Dictionary

slan en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (UK) audio
• /slæn/

Etymology

From Slan (1940) by A. E. van Vogt, a science fiction novel about persecuted—yet physically, mentally and morally superior—telepathic mutant humans. In the novel they are named after their alleged creator, Samuel Lann.

Meanings

1. (dated, slang) A fan of science fiction.
   • Fen gather in clubhouses called slanshacks, "slan" meaning a biologically mutated superman. 1955, Arthur Koestler, The Trail of the Dinosaur and Other Essays, page 143:
   • Here, at least once a month, the slans from Michigan gathered for sneak previews of forthcoming WARPS, to criticise some Rappian manuscript which Art was polishing for pro submission, or to talk about various subjects as fans are wont to do, and drink beer, pop, consume beans, dogs, chips, or eclairs. 1950 September, Charles Stuart Metchette, “Michigan Memories”, in Spacewarp, number 42, archived from the original on 07 Mar 2016, pages 72–77:
   • The idea of a national government, covering all the slan race and nobody else, is seen in the many drives for a general fan organization. 1944, John Bristol Speer, “F - Fascism”, in Fancyclopedia:

Forms

Deriveds

slannish · fans are slans · slanshack · slanhood · slan center

Relateds

Homo superior