SCIENCE FICTION FOUNDATION

   UK research unit set up in 1971 at the North East London Polytechnic (which became the University of East London in 1992), but semi-autonomous, being controlled by a council, partly academics and partly sf professionals, and including George HAY, whose enthusiasm had much to do with the SFF's inception. Peter NICHOLLS, the first administrator (1971-7), was followed by Malcolm EDWARDS (1978-80). The SFF was the firstand only academic body in the UK set up to investigate sf: until 1980 it also supervised graduate research work in the field and investigated the usefulness of sf in education generally (SF IN THE CLASSROOM).Severe restrictions on UK educational budgets in 1980 led to the freezing of the position of administrator when Edwards left in May of that year, though Colin GREENLAND, as an Arts-Council-funded Writing Fellow attached to theSFF, kept the flag flying for a period, and Charles BARREN served as (unsalaried) acting administrator for some years, followed by Ian MacPherson and Ted Chapman, variously designated but never paid. During 1980-91 the SFF was staffed only by a single part-time employee, Joyce Day, becoming primarily known for its journal, FOUNDATION: THE REVIEW OF SCIENCE FICTION, and its research library, housed at the Barking precinct of the Polytechnic, the largest publicly accessible COLLECTION of sf in the UK outside the British Library, with c20,000 items including magazines and fanzines. In 1991 it seemed briefly that the Polytechnic - then about to be granted, as were other UK polytechnics, the more prestigious designation "University" - was prepared to refinance the SFF, and an additional clerical staff member was introduced, though not one either versed in sf or with a teaching brief. But the now "University" soon declared itself unwilling to sustain the collection, to house the academic journal, or to appoint an academic lecturer to the essential post of Administrator; the "University" additionally proposed to evict the SFF ona short notice unless the SFF agreed to pay it ps40,000 per annum - though no Administrator would be appointed, nor any courses permitted, nor any accessions budget granted, if that sum were in fact advanced. In October 1992, the Council of the SFF therefore agreed in principle to move inearly 1993 to the University of Liverpool, which had expressed much interest in the chance to gain so substantial (and unique) a research resource. The University of Liverpool selected Andy Sawyer as Administrator in 1993; an MA course in sf was announced; and theCollection was formally transferred into the University's keeping 26 January 1995, though ownership of SFF books remains with the Friends of Foundation, which was formed in the late 1980s specifically in order to help sustain the SFF through the difficult period which was, even then, anticipated.The SFF patrons are Arthur C. CLARKEand Ursula K. LE GUIN; council and ordinary members have included practically all UK sf writers as well as distinguished US writers including James BLISH. The SFF helps administer the ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD.

   PN/JC