rich brown's definitions

fanzine

Combination of fan and zine. Coined in 1940 by Maryland sf fan L. Russell Chauvenet to apply to the amateur publications put out by sf fans (as opposed to "prozines," the professional magazines). (Previously they had been called "fan magazines" but the new term was promptly adopted since "fan magazines" also meant professional magazines put out at the time about movie stars.) The term has since been coopted by any number of interest areas where amateur publications are involved, including but not limited to rock.

I used a mimeograph to publish my fanzine.

by rich brown August 8, 2004

disty

In science fiction fandom, an issue or mailing of an amateur press association (apa); short for "distribution". Also: disty-wisty-pooums, umpkin, chicken salad sandwich. Started out being used by local apas associated with local clubs, where more copies were handed out to people in attendance than were actually mailed.

After it was collated, Ben was given a copy of the disty.

by rich brown August 12, 2004

apa

Acronym for amateur press association. In sf fandom, it is a bulletin board-like system conducted through snail mail that produces actual artifacts in the form of apazines. For each edition (called a "mailing" or "distribution"), members contribute preprinted personal informal fanzines (apazines), many of which include or consist mostly or entirely of comments on the contributions published in the previous mailing or distribution. The contributions go to an Official Collator (OC) or Official Editor (OE), who makes up mailings/distributions consisting of one copy of each zine and gives or mails them out to each of the members. To remain a member, generally one must meet minimum activity minac requirements, usually defined as a certain number of pages of original material within a given timeframe, plus (in most instances) pay dues to defray the costs of bulk postage for the mailings/distributions that are not handed out and the publication of an Official Organ (OO) which accompanies them.

"He started a new apa to discuss politics."

by rich brown August 11, 2004

deadwood

In science fiction fandom, someone who joins an amateur press associaton, pays dues but does not contribute and thus receives a full year’s mailings without providing input or feedback. Alternatively, someone who remains a member of an apa by paying dues and meeting only the absolute minimum activity requirements, usually badly and at the last minute.

"Jim is deadwood in FAPA."

by rich brown August 11, 2004

crifanac

In science fiction fandom, mean CRItical FAN ACtivity. Some aspect of an activity in sf fandom deemed more important than others, i.e., meeting minimum activity requirements in an amateur press association at the last possible minute. Coined in the late 1940s by Charles Burbee and usually (but not always) used with satirical intent.

He didn't stop to eat; he was involved in crifanac.

by rich brown August 11, 2004

5 by

Short for "5 by 5" meaning "loud and clear." Also used to mean "I'm okay" per Faith (Eliza Dusku), the dark slayer on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.

"I hear you five-by-five."

"I'm five-by-five with that."

by rich brown August 13, 2004

DNP

Acroynym for Do Not Print (or, for Net purposes, Do Not Post). This is more important in sf fan etiquette than in netiquette; in the latter, it is presumed that it is Bad Form to quote someone else's email on a bulletin board, although some people still sometimes make the error of doing so. While letters technically remain the intellectual property of the writer, most newspapers, magazines and fanzines assume anything submitted to them is for publication, so saying, “The following is DNP...” indicates that you are withdrawing any implicit permission to print that part of your missive.

Please consider my comments DNP.

by rich brown August 11, 2004