Culture

[threemonkeys]

I did manage to read Banana Wings in under the delivery time (context). It made me a little uncomfortable. This may be in spite of or more likely because it is such a fine example of its kind. It is well produced and has loads of good writing - including a piece giving an ABC on how to thin out your book collection should you want to do such a thing. But the thing about a fanzine is that it is about things fannish. I realise that I haven't read such a fanzine in a long time - local club newsletters really do not count. I realise that I have become distanced from the terminology, people and ethos of fandom as represented within. I used to have more of a connection back when I was attending worldcons and especially reading a lot more fanzines. It isn't just me, I think most of the local fan community has separated itself from these traditional aspects of fandom. It might be interesting to examine why this drift away has happened - I suspect that there are lots of contributing factors but a big generational change where a whole group of fans left the scene is going to be very high on the list of causes.

So is this a big deal? Not necessarily. It isn't as if the connections that I have are gone completely. It is just that it is a bit like meeting an old friend that you haven't heard from for a long time. You still know them and they are still your friend, but there is a lot that just seems unfamiliar too. As I said at the beginning, it makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Sometimes when you meet an old friend again, you hook up and re-establish your relationship - sometimes you know that you have drifted too far apart. Uncomfortable because I'm not entirely sure which way this is going to go.

Comments

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

Are you willing to say all that (or examine it further, as you mention) in a letter of comment...? Or would that increase the discomfort?

Glad it arrived so quickly, although I also vaguely feel now as though I should be apologising...

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

You certainly shouldn't be apologising for producing such a good and expressive fanzine - any difficulty is purely of my own making.

I will have a go at rewriting and expanding for you - I think my discomfort is at its max now that I have got it out there and can only decline. A letter of comment may take a little time as I think I should do a little research into what happened to fandom here during the mid '90s.

[littenz.livejournal.com]

I would be interested in reading said source of discomfort. The local fan scene needs a good jolly up.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Sure, remind me next time you come by. It isn't really the sort of material to give local fandom the jolt it needs, but it is worth reading in its own right.