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 guide to fanartist, the fannish term for artists whose work appears in fanzines, convention art shows, fan publications, and fan culture.
A guide to fanwriter, the fannish term for someone who writes essays, letters, reviews, reports, and commentary within fandom.
A guide to faned, the fannish word for fanzine editor, and why fan editors mattered to science fiction fandom.
A guide to prodom, the professional side of science fiction culture, and how it differs from fandom, fanac, fanzines, and amateur publishing.
A guide to egoboo, the fannish term for ego boost, recognition, praise, and the small rewards that motivate fan activity.
A timeline of the Science Fiction League, from the reader networks before 1934 through its chapters, UK influence, Worldcon context, and decline.
A plain-English glossary of science fiction convention terms, including Worldcon, concom, bid, SMOF, gopher, con suite, filk, masquerade, and dead dog party.
A curated guide to influential science fiction fanzines and why they mattered to fan publishing, criticism, archives, and fandom history.
A practical history of how science fiction fanzines were typed, duplicated, mailed, traded, reviewed, and preserved before the web.
A year-by-year reference list of First Fandom Hall of Fame winners, with context on what the award recognizes and how to read the list.