and became an active member in stf clubs and projects. And I continued to study - and learn.

One of my earliest ambitions was to produce a fanzine. But lack of knowledge of fandom and fan-editing forced me to supress this ambition until such time as I felt qualified. In the meantime, all I could do was think and plan.

I started writing pure stf almost immediately after I came back from the Nolacon. I picked one of my poorest novel ideas (I had ten of them) and wrote it as an apprenticeship to actual writing. After that I wrote a number of short stories, none of which were of any value whatsoever except the last one. Gradually though, fan writing became my dominant interest and pro writing waned. (Now I havn't time to write either.)

Finally I felt I was qualified to produce VANATIONS. I had spent nine months studying and learning about fandom. I had learned about fan publishing and editing by studying fanzines and by editing a club newslettter. I had learned considerable about writing and had perfected a passable style of writing.

With the issuence of VANATIONS, I pushed myself considerably higher up the ladder of fandom and at the same time forced the fact of my existence before a considerable number of fans. I had arrived.

My original ambition was to become a fan - a relatively simple goal. But, although that ambition has been realized, my final ambition has not. For as I progressed into fandom, as I studied and learned, as I matured, my final goal raised accordingly.

In my first year I progressed from a non-fan, to a fringe-fan to a neophan, and finaly to a master-fan. Who knows how far I will go in my second year? Would anyone deny me the ambition of becoming a BNF or a super-fan?

Text entry and page scans provided by Judy Bemis

Updated May 16, 2003. If you have a comment about these web pages please send a note to the Fanac Webmaster. Thank you.