Science Fiction Fandom FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Science Fiction Fandom.
This FAQ about Science Fiction Fandom was compiled and written by Vicki Rosenzweig vr@panix.com with numerous contributions by others.
Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Vicki Rosenzweig.
Minor cleanup; thanks to the vigilant eyes of Sharon Sbarsky, Philip Chee, and David Goldfarb.
1. What is this newsgroup about? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)- First of all, science fiction fandom. That ...
- 2. But where's the science fiction? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Discussions of written science fiction (novels and ...
- 3. What other fannish newsgroups and mailing lists are there?
- uk.people.sf-fans is a newgroup focusing on ...
- 4. So, is anything off-topic here? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Two answers, one long, one short:...
- 5. Can I post my e-zine or convention report to this group? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- If you think it will interest us, sure. If it's very long, ...
- 6. So, why do you all post this endless chat? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Basically, science fiction fandom is a loose community of people,...
- 7. I don't want chat, I want information. Can I find it on the Web? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Quite a bit of it, yes. http://fanac.org/index.html is a ...
- 8. Where else can I find out about upcoming conventions? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- The SF-Lovers Conventions Listing ...
- 9. You said it's social. Do I have to know you folks already? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- No. Think of it as wandering into a party that your neighbor ...
- 10. How do I introduce myself? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Any way you like. You can do a formal delurk--Hi, I'm Z, I'...
- 11. What is a RASSEF Award? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- This is one of the ways people say Hey, that was a really ...
- 12. Who gives out RASSEF Awards? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Anyone who has been sufficiently moved by a great post....
- 15. Where can I read RASSEF Award-winning posts? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- There is no specific archive, but you can always try using Google'...
- 16. And what is a RASSEF Gold Star? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Aahz Maruch introduced this term for posts he thinks ...
- 17. Why do the subject lines have nothing to do with the contents of the posts? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Because people are lazy. Given the chatty nature of ...
- 18. Is this a family newsgroup? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Well, it seems to have a bunch of cousins, but no spouse ...
- 20. Okay, who is Patrick O'Brian? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- The author of a series of novels about the British Navy, ...
- 21. Why all the Jewish minutiae? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Why is this newsgroup different from all other newsgroups?...
- 22. What's the difference between beer and ale?
- (by Mike Cheater, with minor editing by Vicki Rosenzweig): ...
- 23. Why do people worry when someone's name is the subject of a post? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Because that type of subject line may convey the wrong message....
- 24. What defines an sf convention?
- A science fiction convention is a gathering of the tribe, or ...
- 25. Are "media conventions" sf conventions?
- This one is open to debate. Most fans, regardless of ...
- 26. What's the difference between a "membership" and a "ticket"? (sf conventions)
- Attitude, either that of the buyer or of the organizers. If ...
- 27. What is the Worldcon? (sf conventions)
- The Worldcon is, in some sense, the center of ...
- 28. How do I join? (Worldcon - sf conventions)
- You join by sending money for your membership to any ...
- 29. I can't afford the amount for the upcoming Worldcon, and would like to find a less expensive membership. Or, I want to transfer my membership, can I do that here?
- Yes. As the Worldcons approach, there are people who ...
- 30. What is whinging?
- This wonderfully expressive term seems to be primarily a ...
- 31. What are TAFF and DUFF?
- These fan funds (that's what the FF stands for in both) ...
- 33. What is Vnn Bnt, why shouldn't I talk about her, and why are there those funny stars in her name?
- She is the author of a very bad novel. She claims it is ...
- 34. Avram, can we put this in the FAQ? Pretty please? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- A: Rasseff Man, Rasseff Man,...
- 35. What does AKICIF mean? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- All Knowledge Is Contained In Fandom. Alternatively, and ...
- 36. Are cinnamon raisin bagels real bagels?
- Depends on your definitions. I think of them as real ...
- 37. D? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- There are secrets of Chuck Harris with which fandom was not ...
- 38. Why "You are XXX and I claim my five pounds?" (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- This started with publicity campaigns by the British *Westminster ...
- 39. I think the FAQ is jes' fine, except I didn't see a single reference to Pogo or Walt Kelly in it. (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- We have met the Frequently Asked Question, and it is us!...
- 40. Asterisk (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- An asterisk is the conventional footnote symbol. On rassef, [*] ...
- 41. Who's Bob? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- (Your uncle.) Bob is the character in old fashioned stories to ...
- 42. Who is Vicki Rosenzweig and why is she keeper of this FAQ? (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
- Vicki Rosenzweig (vr@redbird.org) is a long-time fan who ...
- 43. What is Mornington Crescent?
- A station on the Northern Line of the London Underground. Also, ...
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