BEM n.
SF Encyclopedia
SF Criticism
Aliens
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[1939
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Speaking of The SPWSSTFM, the cover inspired me to organize the SFTPOBEMOTCOSFP. (Society For The Prevention Of Bug-Eyed Monsters On The Covers Of Science-Fiction Publications.) Yours for complete novels and more civilized covers.]
Letter in Thrilling Wonder Stories Aug. 121/2 -
1940
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I suppose it’s because he always writes about those bug-eyed monsters that you have been constantly desecrating the front of the mag with ever since the organization of the SFTPOBEMOTCOSFP, just to spite that noble society, I suppose. Incidentally, Mr. Bergey, the BEM’s on your latest smear have extremely jovial expressions on their pans to be as tough a bunch of eggs as Friend made them out.
Letter in Thrilling Wonder Stories Nov. 120/2 -
1945
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THE COVER…with a definitely different type of hero, an inhumanly human heroine and a stereotyped BEM.
Letter in Startling Stories Summer 88/2 -
1949
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Fredric Brown
bibliography
B-bems?… You mean you are b-bug-eyed monsters? That’s what Elmo means by Bems, but you aren’t.
All Good Bems in Thrilling Wonder Stories Apr. 125/2
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1949
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Fredric Brown
bibliography
They were really Bems, by the way. Two heads apiece, five limbs—and they could use all five as either arms or legs—six eyes apiece, three to a head, on long stems. You should have seen them.
in Thrilling Wonder Stories Apr. 128/2
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1965
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Larry Niven
bibliography
I've been ordered not to move by a BEM that doesn’t take No for an answer.
World of Ptavvs in Worlds of Tomorrow Mar. 71/2 -
1981
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Terry Pratchett
bibliography
I told that agency computer on Real Earth to pick three people that fitted my specifications, and it gave me three names. The damn thing never bothered to say that two of them were BEMs.
Strata 46 -
1997
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Dominic Green
bibliography
The only tangible evidence the Automats had left of their erstwhile presence, apart from memories in the minds of Men and Bems.
Everywhen in Interzone (#118) Apr. 29/1
Research requirements
antedating 1940
Earliest cite
in Thilling Wonder Stories
Research History
According to an entry in Richard Eney's Fancyclopedia II, submitted by Leah Zeldes, this was used in the August 1939 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories by Martin Alger. Jeff Prucher located this letter; it contains a longer abbreviation that includes "BEM": SFTPOBEMOTCOSFP which stands for Society For The Prevention Of Bug-Eyed Monsters On The Covers Of Science-Fiction Publications.
Frank Robinson submitted a cite from the January 1941 Thrilling Wonder Stories by Martin Alger.
David Tate located and Mike Christie confirmed a 1949 cite from Fredric Brown's "All Good Bems".
Jeff Prucher submitted a October 1940 cite from a letter by Parmer Farrell in Thrilling Wonder Stories. It seems likely that this is the first independent use of the abbreviation outside "SFTPOBEMOTCOSFP" (see above).
Clive Shergold submitted a 1981 cite from Terry Pratchett.
Last modified 2023-08-21 11:56:44
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