Fan Fiction

In 1967, the self-produced fan-magazine Spockanalia was launched, creating a distinct cultural heritage practice: fan fiction or fanfiction. Star Trek fandom used these amateur publishing practices to document and expand upon major media texts. In doing so, fans produced a unique form of fiction that has provided enduring critical commentary in popular culture. This chapter surveys textual transformative works within their social, cultural, and historical contexts by overviewing major fan fiction works with Star Trek fandom. In the survey of key materials, this chapter argues that fanfiction was used as: (1) a tool for critique; (2) pleasure-making; and (3) diversity-building. Although a comprehensive list of fans’ textual engagement could never fully be documented within a single chapter, this work attempts to outline unique work produced by Star Trek fandom that shaped creative writing practices.