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Jeanne Gomoll

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Jeanne Gomollis an American artist, writer, editor, andscience fiction fan,who was recognized as one of theguests of honorat the72nd World Science Fiction Convention(Loncon 3, the 2014WorldCon), having been a guest of honor at numerous previousscience fiction conventions.[1]She has been nominated multiple times for awards in artist andfanzinecategories, and for service to the genre ofscience fiction,particularlyfeminist science fiction.

Background

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Gomoll attended theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison,where (along with later collaboratorJanice Bogstad) she attended the first science fiction course offered at the university, although (in her words) "I had been really turned off in the later part of high school and college by the really sexist stuff going on in the genre".

Fandom, science fiction and feminism

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In 1975, soon after graduating with aB.A.ingeography,she was actively involved in a feminist reading group inMadison, Wisconsin,which she tried to convince to explore the potential of the SF genre. Gomoll read an advertisement in theBadger Heraldseeking people interested in working on an SF fanzine. The core group (which included Lesleigh and Hank Luttrell, editors of theHugo-nominatedfanzineStarling) was putting together what was to become the feministscience fiction fanzine,Janus(laterAurora SF). Gomoll was initially recruited as an artist and designer, but became a writer and co-editor by the third issue.[2]Januswas to be repeatedly nominated for theHugo Award for Best Fanzine(1978, 1979 and 1980);[3]this led to accusations that ifJanushad not been feminist, it would not have been nominated.[4]

She has worked withWisConsince its inception, and has served as editor of several items for WisCon's sponsoring organization SF(3) and for theJames Tiptree, Jr. Awardand other efforts related tofeminist science fictionfandom.

"An Open Letter to Joanna Russ"

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Gomoll is the author of "An Open Letter to Joanna Russ", a famous[5]and oft-reprinted essay[6]revisitingJoanna Russ' influential critiques ofscience fictionand the suppression in literary history of the role of women in writing (especiallyHow to Suppress Women's Writing). The essay was a response toBruce Sterling's exclusion of women's writing of the 1970s from his introduction tocyberpunkanthologyBurning Chrome.Gomoll'sopen letternot only challenged Sterling's account, but recounts the history of women's involvement in science fiction writing and fandom during the 1970s.[6]

Professional work

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Gomoll is a professional artist still based inMadison.From September 1979–July 2003, she was employed by theWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesas agraphic designer,also serving as illustrator of publications such asNature's Recyclers Coloring Book[7]andButterflies & Roadways: How Rights of Way Maintenance Can Help Endandered Species.[8]In 2018 she retired and closed hergraphic designbusiness, Union Street Design.[9]

Selected bibliography

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Essays
  • "An Open Letter to Joanna Russ",Aurora,v.10, n.1 (Winter 1986-87).
  • Introduction: "Visualizing the Future," toWomen of Other Worlds: Excursions through SF & Feminism,edited by Helen Merrick & Tess Williams, University of Western Australia Press, 1999
  • TAFForensic Report: A Cold Case Investigation,Union Street Design/LULU, 2020.
Edited collections and journals
  • Editor,Janus(#1-18, 1975-1980)
  • Editorial collective member forAurora(#19-26, 1981–90)
  • Obsessions,apazineforA Women's Apa,(#1-29, 1976-1983)
  • Shoreline,apazine, for theCascade Regional Apa(#1-11, 1978–81)
  • Cube,SF(3) newszine (#1-13, 1982-1985)
  • Allargando,apazine forTurbo-Charged Party Animal Apa,(#1-16, September 1986 to 1988)
  • Union Street,apazine with Scott Custis forTurbo-Charged Party Animal Apa,(#1-111, September 1989 – present)
  • Editor (with Diane Martin) and designer ofThe Bakery Men Don't See,cookbook and fund-raiser for the Tiptree Award, SF(3), 1991 (which was nominated for aHugo Award
  • Editor and designer ofHer Smoke Rose Up from Supper,cookbook and fund-raiser for the Tiptree Award, SF3, 1993
  • Grayscale,apazine forIntercourseapa, (#1-15, September 1996 – present)
Significant con roles
  • Chair, WisCon 20 (1996)
  • Chair, WisCon 30 (2006)
  • James Tiptree, Jr. Award- judge and coordinator (1994)
  • James Tiptree, Jr. Award "motherboard" member

Honors and awards

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Notes

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  1. ^Armadillocon (1979), Autoclave (1979), Aquacon (1981), Reinconation (2000),WisCon24 (2000),Apollocon(2011).
  2. ^Simmons, Adrian. "Founding Mothers: The Jeanne Gomoll Interview"Archived2013-10-08 at theWayback Machine,Strange Horizons(September 15, 2008)]
  3. ^Hugo Nominee ListArchived2011-09-20 at theWayback Machine
  4. ^Merrick, Helen. "From female man to feminist fan: uncovering herstory in the annals of SF fandom," inWomen of Other Worlds: Excursions Through Science Fiction and FeminismHelen Merrick and Tess Williams, eds. Univ. of Western Australia Press, 1999, p. 129-ff.
  5. ^Duchamp, L. Timmel,"That Only a Feminist: Reflections on Women, Feminism and Science Fiction, 1818-1960"Archived2009-07-30 at theWayback Machine(2002).
  6. ^abJeanne Gomoll, "An Open Letter to Joanna Russ". First appearance inAurora,v.10, n.1 (winter 1986-87); reprinted inFanthology '87;Six Shooter;and other anthologies of SF criticism. Available online athttp:// reocities /Athens/8720/letter.htm.
  7. ^Nature's Recyclers Coloring Book(Madison: Wis. Department of Natural Resources, 1993; 15 pages)
  8. ^Butterflies & Roadways: How Rights of Way Maintenance Can Help Endandered Species(Madison: Bureau of Forestry, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, 2001; Jeanne Gomoll and Wisconsin Karner Blue Butterfly HCP-Communications Team)
  9. ^Union Street Design website

Additional references

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Interviews and Profiles
Databases
Additional references
  • Lefanu, Sarah,In the Chinks of the World Machine: Feminism and Science Fiction.London:The Women's Press,1988.
  • Merrick, Helen and Tess Williams, editors,Women of Other Worlds: Excursions through Science Fiction and Feminism.Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press, 1999.
  • various editorsWisCon Chronicles,Volumes 1-6. Seattle: Aqueduct Press, 2007-2012.
  • Merrick, Helen.The Secret Feminist Cabal: A Cultural History of Science Fiction Feminism.Seattle: Aqueduct Press, 2009.
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