I thought there'd be lots of replies to this (but perhaps Steve Silver
hasn't seen the question yet -- hi, Steve!). The story is "A Way of
Life" by Robert Bloch, originally published in Fantastic Universe (don't
have the date at hand, but mid- to late-fifties) and reprinted in The
Fantastic Universe Omnibus (1960) and Rulers of Men (1965), both edited
by Hans Stefan Santesson (the FU editor at the time the story was
published). Surely it's in one of Bloch's many collections, too. I
re-read it recently and of course the premise is silly and dated, but
it's filled with in-group fannish references of the day and is still
great fun.

Bob Roehm
Office of Collection Management
Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
ph: (502)852-8715; fax: (502)852-8714

>>> [log in to unmask] 02/09/03 11:22AM >>>
 A long time ago -- perhaps in the late 50's or early 60's -- I read an
SF
short story about a post-WWIII US government that had been formed from
the
remnants of science fiction fandom.  About the only thing I recall
with
complete clarity about the story is its tag line:

IT IS A PROUD AN LONELY THING TO BE A FAN

Can anyone out there ID the title of the story, author of the story,
and
offer suggestions as to where I might be able to find a copy today?

Thanx.

Sincerely,
Ron Bliss