Void [fanzine]
Entry updated 29 June 2026. Tagged: Fan, Publication.
US Fanzine published from May 1955 to June 1969; 29 issues mimeographed in US quarto format, plus a supplement to #16 numbered #16.5 (both April 1959). Initially published and edited by Gregory Benford and James Benford, both 14 in 1955 and living with their family in Germany. Ted White replaced James Benford in #14 (February 1958); Peter Graham and Terry Carr joined the editorial team with #23 (January 1961). The publisher from #14 onward was White's QWERTYUIOPress.
In the White and Carr/White eras, Void became one of the most highly regarded of genzines (fanzines of general interest). Among the regular highlights were Gregory Benford's "Happy Benford Chatter" editorial, Terry Carr's column "Inn a Mist", and Ted White's column "Gambit", formerly his fanzine of the same title but merged into Void as a column from #21 (April 1960). Other contributors included Ron Bennett, Bob (Robert) Bloch, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Avram Davidson, Richard E Geis, Lee Hoffman, Andre Norton, Alva Rogers, Bob Shaw, Arthur Thomson (Atom), Bob (Wilson) Tucker, Harry Warner Jr and Walt Willis; #23 (January 1961) was a "Special Walt Willis Appreciation Issue". Several issues had distinctive multi-page cartoon covers by US fan artist Bhob Stewart (Robert Marion Stewart, 1937-2014). The page count varied, the maximum by far being 68 in #22 (May 1960): this was the "VANNISH" or Void Anniversary Issue marking five years since its launch and issued in three segments of 24, 22 and 22 pages. Owing to the usual real-life complications there was a long hiatus between the penultimate Void #28 (February 1962) and the final #29 (June 1969, though with a confusing internal cover showing the originally intended date October 1962), whose listed editors were Gregory Benford, John D Berry, Terry Carr, Arnie Katz and Ted White. One of those happy gestalts which contrived to be more than the mere sum of its parts, Void is still fondly remembered by connoisseurs of the traditional fanzine and its characteristic Humour.
Void should not be confused with the short-form nickname of the Australian Void Science Fiction and Fantasy. [DRL]
links
- Fancyclopedia 3
- Void at Fanac.org
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