Martin Tudor (science fiction activist)
Encyclopedia
Martin Tudor is an active British science fiction fan
, editor or co-editor of several science fiction fanzines (Empties and the semi-professional Critical Wave
), and a member of various convention
committees, most notably Novacon
(he has chaired more of these than anyone else). He ran the fan programme at the 1987 worldcon
in Brighton. In addition, during the early 1990s, he freelanced as a book reviewer for the magazine publisher Pegasus.
Tudor was the 1996 TransAtlantic Fan Fund
winner, having stood unsuccessfully in 1988. A collection of his articles for Empties and other fanzines, The Tudor Dynasty, was edited by Bernie Evans and published during the 1996 campaign; his TAFF trip across the United States was later chronicled in Have Bag, Will Travel, sections of which had actually been published in the UK whilst he was still in the US.
Following Tudor's return to the UK, both he and Dan Steffan
(the North American TAFF administrator ) were criticised by certain fans for not revealing during his tour that the previous UK administrator, Abi Frost, had diverted TAFF funds for her personal use and was unable to repay more than UK£2600. Tudor and Steffan defended their decision by stating they did not want the entire trip overshadowed by Frost's fraudulent actions. Despite promising to do so, Frost failed to repay the majority of the cash and disappeared from the social circles she had once been so active in (she died in 2009). Tudor and Steffan subsequently built the funds back up to the pre-fraud level, mostly with donations from British sf fans, and TAFF survived the scandal.
Critical Wave folded in 1996, after nine years of narrowly averting financial oblivion, but in September 2008, he and Green announced plans for an online relaunch of Critical Wave via eFanzines
.
Other activities including administering the annual Nova Awards
, a role he returned to in November 2009 but relinquished the following September.
Tudor lives in Willenhall
, England. His daughter Heloise (born 1997) coincidentally shares her birthday with Tudor's Critical Wave
partner Steve Green
.
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...
, editor or co-editor of several science fiction fanzines (Empties and the semi-professional Critical Wave
Critical Wave
Critical Wave, later subtitled "The European Science Fiction & Fantasy Review", is a British small-press magazine, initially published and co-edited by Steve Green and Martin Tudor during the period 1987-96...
), and a member of various 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...
committees, most notably Novacon
Novacon
Novacon is an annual science fiction convention, usually held each November in the West Midlands, UK. It is now the annual convention of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.-History:...
(he has chaired more of these than anyone else). He ran the fan programme at the 1987 worldcon
Worldcon
Worldcon, or more formally The World Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention held each year since 1939 . It is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society...
in Brighton. In addition, during the early 1990s, he freelanced as a book reviewer for the magazine publisher Pegasus.
Tudor was the 1996 TransAtlantic Fan Fund
TransAtlantic Fan Fund
The Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund, often known as TAFF, was created in 1953 for the purpose of providing funds to bring well-known and popular members of science fiction fandom familiar to fans on both sides of the ocean, across the Atlantic.-History:...
winner, having stood unsuccessfully in 1988. A collection of his articles for Empties and other fanzines, The Tudor Dynasty, was edited by Bernie Evans and published during the 1996 campaign; his TAFF trip across the United States was later chronicled in Have Bag, Will Travel, sections of which had actually been published in the UK whilst he was still in the US.
Following Tudor's return to the UK, both he and Dan Steffan
Dan Steffan
Dan Steffan is an American cartoonist and writer who has contributed to both mainstream and underground publications for several decades.-1970s:...
(the North American TAFF administrator ) were criticised by certain fans for not revealing during his tour that the previous UK administrator, Abi Frost, had diverted TAFF funds for her personal use and was unable to repay more than UK£2600. Tudor and Steffan defended their decision by stating they did not want the entire trip overshadowed by Frost's fraudulent actions. Despite promising to do so, Frost failed to repay the majority of the cash and disappeared from the social circles she had once been so active in (she died in 2009). Tudor and Steffan subsequently built the funds back up to the pre-fraud level, mostly with donations from British sf fans, and TAFF survived the scandal.
Critical Wave folded in 1996, after nine years of narrowly averting financial oblivion, but in September 2008, he and Green announced plans for an online relaunch of Critical Wave via eFanzines
EFanzines
The single largest online distribution point for science fiction fanzines, eFanzines was launched by Bill Burns on 7 December 2000 and recorded its 500,000th visit in December 2008...
.
Other activities including administering the annual Nova Awards
Nova Awards
The Nova Awards are presented annually at the UK science fiction convention Novacon and recognise achievement in British and Irish sf fanzines.When initiated in 1973, a panel of sf fans named the best fanzine that year...
, a role he returned to in November 2009 but relinquished the following September.
Tudor lives in Willenhall
Willenhall
Willenhall is a town in the Black Country area of the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire...
, England. His daughter Heloise (born 1997) coincidentally shares her birthday with Tudor's Critical Wave
Critical Wave
Critical Wave, later subtitled "The European Science Fiction & Fantasy Review", is a British small-press magazine, initially published and co-edited by Steve Green and Martin Tudor during the period 1987-96...
partner Steve Green
Steve Green (journalist)
Steve Green is a former newspaper reporter turned freelance journalist, who has also written short fiction and poetry...
.