The Fanfiction Reader: Folk Tales for the Digital Age

by Francesca Coppa

Overview

Written originally as a fanfiction for the series Twilight, the popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey has made obvious what was always clear to fans and literary scholars alike: that it is an essential human activity to read and retell epic stories of famous heroic characters. The Fanfiction Reader showcases the extent to which the archetypal storytelling exemplified by fanfiction has continuities with older forms: the communal tale-telling cultures of the past and the remix cultures of the present have much in common. Short stories that draw on franchises such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, James Bond, and others are accompanied by short contextual and analytical essays wherein Coppa treats fanfiction—a genre primarily written by women and minorities—as a rich literary tradition in which non-mainstream themes and values can thrive.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780472053483
Publisher:	University of Michigan Press
Publication date:	03/02/2017
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Francesca Coppa is Professor of English and Film Studies at Muhlenberg College.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction: Five Things That Fanfiction Is, and One Thing It Isn't 1

The Communications Officer's Tale 18

Introduction 18

Rheanna, Lunch and Other Obscenities 23

The FBI Agent's Tale 47

Introduction 47

Pares, The Sad Ballad of Mary Sue's Blues 51

The Slayer's Tale 57

Introduction 57

Jennet Smith, next 61

The Super Man's Tale 70

Introduction 70

Koi, Three Fairy Tales of Smallville 75

The Dwarf's Tale 93

Introduction 93

Brancher, They Say of the Elves 96

The Pop Star's Tale 101

Introduction 101

Kaneko, The Vacation 105

The Spymaster's Tale 120

Introduction 120

Astolat, Queen of Spades 126

The Wizard's Tales 135

Introduction 135

Yahtzee, Never Is a Promise 142

Suitesamea, Scars 158

Busaikko, Once upon a Time 169

The Companions' Tale 173

Introduction 173

Kaydee Falls, The Pond Continuum 179

The Detective's Tale 193

Introduction 193

Speranza, Subliminal 199

The Demon Hunter's Tales 205

Introduction 205

Mollyamory, Wolf Man's Party 210

Glockgal, Supernatural, aka The Boys in Arizona 219

Supernatural: Fanservice Sequel 222

The Billionaire Superhero's Tale 223

Introduction 223

Alchemyalice, When they finally come to destroy the earth (they'll have to go through you first) 228

The Stormtrooper's Tale 245

Introduction 245

Lullabyknell, The Story of Finn 250

Notes 259

Bibliography: For More on … 269

Contributors 283

Editorial Reviews

As someone who has taught fanfiction for years, I can say that for instructors who do not wish to deal with the thorny issues of internet fanfiction ‘in the wild’ but want to give students the opportunity to discuss and learn from it, this volume will be a boon.” 
—Anne Jamison, Associate Professor of Literature, University of Utah



“The Fanfiction Reader is an invaluable resource for anyone teaching fan studies. This book offers students a much-needed cohesive and contextualized selection of fanfiction stories and a starting point to broach conversations about the ethics of analyzing fic in light of its growing visibility in digital culture.” 
—Suzanne Scott, Assistant Professor of Media Studies. University of Texas-Austin

From the Publisher

PROSE Awards, Media and Cultural Studies category

PROSE Awards