Comments on: Fanspeak: The Lingo of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fandom

By: Review: Mortal Instruments Series

Review: Mortal Instruments Series — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:44:01 +0000

[...] Fanspeak: The Lingo of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fandom (oup.com) [...]

By: Review: Mortal Instruments Series

Review: Mortal Instruments Series — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:44:01 +0000

[...] Fanspeak: The Lingo of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fandom (oup.com) [...]

By: What Fanfiction and Roleplaying Games taught me about Writing | (Semi) Intellectual Blathering

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:44:03 +0000

[...] Fanspeak: The Lingo of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fandom (oup.com) Share and Enjoy: [...]

By: ruthiechan

ruthiechan — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:02:36 +0000

This was a neat article to read. Have you ever seen the Fan Speak definitions compiled together by Jon D. Swartz? You can see it here: http://www.fandominion.com/fan-speak

By: Charles Wells

Charles Wells — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:48:44 +0000

One word that was common in sf fandom in the 1950’s when I was active was “gafia” — “get away from it all”, complete with verb gafiate. It seems to seep out of fandom and be used by other young people we know. It was a useful word because it didn’t imply taking a vacation or any other formal arrangement — just bumming out, as another subculture would have it.

By: marie

marie — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:40:41 +0000

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By: Key To English » Geek-speak

Key To English » Geek-speak — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:20:46 +0000

[...] of how different social groups use language to cement their in-group status, then have a look here for expressions used by fans of science fiction and [...]

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:18:47 +0000

That’s a good point, Steve. I feel like I’ve seen that happening too. I can’t remember the last time I actually heard the full “science fiction” when someone was talking about a book.

By: steve davidson

steve davidson — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:09:35 +0000

Specifically in regards to “sci fi” (which term I personally use as a negative) and its on-going evolution:

I have two Google news alerts, one for “science fiction” and one for “sci fi” that I’ve had going for almost two years now and, at least by Google’s measure, the two are becoming more and more distinct. The first most often is used to refer to literary SF (and “good” SF), while the second increasingly refers strictly to media SF – television, movies, comics, mass-appeal media events &etc.

It seems to me that this evolution is leading to the following three definitions:
Science Fiction – “real” SF on paper (and secondarily, always “good”/well-perceived science fiction)
Sci Fi – media SF, SF for the masses
Skiffy – bad SF of any type

By: Maia Cheli-Colando

Maia Cheli-Colando — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:07:36 +0000

Jeff –

Nice blog post! I wonder to what extent regional differences (and perhaps the age of the speaker/audience) play a part in the debate over sci-fi? I confess I’ve always used the term. And, I am amused by the new pronunciation. If I write poorly, will you then accuse me of skiffing?

I grew up next door to Clarion, and in college I worked at Curious (a comic-and-book-store with a heavy sff bias and Clarion students on staff); we all used the term then. So the “outsider alert” perplexes me a tad. (Politics, in science fiction fandom? )

Cheers,
Maia