Robert Coulson
Encyclopedia
Robert Stratton "Buck" Coulson (May 12, 1928 - February 19, 1999) was an American
science fiction
writer, well-known fan
, filk song writer, fanzine
editor and bookseller from Indiana
.
Coulson's novels include But What of Earth? (1976, ISBN 0-373-72044-0) (with Piers Anthony
), To Renew the Ages (1976, ISBN 0-373-72026-2), and Lazer Tag: Adventure No 1: High Spy (1987, ISBN 0-88038-515-4).
With Gene DeWeese
, he wrote two novels set in science fiction fandom
, Now You See It/Him/Them... (1975, ISBN 0-385-05624-9) and Charles Fort Never Mentioned Wombats (1977, ISBN 0-385-12111-3); and two Man from U.N.C.L.E
novels under the pseudonym of Thomas Strattton, The Invisibility Affair and The Mind-Twisters Affair (both 1967).
He served as Secretary of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
from 1972-74.
Coulson and his wife, writer and filker
Juanita Coulson
, edited the mimeographed fanzine Yandro
, which was nominated for the Hugo Award
10 years in a row, from 1959 through 1968, and won in 1965. Yandro featured Coulson's incisive reviews of books and, especially, fanzines.
Film critic and one-time active fan Roger Ebert
wrote: "Locs (letters of comment) were the currency of payment for fanzine contributors; you wrote, and in the next issue got to read about what you had written. Today I can see my name on a full-page ad for a movie with disinterest, but what Harry Warner
or Buck Coulson had to say about me — well, that was important."
Buck was a regular attendee, panelist, and bookseller at several Midwest science fiction convention
s, including InConJunction
and Chambanacon, as well as frequently attending Capricon
, DucKon
, Windycon
, and Wiscon
. He was frequently seen wearing a skunk
skin cap. Characters modelled on and named after him
appear in two novels by Wilson Tucker
, To the Tombaugh Station and Resurrection Days.
Outside of science fiction, he worked as a technical writer
. Coulson died on February 19, 1999, following a long illness.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer, well-known fan
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
, filk song writer, fanzine
Science fiction fanzine
A science fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day...
editor and bookseller from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Coulson's novels include But What of Earth? (1976, ISBN 0-373-72044-0) (with Piers Anthony
Piers Anthony
Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob is an English American writer in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. He is most famous for his long-running novel series set in the fictional realm of Xanth.Many of his books have appeared on the New York Times Best...
), To Renew the Ages (1976, ISBN 0-373-72026-2), and Lazer Tag: Adventure No 1: High Spy (1987, ISBN 0-88038-515-4).
With Gene DeWeese
Gene DeWeese
Thomas Eugene DeWeese is an American writer of fiction, particularly science fiction but including Gothics, mysteries, romances, suspense, fantasy, and horror; as well as non-fiction books on technology and folk art...
, he wrote two novels set in science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
, Now You See It/Him/Them... (1975, ISBN 0-385-05624-9) and Charles Fort Never Mentioned Wombats (1977, ISBN 0-385-12111-3); and two Man from U.N.C.L.E
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1964, to January 15, 1968. It follows the exploits of two secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a fictitious secret international espionage and law-enforcement...
novels under the pseudonym of Thomas Strattton, The Invisibility Affair and The Mind-Twisters Affair (both 1967).
He served as Secretary of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, or SFWA is a nonprofit association of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. It was founded in 1965 by Damon Knight under the name Science Fiction Writers of America, Inc. and it retains the acronym SFWA after a very brief use of the SFFWA...
from 1972-74.
Coulson and his wife, writer and filker
Filk music
Filk is a musical culture, genre, and community tied to science fiction/fantasy fandom and a type of fan labor. The genre has been active since the early 1950s, and played primarily since the mid-1970s. The term predates 1955.-Definitions:As the Interfilk What Is Filk page demonstrates, there is...
Juanita Coulson
Juanita Coulson
Juanita Coulson is an American science fiction and fantasy writer, active fan and fanzine editor. She is also widely known in filk music circles since the 1950s for her singing and songwriting; she has been nominated for several Pegasus Awards for her filking...
, edited the mimeographed fanzine Yandro
Yandro
Yandro was an influential science fiction fanzine published from 1953-1986 by Buck and Juanita Coulson. Over that period, they published 259 issues, the final issue not being distributed until 1991. Yandros content covered a broad spectrum of topics...
, which was nominated for the Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
10 years in a row, from 1959 through 1968, and won in 1965. Yandro featured Coulson's incisive reviews of books and, especially, fanzines.
Film critic and one-time active fan Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
wrote: "Locs (letters of comment) were the currency of payment for fanzine contributors; you wrote, and in the next issue got to read about what you had written. Today I can see my name on a full-page ad for a movie with disinterest, but what Harry Warner
Harry Warner, Jr.
Harry Warner, Jr. was an American journalist. He spent 40 years working for the Hagerstown, Maryland, Herald-Mail....
or Buck Coulson had to say about me — well, that was important."
Buck was a regular attendee, panelist, and bookseller at several Midwest science fiction convention
Science fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
s, including InConJunction
InConJunction
InConJunction is a fan-run, not-for-profit science fiction convention held every July 4 weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana. Past guests include Catherine Asaro, Michael Z. Williamson, George R.R. Martin, Jerry Pournelle, Glen Cook, Mike Resnick, Timothy Zahn, and David Drake. The convention focuses...
and Chambanacon, as well as frequently attending Capricon
Capricon
Capricon is an annual, four-day-long science fiction convention in a suburb of Chicago, which draws approximately 900+ people. Capricon attendees share an interest in science , science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. The Capricon convention has been held each year since 1981...
, DucKon
DucKon
DucKon is an annual science fiction convention held every June in the Chicago area. The name is a shortening of DUpage County KONvention....
, Windycon
Windycon
Windycon is a science fiction convention currently held in Lombard, Illinois, on the weekend closest to Veterans Day.ISFiC, the parent corporation that runs Windycon, was founded in 1973 in Chicago. The first Windycon was held the following year and has been held annually ever since either in...
, and Wiscon
WisCon
Wiscon or WisCon, the Wisconsin Science Fiction Convention, is often called the world's leading feminist-oriented science fiction convention and conference. It was first held in Madison, Wisconsin in February 1977, and is held annually throughout the four day weekend of Memorial Day...
. He was frequently seen wearing a skunk
Skunk
Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
skin cap. Characters modelled on and named after him
Tuckerization
Tuckerization is the act of using a person's name in an original story as an in-joke. The term is derived from Wilson Tucker, a pioneering American science fiction writer and fanzine editor, who made a practice of using his friends' names for minor characters in his stories...
appear in two novels by Wilson Tucker
Wilson Tucker
Arthur Wilson "Bob" Tucker was an American mystery, action adventure, and science fiction writer, who wrote professionally as Wilson Tucker....
, To the Tombaugh Station and Resurrection Days.
Outside of science fiction, he worked as a technical writer
Technical writer
A technical writer is a professional writer who designs, creates, and maintains technical documentation...
. Coulson died on February 19, 1999, following a long illness.