Science fiction fandom has its own vocabulary. This glossary explains common fan terms in plain English, with links to fuller Fancyclopedia entries where available. It is designed as a starting point for readers who encounter words such as fanac, sercon, trufan, gafia, loc, apa, or fanspeak and want a quick definition.
Table of Contents
| Term | Short meaning |
|---|---|
| Fanac | Fannish activity: the work and play fans do inside fandom. |
| Sercon | Serious and constructive discussion or criticism. |
| Trufan | An idealized deeply committed fan. |
| Gafia | Withdrawal from fandom or fannish activity. |
| Fanzine | A fan-made magazine or publication. |
| LoC | Letter of comment sent to a fanzine editor. |
Core Participation Terms
Fanac means fannish activity. It covers fanzines, conventions, clubs, correspondence, archives, websites, and the informal labor that keeps fandom active.
Sercon means serious and constructive. A sercon article, fanzine, or convention treats science fiction as a subject for thoughtful discussion, criticism, and history.
Trufan is a fan term for an especially committed or authentic fan. It can be admiring, teasing, or argumentative depending on context.
Gafia refers to getting away from fandom. It can mean leaving fan activity temporarily or permanently, often because life outside fandom has taken priority.
Publishing and Fanzine Terms
Fanzine means a fan-made magazine. In science fiction fandom, fanzines carried essays, art, jokes, reports, reviews, and letters before online communities made instant publishing ordinary.
LoC, pronounced as letters or as “lock,” means letter of comment. A good LoC could be part review, part conversation, and part social currency.
APA means amateur press association. Members send contributions to a central editor or organizer, who bundles them into a mailing for the group.
Faned means fanzine editor. The term is short, practical, and very fannish: it treats editing as a recognizable role inside the community.
Identity and Culture Terms
Fanspeak is the slang and jargon of fandom. It includes abbreviations, jokes, coined words, and terms that make sense inside fan culture because people share the same history.
FIAWOL means “Fandom Is A Way Of Life.” FIJAGH means “Fandom Is Just A Goddamned Hobby.” The two acronyms mark different attitudes toward how central fandom should be in a person’s life.
SMOF is commonly used for someone deeply involved in convention running, governance, and behind-the-scenes fan organization. The tone can range from affectionate to suspicious.
How to Use This Glossary
Many fan terms are context-sensitive. The same word can be affectionate in one fanzine and sarcastic in another. When researching fan history, read the surrounding passage, the date, the publication, and the relationship between writers before assuming a term has only one emotional meaning.
Sources and Further Reading
For convention-specific language, see the Science Fiction Conventions Glossary.
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