Bruce Gillespie Bruce Gillespie i(A7250 works by) (a.k.a. Bruce Richard Gillespsie)
Born: Established: 1947 Melbourne, Victoria, ;
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

Bruce Gillespie is a prominent Australian science-fiction fan, writer, and editor, best known for his long-running sf fanzine SF Commentary and his involvement in the pioneering press Norstrilia. He grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh and developed an interest in science fiction and fantasy from the age of six. In 1967, he became active within the fandom community, and the following year began publishing fanzines, which in turn led him to start SF Commentary in 1969. That magazine won a number of Ditmar Awards (Australian SF Achievement Award) and was also nominated for three Hugo Awards (1972, 1973, and 1975). Later fanzines have included The Metaphysical Review (1984-) and Steam Engine Time (2000-).

In 1975, Gillespie and Carey Handfield conceived the idea of starting up an independent publishing house, which resulted in Norstrilia Press. (A third partner, Rob Gerrand, was also involved from the early stages.) Among its numerous achievements, Norstrilia published Greg Egan's (q.v.) first novel. Gillespie continued with Norstrilia until it was wound up in 1985. The previous year, he had become a foundation member of Australia and New Zealand Amateur Publishing Association (Anzapa). He has contributed to a number of other APAs, including the Fantasy Amateur Press Association (FAPA) between 1984 to 1994. In 1970, he was also a founding member of the Nova Mob discussion group.

Among his numerous achievements, Gillespie was Fan Guest of Honour at the 1999 Aussiecon 3 world science-fiction convention (held in Melbourne) and is the winner of numerous prestigious local and international awards, including at least seventeen Ditmar Awards, a couple of Atheling Awards, a World SF Award, the 2007 A. Bertram Chandler Award for lifetime achievement, and the 2008 Peter McNamara Award (also for lifetime achievement).

As a writer, Gillespie has contributed short stories to several Australian anthologies. He has also published essays on various aspects of science fiction, including 'Literature Which Wakens Us: The Science Fiction of Brian W. Aldiss' (The Stellar Gauge, 1980).

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • Electronic versions of all Bruce Gillespie's fanzines since 1991 have been published on Bill Burns's website: http://www.efanzines.com.

  • Scratch Pad is an electronic-only fanzine that includes all the non-mailing comment sections of Gillespie's apazines since 1991.

  • Steam Engine Time is an intercontinental fanzine begun by Gillespie with British fans Maureen Kincaid Speller and Paul Kincaid in 2000. After three issues, Kincaid Speller and Kincaid resigned and Michigan fan Janine Stinson (editor of Peregrine Nations) became the new co-editor. Steam Engine Time appears on efanzines.com, with a print version available to those who contribute, trade paper fanzines, correspond, and/or send money.

  • Bruce Gillespie's awards and nominations include:

    • Hugo Award for Best Fanzine 1972, SF Commentary (winner)
    • Hugo Award for Best Fanzine 1973, SF Commentary (nominated)
    • Hugo Award for Best Fanzine 1975, SF Commentary (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1970, SF Commentary (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1971, SF Commentary (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1972, SF Commentary (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1973, SF Commentary (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1977, SF Commentary (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1980, SF Commentary (winner)
    • Ditmar Award William Atheling Jr Award 1980, The Man Who Filled the Void and By Our Fruits, SF Commentary 55/56 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1981, SF Commentary (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1982, SF Commentary (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award William Atheling Jr Award 1982, Sing a Song of Daniel (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian SF or Fantasy Editor 1983, Norstilia Press (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award William Atheling Jr Award 1983, SF Commentary: The First Year (nominated with Carey Handfield and Rob Gerran)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian SF or Fantasy Editor 1984, Norstilia Press (nominated with Carey Handfield and Rob Gerrand)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian SF or Fantasy Editor 1985 (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1986, Metaphysical Review (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 1986 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1987, Metaphysical Review (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 1989 (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 1990 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 1991 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 1992 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 1994 (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1996, Metaphysical Review (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 1997 (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 1998 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 1999, Metaphysical Review (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 2000 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 2001 (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fan Production 2001, The Unrelenting Gaze: SF Commentary #76 (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award William Atheling Jr Award 2001, The Unrelenting Gaze: SF Commentary #76 (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 2002 (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fan Production, Fanzine 2002, SF Commentary (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 2004 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award William Atheling Jr Award 2004 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 2005 (winner)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanwriter 2006 (winner)
    • Chandler Award, 2007 (nominated)
    • Ditmar Award Best Australian Fanzine 2008, Steam Engine Time (nominated)

On the Web

Personal Awards

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon The Metaphysical Review Collingwood : Bruce Gillespie , 1984 Z1761298 1984 periodical (3 issues)

Bruce Gillespie started the science fiction and fantasy fanzine, The Metaphysical Review, in 1984 as a means of providing news and comment in the related areas of music, film, books, travel and chatter.
1999 winner Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1996 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1987 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1986 winner Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
y separately published work icon SF Commentary : The Independent Magazine About Science Fiction 1969 Bacchus Marsh : Bruce Gillespie , Z965181 1969 periodical (39 issues) 'SF Commentary sits at the high end of the 'sercon,' or serious discussion of SF, group of fanzines, a position it has occupied for many years now. In this SFC is following a proud Australian tradition first established by John Bangsund in the mid-60s with his Australian SF Review. Both fanzines engaged SF's literati from throughout the world, and both have offered important venues to some of the major voices in SF criticism, who in turn have written seminal pieces on some of the most important authors to emerge in the field in the second half of the 20th century, starting with Phil Dick and Ursula LeGuin.

What's most impressive about the way Gillespie (now) and Bangsund (then) have accomplished this is that neither gave in to the academic stuffed-shirt navel-gazing which has grown up over the past forty years around SF and all but smothered SF criticism. SFC maintains a civilized and literate tone throughout, but draws more upon the British tradition of letters and the ties of fannish community to accomplish its purposes. It is not by accident that Gillespie has long called his editorial in SFC "I Must Be Talking To My Friends."'

[Ted White. 'Fanzines.' WSFA Journal April 2002 (sighted 8/01/2013]
2002 winner Ditmar Awards — Fan Production For this year only, this award was labelled Fan Production (Fanzine), and a separate award offered for Fan Production (Other).
1994 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1983 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — William Atheling Jr Award
1982 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1980 winner Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1981 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1977 winner Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1973 winner Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1972 winner Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1971 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
1970 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Website/Zine
2024 nominated Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Production in Any Medium
2022 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Production in Any Medium
2020 joint winner Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Production in Any Medium
2019 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Production in Any Medium
2018 winner Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Production in Any Medium
2016 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Production in Any Medium
2014 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Fan Production in Any Medium
VIEW ALL AWARDS
Last amended 19 Oct 2021 10:14:48
See Also
Norstrilia Press
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