FANATIONALISM

from Fancyclopedia 2

Despite its minuteness, fandom has in its thirty-odd years of existence developed a distinct national spirit similar to the nationalism of modern states. The idea of a national government, covering all the slan race, is seen in many drives for a general fan organization. The idea of a homeland is exemplified in dens, science fiction houses, clubrooms, and finally in the proposed Slan Center and Fantasy Foundation. This dictionary is a work in the national language; another facet of the same thing was the old plugging of Esperanto as Science Fiction's Tung of Tomoro. In the matter of national religion we have Roscoe, plus such things as ghughism, foofooism, khamsin, etc, but more truly religious is the quest for a Purpose for fandom, and the idea of swearing on your honor as a fan. The fannish idea of the mission of the nation has been satirized in fan fiction about the setting up of a Fantastocracy and the like. Race superiority is implied in the claims of starbegottenness and slanhood. A national literature complete in all fields has encouraged work in fan and fantasy drama, narrative poetry, music, and so on. National heroes have had tough sledding because of our iconoclastic bent, but a few near-deities have emerged (plus a few near- demons). Expansionism is expressed in recruiting activity. A number of distinctive fan folkways are described scattered thru this encyclopedia.