R. Graeme Cameron is in the process of founding The Canadian Fanzine Fanac Awards (nicknamed the “Faneds”) and has published the first suggested design for the trophy in The Fanactical Fanactivist #2 [PDF file]. It was submitted by Eric Chu from Hong Kong. Cameron explains:
In my original proposition I had described the backpack as a mimeograph machine shaped device, functioning as either a rocket or air supply system. On receiving his submission I wrote back:
“The fountain pen backpack rocket was definitely a surprise. Very retro and very appropriate to an old-fashioned faned. Were you thinking of all of it being sculpted? (The actual ink ‘nib’ or whatever it’s called looks complicated to sculpt.) Or were you thinking of a piece of an actual pen to be inserted in each award?
Eric replied: “Yes, I changed the jet pack to a pen because I felt that a mimeograph was a something that would not be easily recognizable to most people. I understand your reasons for requesting it, but in the end, I felt that a pen would get the same message across and also look better as a retro jet pack.”
I like the spirit of Eric’s design. However, The Graeme is still open to other suggestions – see the zine for more details.