Erwin Strauss
Encyclopedia
Erwin S. Strauss is an American
author
, science fiction fan
and filk musician
, born in Washington, D.C.
. He frequently is known by the nickname
"Filthy Pierre."
3 in 1966 and RailCon in 1975; and a member of the committee for at least one Worldcon, Noreascon
3, in 1989. He was an early (1964) vice president of the MITSFS. In addition, he is the author of the monthly "SF Convention Calendar" in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, and his flyer racks ("Filthy boards") are seen at conventions all over the East Coast. He is the author and/or editor of a number of books, articles, and fanzines. He is a frequent Guest of Honor at SF conventions, including Arisia
, Boskone
and Albacon
. Strauss is the creator of the Voodoo board message board system used at conventions such as Worldcon
s, WisCon
, and Arisia
.
circles for his longstanding publication of the APA
The Connection. The APA was started under the name The Libertarian Connection by Durk Pearson
and Sandy Shaw
(using pseudonyms) in 1968. Strauss wrote for it as "Filthy Pierre" almost from the beginning, and in 1979 he took over as publisher. Although Strauss dropped the word "libertarian" from the title (to indicate that it was open to all participants), the strong libertarian perspective of the contributors remained. Strauss continued to publish the apa for nearly 30 years and continues to publish it as of 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, science fiction fan
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
and filk musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, born in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He frequently is known by the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"Filthy Pierre."
Science fiction and writing
Strauss has been chair of a number of science fiction conventions, such as BoskoneBoskone
This article is about the fictional organization in E.E. Smith's Lensman series. For the yearly BOSKONE science fiction convention, see Boskone ....
3 in 1966 and RailCon in 1975; and a member of the committee for at least one Worldcon, 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...
3, in 1989. He was an early (1964) vice president of the MITSFS. In addition, he is the author of the monthly "SF Convention Calendar" in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, and his flyer racks ("Filthy boards") are seen at conventions all over the East Coast. He is the author and/or editor of a number of books, articles, and fanzines. He is a frequent Guest of Honor at SF conventions, including Arisia
Arisia
Arisia is a Boston-area science fiction convention, named for a planet in the Lensman novels by E. E. "Doc" Smith. The name was chosen as an homage to an older Boston-area con, Boskone, which took the typical ending for a convention—con—and then altered the spelling to match the name of an...
, Boskone
Boskone (convention)
Boskone is an annual science fiction convention run by NESFA in Boston, Massachusetts. In the words of the convention organizers, "Boskone is a regional Science Fiction convention focusing on literature, art, music, and gaming ". It is held over President's Day weekend every February, in the city...
and Albacon
Albacon
Albacon is the Albany science fiction convention, held each autumn in the Albany, New York area, also called the Capital District.Albacon is the largest "Con" in upstate New York. It is hosted by LASTSFA, or Latham-Albany-Schenectady-Troy Science Fiction Association, a local science fiction fandom...
. Strauss is the creator of the Voodoo board message board system used at conventions such as 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...
s, WisCon
WisCon
Wiscon or WisCon, the Wisconsin Science Fiction Convention, is often called the world's leading feminist-oriented science fiction convention and conference. It was first held in Madison, Wisconsin in February 1977, and is held annually throughout the four day weekend of Memorial Day...
, and Arisia
Arisia
Arisia is a Boston-area science fiction convention, named for a planet in the Lensman novels by E. E. "Doc" Smith. The name was chosen as an homage to an older Boston-area con, Boskone, which took the typical ending for a convention—con—and then altered the spelling to match the name of an...
.
Libertarian publishing
Strauss is most well known in libertarianLibertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
circles for his longstanding publication of the APA
Amateur press association
An amateur press association is a group of people who produce individual pages or magazines that are sent to a Central Mailer for collation and distribution to all members of the group.-Organisation:...
The Connection. The APA was started under the name The Libertarian Connection by Durk Pearson
Durk Pearson
Durk Pearson, born in 1943 in Illinois, is best known for coauthoring a series of books on longevity, beginning with Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach.- Early life :...
and Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is an American writer on health. She is an advocate of life extension.-Education:Shaw's father was an engineer and her mother a housewife. She received her degree in chemistry from U.C.L.A...
(using pseudonyms) in 1968. Strauss wrote for it as "Filthy Pierre" almost from the beginning, and in 1979 he took over as publisher. Although Strauss dropped the word "libertarian" from the title (to indicate that it was open to all participants), the strong libertarian perspective of the contributors remained. Strauss continued to publish the apa for nearly 30 years and continues to publish it as of 2011.
Books
- Filthy Pierre's Songs of MIT
- Filthy Pierre's Songs of Significance
- How to Start Your Own Country. LoompanicsLoompanicsLoompanics Unlimited was an American book seller and publisher specializing in nonfiction on generally unconventional or controversial topics, with a philosophy considered tending to a mixture of libertarian and left wing ideals, although Loompanics carried books expressing other political...
, 1985; ISBN 1-893626-15-6 - Basement Nukes: the Consequences of Cheap Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Complete Guide to Science Fiction Conventions
- The Case Against a Libertarian Political Party
Honors
- Magic Carpet Con, 1996 - Co-Filk Guest of Honor
- ConChord 2002 - Interfilk guest
- Noreascon 4 (2004) - Special Committee Award
- Filk Hall of Fame (inducted 1998 at http://www.filkontario.ca/1998.htm).
- Big Heart Award, 2004.
- AlbaconAlbaconAlbacon is the Albany science fiction convention, held each autumn in the Albany, New York area, also called the Capital District.Albacon is the largest "Con" in upstate New York. It is hosted by LASTSFA, or Latham-Albany-Schenectady-Troy Science Fiction Association, a local science fiction fandom...
2012 - Fan Guest of Honor