Spoof

Synonyms:
See also:	Comedy, Crack, Parody
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A spoof is a deliberate hoax often meant to make good-natured fun of a topic or matter. Unlike parodies, which choose a particular work as the subject of their mockery, spoofs tend to be more broadly based, poking fun at the characteristics of a genre, rather than a single work. In fandom, the Mary Sue concept is a frequent spoof target.

Due to the close similarity of the definitions, many works are labelled as spoofs when they are parodies, and vice versa.

Example Fanworks

Star Trek TOS

• "Things Are Seldom What They Seem" by Ruth Berman (takeoff on Gilbert and Sullivan), Spockanalia Issue #2 (1968)
• "Marisoo Tudewesque" [aka "Mary Sue to the Rescue"] by Sharon Macy (regular satirical Mary Sue serial story), Datazine Issues #27-39 (1983-1986)
• "The Many Ways To Eden" by Elizabeth Carrie, (story in play form), Masiform D Issue #8 (1979)
• "Errand of Mary Sue" by Linda Slusher, Masiform D, Issue #14 (1984)
• "My Fair Starship" (con skit which is both a parody (it mocks the typical Star Trek episode) and a spoof (takes off the musical genre), performed at Springfest (1989)

Star Trek TNG

• "The Truth About Number One" by Sandra Wise, Masiform D Issue #15 (1986)

Sliders

• Earth Prime, a Sliders fansite that began as a spoof of the alternate Earths on the show and became a fan resource. (1998-ongoing)

The X-Files

• Round Files by Rodent (AKA: YouKneek) - a spoof of the RPF trope where the actors exchange places with their characters. (1995)