slanshack
English
Etymology
slan (“science fiction fan”) + shack. From a clubhouse for science fiction fans in Battle Creek, Michigan, USA called "Slan Shack" which existed from 1943 to 1945; from the fanspeak term slan; from the science fiction novel Slan (1940) by A. E. van Vogt, by analogy to the superior but persecuted mutants of the novel.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /slænʃæk/
- Rhymes: -æk
Noun
slanshack (plural slanshacks)
- (dated, fandom slang) A house shared by fans of science fiction.
- 1944, Speer, John Bristol, “sfn - Sydcon”, in Fancyclopedia:
- Slan Shack - A science-fiction house in Battle Creek, charter members being Al & Abby Lu Ashley, Walt Liebscher, and Jack Wiedenbeck. Acquired in the summer of '43, it wasn't occupied by the slans till the eve of the Michiconference. EEEvans joined a little later.
- 1951, Winthrop Sargeant, Through the Interstellar Looking Glass (in Life magazine, 21 May 1951)
- Sad to relate, however, some of the European delegates were probably insurgents rather than true fen. Probably none of them had ever been in a slanshack, and there were only a few completists among them.
- 1995, "Richard Newsome", Signing one's real name (discussion on Internet newsgroup rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- In fact we *had* a slanshack about 6 blocks from his house, but he never had the time to hang out much -- he would drop by for an hour or so to drink beer...
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