The history of the Hopkins Science Fiction Association (HopSFA) starts with the Amber Society, an informal club in the early 1970s. This club was made up of science fiction fans at Hopkins as well as from Baltimore, including famed science fiction writer Roger Zelazny. In 1974, the club was chartered by the University and became known as the Hopkins Science Fiction Association (HopSFA). In its early years, the organization concerned itself primarily with publication. During its first year, the group published five issues of HopSFAnatic, fan magazines (fanzines) containing original fiction, book and movie reviews, quasi-news articles, editorials, etc. HopSFA also published three editions of the HopSFA Hymnal a collection of songs dealing with fantasy, science fiction and medievalism. These fanzines were sold at science fiction conventions and exchanged with other clubs. HopSFA periodically sponsored movies on campus and held regular meetings.

The group decided to hold its own convention, Hopcon, in March 1975. Despite the number of free films advertised, the convention failed. The extent of this failure is described in a subsequent HopSFAnatic. Thereafter, emphasis shifted to medievalism; group members became active participants in two medievalist societies, Markland and the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). Many HopSFA members adopted medieval personae, made appropriate garb, and designed blazons and badges. They also took part in the annual re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings. At about the same time, Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy-medieval role playing game, became a favorite HopSFA pastime. During 1978 the group sponsored games of Dungeons and Dragons every Friday night in the Dorm Snack Bar.

Delays in publishing the fourth edition of the HopSFA Hymnal, due to copyright infringement, led to the club's becoming less active in the late 1970s. Although still in existence, HopSFA attracts fewer members than in earlier years and publishes only one issue of HopSFAnatic each year. One lasting contribution of HopSFA, however, is the Science Fiction Collection in the Hutzler Undergraduate Library. These books were purchased by HopSFA and, after being read by members, were donated to the Hut.