User:Blackbearnh/SFRT

The GEnie SFRT (Science Fiction and Fantasy Roundtable) was one of the major Roundtables (special interest groups or forums) on the GEnie online service. It was notable for being one of the early online communities of SF & Fantasy writers, as well as people involved in production of film and television projects with an SF or Fantasy theme.

Founding
The SFRT began as a result of a conversation at an early GEnie party in Rockville, MD in the winter of 1985. James Turner, a Boston-area Science Fiction fan, struck up a conversation with Bill Louden, who had created GEnie for General Electric. During the course of the conversation, Turner proposed that a science fiction and fantasy special interest group be started on the service. After Turner returned to Boston, he presented a formal proposal to the GEnie team, and in the spring of 1986, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Roundtable (SFRT) was launched with Turner as "Sysop", the GEnie term for a Roundtable leader.

Early Day
The SFRT enjoyed slow but stead growth during the first year of operation. At first, the activity largely centered around conversation on the SFRT bulletin board.