Charles N. Brown
Encyclopedia
Locus (magazine)
Locus, subtitled "The Magazine Of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field", is published monthly in Oakland, California. It reports on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field, including comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genre. It is considered the news organ and trade...
, the long-running news and reviews magazine covering the genres of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
literature. He was born on June 24, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended City College until 1956, when he joined the military ; he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for three years. Following his discharge from navy service, Brown went to work as a nuclear engineer but later on changed careers and entered the publishing field; he became a full-time science fiction editor with Locus in 1975.
Along with Ed Meskys and Dave Vanderwerf, Brown founded Locus in 1968 as a news fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
to promote a bid to host the 1971 World Science Fiction Convention in Boston. Originally intended to run only until the site-selection vote was taken at St. Louiscon, the 1969 Worldcon
Worldcon
Worldcon, or more formally The World Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention held each year since 1939 . It is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society...
in St. Louis, Missouri, Brown decided to continue publishing Locus as a general science fiction and fantasy newszine. It quickly began to fill the void left when the decades-old newszine Science Fiction Times (formerly Fantasy Times, founded 1941) ceased publication in 1970 during the same time period. Locus gradually evolved into the field's professional trade journal
Trade journal
A trade magazine, also called a professional magazine, is a magazine published with the intention of target marketing to a specific industry or type of trade. The collective term for this area of publishing is the trade press....
and remains so today. In 1970 it was first nominated in the category of Hugo Award for Best Fanzine
Hugo Award for Best Fanzine
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
. The following year at the 29th Worldcon, the first Noreascon
Noreascon
Noreascon is the name given to four Worldcons , all held in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The latter three were run by Massachusetts Convention Fandom, Inc.* 29th World Science Fiction Convention — Noreascon I...
that Locus was founded to promote and support, Brown's newszine won its first of a record 29 Hugoes (as of 2008).
Brown died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 72. He previously had been announced as one of the guests of honor at Renovation
69th World Science Fiction Convention
The 69th World Science Fiction Convention , also known as Renovation, was held in Reno, Nevada, August 17-21, 2011, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center . The Atlantis Casino Resort served as the headquarters/party hotel, with additional rooms supplied by the Peppermill Hotel Casino and Courtyard...
, the 69th World Science Fiction Convention in Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. In accordance with established Worldcon tradition, he was retained as a guest of honor in memory of his contributions to the science fiction field.