Niekas

• 1. The Nothing That Became Everything

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  In June 1962, Ed Meskys typed the first issue of a publication he named Niekas. The word comes from Lithuanian and translates to nothing or nobody. A professor at Belknap College in Center Harbor, New Hampshire, Meskys started this project as a separate mailing-comments zine for the APA before changing its name. He decided to devote every issue to J.R.R. Tolkien because no other fanzine existed covering that specific subject. The initial five issues appeared under his sole editorship while he worked alone on the content. This small start would eventually become one of the most influential voices in American science fiction fandom.

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• 2. A Changing Editorial Team

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  Felice Rolfe joined Ed Meskys to help edit the second half of the early run. Anne Chatland also contributed to the editorial process until she departed after issue number eight. By the late 1980s, Meskys had returned to editing the fanzine entirely by himself. The publication moved with him when his employment shifted to Mankato State University in Minnesota. Mike Bastrow later took on the role of editor and designer during the final years of the magazine's life. Joe R. Christopher edited the very last issue, number forty-eight, which described itself as published by Meskys but edited by Christopher.

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• 3. The Hugo Award Victory

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  Niekas won the Hugo Award for Best Fanzine in 1967. It lost nominations in both 1966 and 1989 to other publications named ERB-dom and File 770 respectively. This recognition placed the New Hampshire project among the top tier of speculative fiction community efforts. The award validated a publication that began as a simple mailing list comment sheet. Critics and fans alike acknowledged the quality of writing and curation within its pages. The win marked a turning point from a local hobby into a nationally recognized entity.

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• 4. Letters From C.S. Lewis

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  Issue number seven contained a letter written by C.S. Lewis directly to Ed Meskys. That correspondence mentioned The Lord of the Rings and signaled high-level interest in the fanzine. Such communication helped shape early American Tolkien fandom through direct engagement with major authors. The presence of these letters elevated the status of Niekas beyond typical amateur publications. Readers saw their favorite fantasy writers engaging with the community rather than remaining distant figures. This connection fostered a sense of shared purpose among those who loved Tolkien's work.

• 5. A Blind Editor And Final Issues

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  By 1995, Ed Meskys had become blind yet continued serving as editor-in-chief for the magazine. He managed the transition of the publication while losing his sight during its final decade. The last issue appeared in 1998 after a long run spanning thirty-six years. Issue twenty marked the end of the first phase before the revival in 1977 brought it back to life. Contributors like Piers Anthony, Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick, and Roger Zelazny added poems and essays over the decades. A Glossary of Middle Earth feature ran alongside material from Robert Foster who later published The Complete Guide to Middle-earth. The final output stood as a testament to persistence against physical limitations.