"A Trekkie's Tale" was published in the print zine Menagerie #2 and was "How's Treks #5," one of a number of short parodies in that zine series. Though the author is listed as Anonymous in the zine's table of contents, the author is Paula Smith.
Though the fact that "Mary Sue" originated from a short Star Trek parody fic is still far from common knowledge in fandom, "A Trekkie's Tale" has attained a degree of infamy in the decades since its publication with fans delightedly (or sometimes not-so-delightedly) discovering and sharing this piece of trivia. Some essays and analyses have been published that examine the evolution of Mary Sue from her Trek origins. Smith has also spoken about the specific inspiration for the fic (see: The Originator of the Term "Mary Sue"), further situating "A Trekkie's Tale" and Mary Sue within the fandom trends of the time.
Our ever-popular Bingo Challenge returns this year from Tuesday 1st June to Monday 14th June, and new and expert editors alike are invited to take part!
In Fanlore Bingo, editors fill out a 3x3 square bingo card by completing editing tasks, and there are two cards to complete! Check out the Challenge Help page to learn more about taking part, and then grab your Beginner Bingo card or your Expert Bingo card to start the challenge! Each card has more details below it about how to complete the editing tasks. If you're feeling ambitious, you can complete both cards for a Total Blackout...
