Recently, the Libraries acquired the Robert Lichtman Science Fiction Fanzine Collection amounting to over 15,000 items. This extensive collection spans nearly a century, dating from the late 1930s through 2022, and features commentary, fan fiction, criticism, conference proceedings, and other genres. Along with the printed works, the archive includes correspondence, original art, and several fanzine titles personally published by Lichtman.
The exhibit accompanying the acquisition includes published foundational science fiction literature, including early examples of works that incorporate aspects of AI into their stories, such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, R.U.R., and Tik-Tok of Oz. Selected zines displayed include some of the earliest examples of this genre dating from the 1930s to those written during World War II and the Vietnam War. Artful covers capture one’s imagination, while the authors’ and editors’ commentary about current events is insightful.
Additional material relating to international Worldcons (World Science Fiction Convention) is located in Fairchild-Martindale Library. Both displays will be on view through the end of June 2025.