The Encyclopedia of Fandom
Fancyclopedia is an editorial reference site for the history, language, people, publications, conventions, awards, and community traditions of science fiction fandom.
Starting points for understanding how fandom became a culture of its own.
A guide to tuckerization, the practice of naming a fictional character after a real person, especially a fan, friend, or auction winner.
A focused guide to the Big Heart Award, the Worldcon-associated fandom service honor, including its origin, meaning, recipients, and community value.
A history of fanzine reviews as a form of fan criticism, community feedback, bibliographic memory, and publishing conversation.
Freshly edited articles from the reference archive.
A polished profile of Erwin S. Strauss, connecting filk, fan writing, convention documentation, and the preservation of fannish practice.
A clear account of MidAmeriCon, the 1976 Kansas City Worldcon, its scale, guests, Star Wars connection, and convention legacy.
An editorial explanation of how science fiction conventions grew during the 1970s and how that changed programming, finances, hotels, and volunteer culture.
A professional profile of Mike Glyer and File 770 as a long-running record of fan news, awards, controversies, obituaries, and community memory.
A refined explanation of Mutation or Death! as an early fan manifesto and a sign of fandom’s political, cultural, and generational conflicts.
A clear explanation of trufan, the fannish ideal of committed participation, authenticity, service, and sometimes playful status anxiety.
A rewritten overview of the Astral League as British fannish satire, mock organization, and playful mythology.
A focused account of Westercon 29 as part of Los Angeles and Western regional science fiction convention culture.
A polished explanation of Tucker Hotel as a fannish dream of perfect convention infrastructure and community hospitality.
A polished explanation of I95 in 95 as a humorous bid, protest gesture, and example of fannish play with convention politics.