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 refined explanation of fugghead as fannish invective, euphemism, and a product of print-era fan language.
A professional overview of Spinoff as a feminist amateur press association and its place in fan publishing history.
A cleaner account of Myriad as part of Southern APA culture and regional science fiction fan publishing.
A rewritten overview of MiSHAP as Detroit amateur press culture, underground humor, and fannish publishing energy.
A professional explanation of Disclave 41, the Dripclave disaster, and why hotel failures become convention folklore.
A polished overview of the Lunarians, New York science fiction fandom, and the club culture behind Lunacon.
A clear explanation of concom as convention committee structure, volunteer labor, departments, and fan governance.
A plain-English guide to the word fannish, how science fiction fans use it, and how it differs from mundane, professional, and commercial culture.
A refined account of Dave Kyle’s memory of Nycon 1 and the value of firsthand accounts from the first Worldcon era.
A serious overview of A Warning, the Yellow Pamphlet, and the First Exclusion Act controversy in early fandom.