The Marshall University Science

The Marshall University Science Fiction Society (MUSF or MUSFS for short) was a notable science fiction society started in November, 1979, in Huntington, West Virginia. Members of the group are called MUSFers, and were for the most part students of Marshall University. The group usually met in Marshall's Memorial Student Center, located on Fifth Avenue, on the south side of campus.

In 1980, MUSF began publishing an irregular, contributor-supported fanzine (an APAzine, or Amateur Press Association 'zine) called “The Recent Future.” Steve Saffel, TRF's first editor, is now a book editor living in New York City. MUSF also ran a successful not-for-profit science fiction convention called "MunchCon" (which stood for "Marshall University iN the City of Huntington") in the early 1980s. MunchCon I was held April 10-11, 1981, on the Marshall University campus, and featured keynote speakers Robert Coulson and his wife Juanita, a workshop with Harry Otto Fischer on "Fritz Leiber and the Creation of Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser," and fantasy artist Val Mayerik.

Although the science fiction society is not known to have lasted much past the 1980s, and the last issue of The Recent Future (Vol. 2, No. 4, with a later supplement) was published in 1993, its former members are still very active in the field of science fiction fandom. MUSFers have had a large impact on science fiction fandom in the states of Florida, New Mexico and Ohio. Active MUSFers of science fiction fandom live in Massachusetts, California, New York, and Oregon. MUSF is important because it shows the link between college-level involvement in fandom and the future leadership of adult fandom groups.

                                  Membership listing (partial)

Jeann Allen, Jerry Barrax, Josh Barrax, Robin Breeden,Allison (Casto) Breeden, Neil Chakrabarty, Mary Collins, John Crist, Brinda Estep, Barbara Fisher, Richard Jervis, Greg Jordan, Matthew Kelly, Rusty Marks, J.D. Maynard, Thom Maxwell, Terry Messinger, Randy Meredith, Debbie Phillips, Nell Phillips, Phil Proctor, Steve Saffel, Alan P. Scott, Amanda (Carter) Sheahan, Tom Sheahan, Bruce Sheffer, Missy Shores, Valerie Stewart, Katrina Timson, Kyri and Len Westfall.

MUSF was formed with, and maintained, strong ties to sf fandom in Morgantown, West Virginia (the Monongamoot Science Fiction Society of West Virginia University) throughout its existence; major contributors from there include Jeff Brooks, kd kije (Kim Duryea), Tyndara Meffe, Lydia Moon and Tom Peters.