Alexander the Great

Fandom
Name(s):	Alexander the Great
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Alexander the Great was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon between 336-323 BC.

Fandom

Some fans were inspired by Alexander the Great (TV Movie 1963) and this inspired many Star Trek: TOS fanworks due to William Shatner's starring role in that film.

Other inspirations are the novels of Mary Renault's The Alexander Trilogy.

The 2004 movie, directed by Oliver Stone, also has many fics on Archive of Our Own. See Works in Alexander (2004).

Pairing

Almost always Alexander/Hephaistion.

The Star Trek Connection

The cover of Way of the Warrior #6 by Shelley Butler -- from a fan "I'd been marveling at this lavish cover of Kirk (albeit in an 'Alexander the Great pose') for days before I opened it up and saw that it was a new artist. How fortunate for fandom. The shading used presents a profile that comes alive off the page. Even the hair has a genuine look to it, rather than that 'too clean' appearance that so many other illos present."

In the first authorized biography of William Shatner, Shatner: Where No Man by Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath, one chapter is devoted to an interview with Gene Roddenberry. The authors compared Kirk's friendship with Spock to the bond between Alexander the Great and his friend Hephaistion.

Shatner had played Alexander in Alexander the Great (filmed in 1963, aired in 1968), and both he and Roddenberry described themselves as fans of the historical Alexander.

In that book, Roddenberry further revealed that he had cast Shatner as Kirk partly on the basis of his performance as Alexander.

In context, a series of historical novels about Alexander's life by Mary Renault were appearing at the time this book was being prepared, and Roddenberry had read them.

Example Fanworks

Star Trek Fiction

• Gold Towards the Golden by Cheryl Rice (1976)
• The Sun Rising Eva Stuart 1981)
• The Gateway of the King by Eva Stuart (1984)
• The Author by Leigh Biedeaux (1987, has a Mary Renault twist)
• Sojourns, a controversial RPSStar Trek novel by Jean Hinson (1988)
• Alexander by Sue Embury (1993)
• Protector of Logic by Farfalla Caquí (2007)

Mary Renault Fiction

• After the Contest by baranduin (2005)
• In the God’s Hands by fawatson (2008)

Alexander/Hephaistion Fiction

• Succubus, Incubus by Maggie McClendon was one of the first stories to note the linking character/relational similarities between Kirk/Spock and Alexander/Hephaistion.(1978)
• The Book of Smutty Days #4 contains a Alexander/Hephaistion story (2006)

Other Fiction

• The Quality of Mercy by Rosemary C (2002, Highlander)

Art

• 

  by Roo for the story The Sun Rising

• 

  Alexander and Kirk by Sue Embury, from the zine Alexander

• 

  Alexander the Great by Sue Embury, from the zine Alexander

Archives & Fannish Links

• Alexander stories @ Fanfiction.net (general Alexander the Great fics?)
• Alexander fanworks @ Archive of Our Own (specifically based on the 2004 Oliver Stone movie)

Communities

Discussion and News Communities

• alex_book_club: Discussion about fictional and non-fictional literature about Alexander the Great.
• Alexander_info: Information, fic recommendations, icons, questions...
• megalexandros: History of Alexander the Great and ancient Macedon: Community that focuses on history but encourages other discussions (art, fiction, movies) as well

General Fanfic Communities

• alexanderfics: Alexander the Great Fanfiction and more
• alexander_rpfic: Alexander Real Person Fiction
• atgstories: Fanfiction and discussions about Alexander the Great and his relationship with Hephaistion, other characters are allowed and appreciated as well

Character and Pairing Specific Communities

• bagoastheeunuch: Discussions, information, fanfiction, fanart, etc. about Bagoas the eunuch
• hephaistionfans: Discussions, information, fanfiction, fanart, etc. about Hephaistion

Theme Specific Communities

• epicslash: Fanfiction, fanart and discussions about Sword and Sandal fandoms
• historic_slash: Fanfiction, fanart and discussions about same-sex love from the beginning of time to 1950
• maryrenaultfics: Fanfiction & Fanart Community related to the works of Mary Renault

Roleplay Groups

• thealexanderrp THEALEXANDERRP
• alexanderrpg Alexander RPG

Icon Communities

• Alexander Icons: Alexander Icon Community

Others

• gorgidas & The Theban Band: slash fanart

Mainstream Films

• Sikandar (1941)
• Alexander the Great, starring Richard Burton (1956)
• Alexander the Great, starring William Shatner (1968)
• Alexander, directed by Oliver Stone (2004)
• Reign: The Conqueror (2009)

Fan Resources

• Alexander the Great fandom overview @ newbieguide