Arthur William Saha (October 31, 1923 – November 19, 1999) was an American

speculative fiction Speculative fiction is an umbrella term, umbrella genre of fiction that encompasses all the subgenres that depart from Realism (arts), realism, or strictly imitating everyday reality, instead presenting fantastical, supernatural, futuristic, or ...

editor and anthologist, closely associated with publisher Donald A. Wollheim.

Life

Saha was the son of William and Henrikka Saha, a Finnish-American couple. His cousin was Marjatta Rasi, who represented Finland as

Permanent Representative to the United Nations A permanent representative to the United Nations (sometimes called a "UN ambassador")"History of Ambassadors", United States Mission to the United Nations, March 2011, webpagUSUN-a. is the head of a country's diplomatic mission to the United Natio ...

(UN), and served as Ambassador to many countries posted at New Delhi, Dhaka, Colombo, Kathmandu, Thimphu, and Vienna. After serving in the Merchant Marine during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Saha enrolled in and graduated from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

. Saha worked as a research chemist and is credited with the patent for the first fire resistant ironing board cover, and for various paints and

pigment A pigment is a powder used to add or alter color or change visual appearance. Pigments are completely or nearly solubility, insoluble and reactivity (chemistry), chemically unreactive in water or another medium; in contrast, dyes are colored sub ...

s used on the exteriors of the first space satellites. At one time he was a resident of

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

; in his later years Saha resided in

Cooperstown Cooperstown is a village in and the county seat of Otsego County, New York, United States. Most of the village lies within the town of Otsego, but some of the eastern part is in the town of Middlefield. Located at the foot of Otsego Lake in ...

, Otsego County,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. While living in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, he was an early associate of the

beatniks Beatniks were members of a social movement in the mid-20th century, who subscribed to an anti- materialistic lifestyle. They rejected the conformity and consumerism of mainstream American culture and expressed themselves through various forms ...

. Saha was a long-standing member of Mensa. He died of cancer."Art Saha (1923-1999)," obituary in ''SFWA News'', posted Nov. 26, 1999
/ref>

Career in speculative fiction

Saha became active in New York City

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

fandom, becoming a member of the

Futurians The Futurians were a group of science fiction fans, many of whom became editors and writers as well. The Futurians were based in New York City and were a major force in the development of science fiction writing and science fiction fandom in the ...

and

First Fandom First Fandom is an informal association of early, active and well-known science fiction fandom, science fiction fans. In 1958, a number of fans at Midwestcon realized amid table-talk that they all had been active in fandom for more than 20 years. ...

, and was a close associate and ally of Wollheim and

Frederik Pohl Frederik George Pohl Jr. (; November 26, 1919 – September 2, 2013) was an American list of science fiction authors, science-fiction writer, editor, and science fiction fandom, fan, with a career spanning nearly 75 years—from his first ...

in the early fan wars. Later an editor at Wollheim's publishing house

DAW Books DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim, with his wife, Elsie B. Wollheim, following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted ...

, Saha co-edited numerous "best of the year"

anthologies with Wollheim, and was Wollheim's choice as successor to

Lin Carter Linwood Vrooman Carter (June 9, 1930 – February 7, 1988) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft (for an H. P. Lov ...

as editor of a similar line of

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

anthologies. Saha's compilations were routinely entered in the

Locus Poll Award The Locus Awards are an annual set of literary awards voted on by readers of the science fiction and fantasy magazine ''Locus (magazine), Locus'', a monthly magazine based in Oakland, California. The awards are presented at an annual banquet. O ...

for Best Anthology; The 1978 ''Annual World's Best SF'' he co-edited with Wollheim came in second for the 1979 award. He was inducted into and received a First Fandom Hall of Fame award for 1992 for his contributions to the field of science fiction. He served as President of the New York Science Fiction Society, better known as the Lunarians, and as President of First Fandom for many years until his death.

Coinage

Saha is credited with coining the term "

Trekkie A Trekkie (a portmanteau of "trek" and "junkie") or Trekker is a fan of the ''Star Trek'' franchise, or of specific television series or films within that franchise. The show developed a following shortly after it premiered, with the first fanzi ...

" in 1967 to describe fans of ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the Star Trek: The Original Series, series of the same name and became a worldwide Popular culture, pop-culture Cultural influence of ...

''. He had used the term in an interview that

Pete Hamill William Peter Hamill (June 24, 1935August 5, 2020) was an American journalist, novelist, essayist and editor. During his career as a New York City journalist, he was described as "the author of columns that sought to capture the particular flavo ...

was conducting on the science fiction phenomenon for ''TV Guide''.

Bibliography

The Annual World's Best SF (with Donald A. Wollheim)

*''

The 1972 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1972 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the initial volume in a series of nineteen. It was one of two follow-up volumes to the previous year's '' World ...

'' (=''Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series One'') (1972) *''

The 1973 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1973 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the second volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1973, follow ...

'' (=''Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Two'') (1973) *''

The 1974 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1974 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the third volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1974, followe ...

'' (=''Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Three'') (1974) *'' The 1975 Annual World's Best SF'' (=''Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Four'') (1975) *'' The 1976 Annual World's Best SF'' (=''Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Five'') (1976) *'' The 1977 Annual World's Best SF'' (=''Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Six'') (1977) *''

The 1978 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1978 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the seventh volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1978, follo ...

'' (=''Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Seven'') (1978) *''

The 1979 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1979 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the eighth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1979. It was ...

'' (=''Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Eight'') (1979) *''

The 1980 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1980 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the ninth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1980, follow ...

'' (=''Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Nine'') (1980) *''

The 1981 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1981 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the tenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1981, followe ...

'' (1981) *''

The 1982 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1982 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the eleventh volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1982, foll ...

'' (1982) *''

The 1983 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1983 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the twelfth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1983, follo ...

'' (1983) *''

The 1984 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1984 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the thirteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1984, f ...

'' (1984) *''

The 1985 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1985 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the fourteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1985, f ...

'' (1985) *''

The 1986 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1986 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the fourteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1986, f ...

'' (1986) *''

The 1987 Annual World's Best SF ''The 1987 Annual World's Best SF'' is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the fourteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1987, f ...

'' (1987) *'' The 1988 Annual World's Best SF'' (1988) *'' The 1989 Annual World's Best SF'' (1989) *'' The 1990 Annual World's Best SF'' (1990)

The Year's Best Fantasy Stories

*'' The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 7'' (1981) *'' The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 8'' (1982) *'' The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 9'' (1983) *'' The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 10'' (1984) *'' The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 11'' (1985) *'' The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 12'' (1986) *'' The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 13'' (1987) *'' The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 14'' (1988)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saha, Arthur W. 1923 births 1999 deaths American science fiction writers American science fiction editors Futurians American people of Finnish descent Columbia University alumni Beat Generation people Novelists from Minnesota American male short story writers Mensans 20th-century American novelists American male novelists 20th-century American short story writers 20th-century American male writers