A Defense for Fan Fiction
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| Title: | A Defense for Fan Fiction |
| Creator: | Louis Kuslan |
| Date(s): | May 1939 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Science Fiction |
| Topic: | Fanfiction, the fan-to-pro pipeline |
| External Links: | Hosted online by fanac.org. Spaceways #5 pg. 11. May 1939. |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
A Defense for Fan Fiction was a 1939 essay by science fiction fan Louis Kuslan.
At the time, "fan fiction" and "fan art" nearly always meant original genre fiction that was published in an amateur zine instead of a pro magazine. Kuslan pointed to these works as important in their own right, as well as a stage of development for fans who had aspirations to go pro.
See James V. Taurasi's Bob and Koso stories as an example of poorly received fanfiction that was referenced by several fans in the discussion of Kuslan's article.
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There are several prominent fans today who insist that fan fiction is punk, that it is nothing but tripe, and that fan magazines should not carry anything but articles, etc. No doubt they're right in many cases. All of us have read stuff that should never have seen the light of day, let alone a magazine. Take, for instance, the "Bob and Koso" stories by James V. Taurasi, or even a poem which I once wrote for Fantascience Digest in a moment of abberation, irrationality, and hallucination. (Ugh, I still shudder to think of it and how I was razzed!) To return to the "Bob and Koso" stories, they are turned out by the author in carload lots (much like Cummings' and Schachner's work) merely as something to fill up space for a hard pressed editor, or to fill an occasional publication put out by himself. They have never been intended to be good, they were never intended to do more than fill up the aforementioned space, and, if possible, to afford entertainment of a sort to some of the more naive fans. Taurasi will bear these statements out. (Don't shoot me now, Jimmy! Wait until I finish!) As for my poetry, (rather call it verse) it should never have been accepted, no, not even if the editor was pressed for material.However, not all fan fiction is bad, in fact very, very little is unfit for publication. Take for instance, some of the best poetry I have ever read, the poetry of Robert W. Lowndes. "Doc", as he is called, has published a portion of his work in a hecto'd publication called Strange in the FAPA. He has had other excellent work, fully deserving of publication in the pro magazines, in various other fan publications.
How could anyone read "The Last Fan" in Helios by Sam Moskowitz or "Tarunguro" in Cosmic Tales without realizing that Moskowitz had ability and was using it? Or read "The Dead Sleep in Secrecy" by Bob Tucker in Spaceways. Of course, the material in the printed fan magazines is high in quality, almost without exception. For instance, "The Sniper" in The Amateur Correspondent, or "Legends of the Race" by F. Arnold Rhodes in no. 3 Unique.
Naturally, I have picked some of the stories and poems which have been especially remembered as outstanding. But, a story does not have to be remembered for years and years in order to be good. Practically all the stories in Astounding Science Fiction ARE GOOD; that is, they are readable and entertaining to some extent. How many of these are remembered for 3 months? For 1 year? A very small percentage. Yet, these stories are not mediocre in any sense of the word. So with fan stories, there are a few outstanding ones, many deserving of reading and praise, and a few which should never have been published.
And, if my previous arguments have had no effect on the hardened hater of fan fiction, let you who are such remember that fan fiction should be, and is, the finest sort of training for embryo authors. Such well known fans as Oliver Saari, Fred Pohl, Don Wollheim, and Mort Weisinger (the editor of Thrilling Wonder Stories, Strange, and Startling) have had stories and poems printed in the various pro magazines. Mort Weisinger, especially, has been helped by his writing, for he became a member of the staff of Standard Publications thru Fantasy Magazine. Most newcomers to the pro field never did any writing for the fan magazines, but, probably, they never heard of the fan publications. By having his material published in the [fan mags], the amateur author is able to present his work to an audience of critical fans who can and do point out faults in the story, poem, article, etc.
Writing for the fan mags does not, in any way, assure success in the pro field, but I firmly believe that it helps, and anything that helps, should not be discouraged. Therefore, don't criticize fan fiction by describing it as "lousy". If it is, give reasons for the author's edification. If it's good, give credit and lots of it.
So, fan, don't characterize fan fiction as "unreadable". It's not. GIVE IT A BREAK BY READING IT!!
Reactions
The best article in the issue is Lou Kuslan's A DEFENSE FOR FAN FICTION, and I entirely agree with him, and maybe more. As for Jimmy's Bob & Koso yarns, I guess the fans will with joy [sic] upon hearing that after much cajoling and pleading, I have finally secured THE DEATH OF BOB & KOSO from Jimmy, therefore ridding the fan field of those beloved characters. It will be printed in the third issue of SCIENTI-TALES. (...Don't forget B & K can always be brought back as ghosts, and put in weird fan mags, so don't be too happy! [Harry Warner, ed.])John Giunta: Letter printed in Spaceways #6, pg. 20. June 1939.
Would any fan mag editor like a nice Bob & Koso story which I am agenting for Taurasi? (Not this one. But I just know some others will rush you with bids for it. [Harry Warner, ed.])Sam Moskowitz: Letter printed in Spaceways #8, pg. 21. Oct. 1939.
I don't think Kuslan went far enough in stressing the importance of the fan writer. It's my firm belief that in the next five years, editors of the non-pay publications will be so deluged with really good manuscripts that they can be as choosey in their pickings as their big time brothers.The pro-editors are beginning to thumb thru the fan mags---are beginning to notice the work of certain amateur writers. Fan publications have already arrived---all they need now is a Press agent.
Joseph Mitchel Boyer: Letter printed in Spaceways #6, pg. 26. June 1939.
The articles were all good, but I don't agree with Kuslan. I have yet to read any fan fiction that is very good. But I still have hopes.James Tillman: Letter printed in Spaceways #7, pg. 22. Aug. 1939.
I thoroughly agree with Kuslan's plea for fan fiction. I actually like the stuff.Norman F. Stanley: Letter printed in Spaceways #7, pg. 23. Aug. 1939.