Who inspired the name of the "Trap Door Spiders" club?

They were unusual but not unique, as men's clubs - and women's clubs - have been popular for centuries. One thing that made them particularly unusual was their membership. It consisted overwhelmingly of science fiction authors.

What made them unique, however, was their method of entertainment. The host decided not only the location and food, but was expected to bring a guest. That guest had to perform for their meal - by being grilled by the members.

It was a convenient way for a bunch of authors to get a feel for how people think, as well as a good conversation starter. The opening question was always the same: How do you justify your existence? From there, the questions were certain to roam wildly. How wildly depended in part on how good the wine selection had been.