Robert Coulson
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.[1]
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.[2] 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."[3]
Buck was a regular attendee, panelist, and bookseller at several Midwest science fiction conventions, including InConJunction and Chambanacon, as well as frequently attending Capricon, DucKon, Windycon, and Wiscon. He was frequently seen wearing a skunkskin 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.
External links
- Robert Coulson at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Locus Index to SF Awards
- Yandro #122 Volume XI - No 3
References
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