Antedating of "Sci-Fi"

[Shapiro, Fred]

There has been a fair amount of attention given to the question of what is the earliest use of the term "sci-fi."  The OED's first use is dated 1955.  The OED web site of science fiction citations has a December 1954 usage by Forrest J. Ackerman, who is often said to be the coiner.  A supposed usage by Robert A. Heinlein in 1949 has been shown to be erroneous.  The term looks very much like a Varietyism, and in fact I have now found an earlier occurrence in Variety:

1954 _Variety_ 17 Feb. 38 (ProQuest)  New Telepix Shows ... The commercial possibilities are there as well since "Junior Science," aside from its positive qualities, is a rewarding change of pace from the more thunderous sci-fi and spaceship packages.

Fred Shapiro

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