Sam Moskowitz

Sam Moskowitz (1920-1997) was an early fan and organizer of interest in science fiction and, later, a writer. As a child, Moskowitz greatly enjoyed reading science fiction pulp magazines. As a teenager, he organized science fiction clubs in the New York City area. While still in his teens, he became chairman of the first World Science Fiction Convention (or Worldcon) held in New York City in 1939. At this time, Moskowitz had an association with Donald A. Wollheim in the NYC science fiction clubs, but Wollheim's desire of an overt political direction for science fiction fandom caused a rift between the two (they later mended fences years later).

Moskowitz would later turn to writing, especially several books on the history of science fiction that he wrote in the 1970's. He also collected much early science fiction for reprinting in several volumes that he edited. One of his most notable works is The Immortal Storm, a historical review of internecine strife within fandom. People have noted that its bombastic style of reporting was of such a grade that in it World War II comes as an anti-climax.