Fanfiction History
anub...@my-deja.com
Like so many of you, I started my reading habits with comics: Disney
until I was 10 or 11 and then DC and Marvel.
In my country we don’t have a large access to American comics and in
the late 70’s (I was born in 1970) all the DC comics we had came from
Brazil (Globo, RGE and then Abril). So my first contact with DC
characters came from the movies (Superman, 1978) or from TV (Wonder
Woman and Batman).
Like everybody – I assume – I immediately had a crush on Linda Carter’s
Wonder Woman who populated my most pleasant wetdreams and fantasies.
Then it was Supergirl, who unfortunately was not as popular and so
there were very few stories translated to Portuguese.
So I eagerly waited to see that wonderful blonde female superhero
explode on the covers of the magazines or - when that didn’t happen -
to quickly browse through the pages (Supergirl’s seemed to always be
the last story) to see if she would star in that month’s stories.
It was then 1981 and that was the time I started to write erotic
stories featuring Supergirl and Wonder Woman (then I didn’t know there
was such a thing as writing fanfiction).
I started doing it because I was tired of reading stories that always
showed the girl in the most compromising situations just to be timely
saved by the bell (or other super male bimbo). I could never understand
how could some of the villains have the female superheroes defeated,
fallen at their feet, and never – never! – even try to grope a feeling
from a magnificent breast. (It is known that in the books that E. R.
Burroughs wrote between 1912 and 1915 there are something like 76
threatened rapes without a single consummation).
So, and for me – in plain puberty – writing erotic fanfiction was a way
to satisfy my fantasies and to take the comics a step further. That is
why, even today, I still prefer fanfiction about non-consensual sex and
rape.
Since then however I grew up to be a lawyer – Ok, no flaming now, I’m
one of you! - and a Science Fiction writer and my output of erotic
fiction (non-superhero) is constantly growing up in my drawers for lack
of publishers in Portugal.
Sometimes I start some fanfiction story about Red Sonja or Supergirl,
but then I change their names or just let them unfinished.
Then, one day, there was the Internet!
Although I guessed that I could not be the only one in the world
feeding these fantasies about female superheroes being defeated and
raped, I was thrilled by the amount of fanfiction I could find. Most of
all, I was amazed by the extreme quality of some of them.
That led me to wonder about the beginning of this phenomenon.
I can easily understand the great amount of erotic fanfiction spread
all through the web: non professional or aspiring writers found on the
Web the ideal habitat to publish their stories and get readers feedback.
But what about adult superheroes fanfiction?
Why should we, adult human beings, spend hours in front of our
keyboards to write stories that can never give us any money (that most
of us, writing under false names or nicknames, will never have credit
for) depicting the rape or sexual encounters of worldwide known
fictional characters, just for our amusement and pleasure? (I believe
that the same reasons explain the great amount of Celebs Fanfiction out
there).
So, I proposed myself to write a series of essays (ore a single large
one) about Adult Superhero Fanfiction Writing.
So, please, I would like to ask help from all of you, in order to know
who wrote the first fanfiction (and when and what was it about)?
Also, why do you write fanfiction, and why do you write the kind of
stories you do?
I’m also interested in the legal battles about fanfiction writing or
any other troubles of the past, present or foreseeable future.
And also anything else that you could help me with.
Of course, unless I’m tell not to, everyone will get the due credit for
his or her collaboration in my essay(s).
So, and if you can help me, please write to my e-mail:
or post your answers in the Grey Archive Forum.
Thank you all and keep up your excellent work.
Anubis17
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
anub...@my-deja.com
Although I got some hints from the 'ON EROTIC CONTENT' thread, I would
like to hear something more substantial from all of you.
Thank you.
Anubis17
PS: It is quite demoralizing to be the only one answering to my own
post.
Jashin
Despite having owned a computer most of my life, my first experience
with erotic fanfic was about a year before I finally got online, about3
years ago (online 2 years ago). A friend of mine printed off the Mr.X
Batgirl/Catwoman story for me, and one other that I can't remember.
Before that I really only screwed around on local BBSs, and until I got
the 'web' I never really sow that much.
Needless to say, as soon as I was online I was all over fanfic stuff.
Mr.X site, the superheroine erotic archive (I think that was it) and the
Grey Archive quickly became some of my favorite sites!
I'm going to leave this here for now, but please, let's get some more
people into this! I would like to wait until the 'contents' thread s
replied too again, and something else here. I'm going to try and order
my thoughts some more, now...
walte...@aol.com
would be willing to bet it was probably about "Star Trek." In fact, the
first erotic fan fiction was probably ST, also, and probably about Kirk
and Spock. That's where the origins of the term "slash" (meaning
homosexual sex) came from: K/S meant a Kirk/Spock sex story.
"Star Trek" stories were quite common when I was in college in the
'70's. Of course, there was no WEB and we didn't have newsgroups and
email but ST stories managed to circulate quite easily. A friend of mine
who was a genuine Trekkie had a whole binder full of them and she wrote
some herself, including the "slash" variety. When "Star Wars" hit the
screens in 1977 fan fiction soon followed. Of course, the volume of
stories was nothing like what we see today.
When average folks started being able to access the internet, erotic
fiction in general and fan fiction in particular exploded. Four or five
years ago, before the WEB really got going, most people posted stories
on newsgroups such as alt.sex.stories. At that time, most stories were
general fiction, as opposed to fan fiction, but fan fiction newsgroups
for Trekkies and Star Wars buffs did pop up.
Now, of course, with easy access to the WEB, we have a zillion websites
devoted to various forms of fan fiction, as well as original works. I
think fanfiction is so popular because the characters already exist. The
writer doesn't have to develop them because everyone already knows who
they are, what they look like, etc. Additionally, the fanfiction writer
knows that there is an audience of like minded fans hungry for more
stories.
Another reason why I think fanfiction is as popular as it is is because
the writer, who is a "fan" after all, can put his or her own spin on
things, or tell the story from a different point of view. The writer can
also engage in speculation (what if Princess Leia had been captured on
Endor and turned to the Dark side?) or give to the characters certain
qualities or attributes that may not have been obvious in the original.
For example, an entire genre of fanfiction devoted to Xena: Warrior
Princess is based on the premise that Xena and Gabrielle have a sexual
relationship.
Erotic fanfiction is, of course, a logical progression in the evolution
of fanfiction. Many of the original subjects are G or PG rated, so
adding sex to the mix brings a new and different element to the stories.
Star Wars is a good example. Through four movies there is barely a hint
of anything sexual, yet many fanfiction stories depict Luke, Leia, Han
and, more recently, Queen Amidala, Obi-Wan and Qui-Jonn in some sexual
situation or other. A favorite seems to be NC sex involving Princess
Leia. There are also many "slash" stories with Obi-Wan and Qui-Jonn.
The popularity of erotic fanfiction is also due, I think, to the fact
that the writer may remain anonymous and yet share his or her inner most
feelings and fantasies with many other people. This is a powerful
attraction. We can share through our writings things that we would never
discuss with friends and relatives knowing that there is a friendly
audience of people who have something in common with us, namely interest
in the particular fanfiction subject.
Regarding motivation, I think the motives for writing erotic fanfiction
are as varied as the writers. When I wrote "The Tie Fighter" I thought
it would be fun to tell the Star Wars story from the Imperial point of
view, portraying men and women in the service of the Empire as
thinking, feeling, sexual beings and not the mindless automotons
portrayed in the movies.
Overall, my conclusion is that the development of easy access to the WEB
has enabled people to share their writings with thousands, maybe
millions, of like minded people all over the world, thereby developing a
sort of electronic comraderie. We have that here in the Grey Archive
Forum. We may never actually meet each other, but we share a fondness
for Grey Archive stories, and fan fiction in general.
Hope this helps.
WalterS
Jashin
> The popularity of erotic fanfiction is also due, I think, to the fact
> that the writer may remain anonymous and yet share his or her inner
most
> feelings and fantasies with many other people. This is a powerful
> attraction. We can share through our writings things that we would
never
> discuss with friends and relatives knowing that there is a friendly
> audience of people who have something in common with us, namely
interest
> in the particular fanfiction subject.
Crap! Did I forget to mention the anonymity angle? Well, at least
someone did!
I agree completely with this. I have a few friends who might appreciate
some of this stuff, but the vast majority would certainly not admit it
if they did, and a few of my more judgemental friends would probably
'not approve'. I think you've hit it right on the head; this community
of like minded individuals, all of us safely and anonymously enjoying
our fantasies.
I find I also kind of enjoy wondering if I know some of these authors
maybe...it's neat to think that your neighbor or co-worker could have
written the story you just enjoyed.
> Regarding motivation, I think the motives for writing erotic
fanfiction
> are as varied as the writers. When I wrote "The Tie Fighter" I thought
> it would be fun to tell the Star Wars story from the Imperial point of
> view, portraying men and women in the service of the Empire as
> thinking, feeling, sexual beings and not the mindless automotons
> portrayed in the movies.
I never realized you were the writer of that series! I enjoyed it quite
a bit. :)
Jashin
anub...@my-deja.com
walte...@aol.com wrote:
> Overall, my conclusion is that the development of easy access to the
WEB
> has enabled people to share their writings with thousands, maybe
> millions, of like minded people all over the world, thereby
developing a
> sort of electronic comraderie. We have that here in the Grey Archive
> Forum. We may never actually meet each other, but we share a fondness
> for Grey Archive stories, and fan fiction in general.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> WalterS
>
Man, it sure did. thank you very much.
It never had occured to me that the first fanfiction could be about
Star Treck and I loved to find out where slash fiction came from.
I also agree with you about the sense of community.
Please, if you remember something else or want to say anything, feel
free to do it. I'll love it.
Than you very much.
(Please read my post on the EROTIC CONTENT thread to understand why I'm
posting such a brief reply.)
Anubis17