slanshack

English

Etymology

slan (“science fiction fan”) +‎ shack. From a clubhouse for science fiction fans in Battle Creek, Michigan, USA called "Slan Shack" which existed from 1943 to 1945; from the fanspeak term slan; from the science fiction novel Slan (1940) by A. E. van Vogt, by analogy to the superior but persecuted mutants of the novel.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /slænʃæk/
• Rhymes: -æk

Noun

slanshack (plural slanshacks)

1. (dated, fandom slang) A house shared by fans of science fiction.
   • 1944, John Bristol Speer, “sfn - Sydcon”, in Fancyclopedia‎^[1]:

     Slan Shack - A science-fiction house in Battle Creek, charter members being Al & Abby Lu Ashley, Walt Liebscher, and Jack Wiedenbeck. Acquired in the summer of '43, it wasn't occupied by the slans till the eve of the Michiconference. EEEvans joined a little later.

   • 1951, Winthrop Sargeant, Through the Interstellar Looking Glass (in Life magazine, 21 May 1951)

     Sad to relate, however, some of the European delegates were probably insurgents rather than true fen. Probably none of them had ever been in a slanshack, and there were only a few completists among them.

   • 1995, "Richard Newsome", Signing one's real name (discussion on Internet newsgroup rec.arts.sf.fandom)

     In fact we *had* a slanshack about 6 blocks from his house, but he never had the time to hang out much -- he would drop by for an hour or so to drink beer...