Many people love stories about space.
They meet to talk and play. They go to big parties called meets. These meets are a lot of fun. You can meet new friends there. Do you like space stories too?
Some people love stories about space.
They call themselves fans.
Fans used to write letters to each other. They even made their own small books. These books are called fanzines.
Fans also meet in person. They go to big parties called conventions.
At these meets, they talk and share ideas.
Some fans even become writers. They start as fans and then write books. This is a fun way to make friends.
It is a big group of people. They love to explore new ideas together.
Science fiction fans are a special group of people. They love stories about space and new ideas. Many fans call this group "fandom."
Fandom began through letters in magazines. Fans wrote to each other to share thoughts. They also made small books called fanzines. These were often made by fans for other fans. Today, fans use the internet to talk. They also use blogs and newsgroups.
Fans love to meet in person. They go to large events called conventions.
Some conventions are very big. The Worldcon is a famous one. It has been held every year since World War II. At Worldcon, fans give out the Hugo Awards. These awards honor great science fiction work. Some fans even start as readers and become famous authors.
Fandom is a very social group. It includes many different types of people. Some fans love movies or comic books. Others love to dress up in costumes. It is a place to find friends who love the same things.
Science fiction fandom is a special community of people. They share a deep interest in science fiction stories. Many fans simply call this group "fandom."
It is like a small world with its own rules. Fans often use special words or jargon to talk. They even form families or marriages within the group. Fandom is a way to connect with others through imagination. It is a very social way to enjoy books and ideas.
Fans connect in many different ways. In the beginning, they used magazine letter columns. Readers would write their addresses to the editors. Soon, fans began writing letters directly to each other. They would meet in person if they lived nearby. Later, they created fanzines, which are amateur magazines.
These small books were often traded instead of sold. Today, fans use the internet to stay in touch. They use websites, blogs, and newsgroups to talk. Many fans were also among the first to use computers.
This community has a long and interesting history. It started through the magazines of Hugo Gernsback. In 1929, a small club called the Scienceers met in Harlem. Most of those first members were young boys. In 1930, the first fan magazine called The Comet was made. By 1932, fans published a magazine called The Time Traveller. In 1934, the Science Fiction League was formed. This was the very first official organization for fans. It helped many local clubs grow across the country.
There are many important groups and events to know. The Worldcon is a very famous annual convention. It has been held every year since World War II. At Worldcon, people give out the Hugo Awards. These awards celebrate great science fiction work.
Some clubs, like the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, are very old. They have existed since 1934. In the UK, the Eastercon is a large book-focused event. In Italy, the Eurocon is a major European gathering.
Fandom is like a tree with many branches. It grows into many different smaller groups. Some people focus on comic books or movies. Others enjoy gaming or dressing up in costumes.
There are even groups for specific series like Star Trek. Some fans are called "filkers" or "costumers." Fandom is a place where many different people find a home. It turns a simple interest into a lifelong community.
{
"text": "Science fiction fandom, often called simply \"fandom,\" is a distinct subculture of people united by an interest in science fiction. It is more than just a group of readers; it is a social community with its own literature and specialized jargon. Within this community, people form deep connections, including marriages and multi-generational fan families. While fandom often lacks a single formal organization, it maintains a life of its own through various clubs and social networks.
\n\nThe mechanism of fandom began through the letter columns of science fiction magazines. Editors like Hugo Gernsback published readers' comments along with their addresses. This allowed fans to write directly to one another, moving the conversation from the magazine to personal correspondence. As fans discovered they lived near each other, they began meeting in person. This social interaction eventually led to the creation of fanzines. These are amateur, non-professional publications produced by fans to discuss the genre. Fanzines were generally traded among enthusiasts rather than sold in stores. Today, while many fanzines continue to exist, digital outlets like websites, blogs, and Usenet newsgroups have largely supplanted printed versions.\n\nFandom has evolved through several distinct stages and organizational types. At the earliest level, there were small, local clubs like the Scienceers, which met in a Harlem apartment in 1929. As the community grew, formal organizations emerged, such as the Science Fiction League (SFL) founded in 1934. This league allowed local branches to join by filling out applications. Some clubs became permanent cultural institutions. For example, the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS) was founded in 1934 and still exists today. Other groups, like the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society (PSFS), also remain active after being formed in 1935.
\n\nThe history of fandom is deeply tied to the early 20th-century magazine industry. In May 1930, the Chicago branch of the Science Correspondence Club produced the first science fiction fan magazine, *The Comet*. By 1932, a New York City circle published *The Time Traveller*, featuring contributions from Forrest J Ackerman. These early efforts paved the way for the massive conventions we see now. The first World Science Fiction Convention, or Worldcon, was held in 1939 alongside the New York World's Fair. Since the end of World War II, Worldcon has been held annually, serving as the premier event for the community.\n\nConventions serve as the primary way fans gather, and they vary greatly in scale and purpose. Worldcon is a major event where the Hugo Awards are presented to celebrate excellence in the field. Attendance at Worldcon can reach 8,000 people or more. In contrast, some gatherings are minimalist \"relaxacons\" with only about 100 attendees. There are also large commercial \"gate shows\" that focus on media like film and video games rather than literature. One notable example is Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia, which has seen attendances exceeding 20,000 since the year 2000.
\n\nFandom is a global phenomenon with unique traditions in different countries. In Sweden, \"Sverifandom\" emerged in the early 1950s, leading to the first Swedish convention, LunCon, in 1956. The UK fandom maintains close ties with the US and hosts the Eastercon, a large literary convention held over the Easter weekend. In Italy, fandom grew through magazines like *Oltre il Cielo* in the late 1950s. This led to the creation of the Eurocon, the first European convention, held in Trieste in 1972. Today, the association World SF Italia coordinates the national convention, known as Italcon.\n\nFinally, fandom acts as an incubator for many specialized subcommunities. Some groups, often called \"fringe fandoms,\" grew out of science fiction but now operate independently. These include comic book fandom, gaming, and media fandom. Within the core community, there are also highly cohesive subcultures. \"Filkers\" focus on music, \"costumers\" focus on dress, and \"SMOFs" are those who run conventions. Whether someone is a \"Trekkie\" focused on *Star Trek* or a member of the 501st Legion, fandom provides a structured way for people to explore shared passions.",
"media": [
"File:Audience waiting for the Hugo Award Ceremony at the 75th World Science Fiction Convention in Helsinki, Finland in 2017.jpg",
"File:WSFS 001.jpg",
"File:Star Wars Celebration IV - The 501st legion guards the Obi-Wan bust I won as sculptor Lawrence Noble returns it to the booth (4878296123).jpg"
]
}
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